Words worth understanding
Start with the thought in plain English. Then examine its imagery, practical application and limitations.
2,058 selected entries have editorial explanations. An explanation is not independent authentication of an attribution. Start with the individually source-checked classics ↗
proverb · Traditional
Something previously active may be easier to revive than something never started. The partly-burnt wood suggests a remaining disposition or trace, without proving that old feelings, disputes or habits will inevitably return.
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Words spoken in a passing moment may not become lasting commitments. The evening wind carrying them away pictures the fragility of an unconfirmed statement.
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A person intent on continuing a quarrel can keep finding things to say. The saying questions argument sustained for its own sake, without making disagreement, persistence or a request for explanation automatically unreasonable.
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Some worthwhile changes involve unavoidable costs or disruption. Reaching an aim may require accepting a limited sacrifice rather than expecting every benefit without loss.
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The means chosen may lack a quality the task requires. Sand made into rope pictures that mismatch, without proving that an unfamiliar method cannot work or that every limitation calls for abandoning the purpose.
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The means chosen need to match the scale and nature of the task. Bellows offered to drive a windmill make the mismatch conspicuous, without proving that a small contribution is always useless.
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You cannot use up a benefit and still keep it available. Some desirable outcomes conflict, so a decision requires accepting what you give up.
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You cannot obtain something from a person or resource that does not have it to give. More pressure will not overcome a genuine lack of capacity.
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Something restless or conspicuous is difficult to conceal for long. The eel-in-a-sack image suggests that what is hidden may make itself noticeable, but it should not be treated as proof that every secret will emerge or that concealment can be detected reliably.
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An outward container does not establish the quality of what is inside. Look for evidence about the substance rather than relying on packaging, appearance or a reassuring presentation.
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Attention to individual details can obscure the larger situation they form together. The wood-and-trees image asks for a wider view, without making detail unimportant or implying that a broad impression is always enough.
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The task is presented as far beyond the means supplied for it. Emptying the sea with a nutshell makes the mismatch vivid, without proving that every demanding request is impossible or that nothing useful can be done.
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Lacking one specialised skill does not mean lacking sound judgement. Assess someone’s understanding in the relevant situation rather than treating an unfamiliar technical task as a complete test of wisdom.
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Going farther or seeking another option does not guarantee a better result. The saying cautions against equating change with improvement, without requiring someone to remain with an unsuitable arrangement.
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A small transaction may reveal how someone handles a larger one. The penny and shilling invite attention to habits without making one example conclusive.
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A small or appealing object can cost more than its real value to you. Consider what you give up to obtain it, rather than letting desire alone decide what is worth paying.
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A protective step comes too late to prevent a loss that has already happened. Take care before a foreseeable problem rather than relying on a remedy afterwards.
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The saying allows touching an eye only with an elbow. Its difficult condition can function as an indirect instruction to leave the eye alone.
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The phrase rejects a claim as implausible, suggesting that the speaker feels someone is asking too much of their belief. A strong expression of doubt still needs reasons when the actual claim matters.
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Intense enthusiasm without understanding can become uncontrolled or misdirected action. Let commitment be informed by the situation rather than treating strength of feeling as proof that the chosen approach is sound.
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