Simonwyatt 1996 provided you with a very good explanation. I believe this must be "Chengyu", correct? This makes the meaning a bit deeper and more elusive. Would something like - persistence is a noble cause - be an interpretation?

I would express this idea by saying: 'to keep going no matter what' * (I am not sure if this expresses exactly the same idea but I think, from what I understand, it is the most accurate way of saying it in English) You can replace the verb 'going' with any other verb to be more specific with what to keep going on for example: to keep running no matter what, to keep playing no matter what, to keep working no matter what, to keep holding on no matter what. - all these could be expressed with: to keep going no matter what but by changing the verb in the -ing form you are making the phrase more specific to that situation.