A bow long bent at last waxeth weak.
A bow long bent at last waxeth weak.
Meaning in plain English
Continuous strain can weaken the capacity to continue. Allow appropriate release or rest rather than expecting a person or arrangement to remain under maximum pressure indefinitely.
Example
A volunteer rota adds cover after several busy weekends so that the same small group is not expected to handle every event without a break.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The bow held bent supplies an image for sustained tension. The saying extends that image to work, attention or a relationship that is continually pressed without a chance to recover. It encourages recognising limits before an arrangement becomes less workable. The image is not a medical diagnosis or a rule about how long anyone should work. Different circumstances permit different kinds of relief. The useful question is whether pressure has become constant and what could reduce it realistically. A temporary demanding period need not be condemned, but it should not automatically become the permanent expectation for everyone involved.
When to use it
Use it when sustained pressure is being treated as an indefinitely workable normal condition.
Keep in mind
Rest needs and available choices vary; the proverb does not prescribe a medical or universal work schedule.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-03. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 150 · Bow
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗