A burden which one chooses is not felt.
A burden which one chooses is not felt.
Meaning in plain English
A responsibility you choose may feel more worthwhile than one imposed on you. The proverb connects willingness with how a burden is experienced, while overstating matters if it suggests freely chosen work cannot be tiring or difficult.
Example
A volunteer enjoys maintaining the club’s records but asks another member to share the work when the number of events increases.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The burden remains a burden, but choosing it changes the relationship between the person and the task. A useful reading is that a purpose someone accepts can make the effort easier to bear. The phrase “not felt” is an emphatic contrast, not a promise that commitment removes strain. Someone can value a responsibility and still need time, support or a smaller share of the work. Consent should also be real rather than inferred from silence or a past agreement. The saying can help explain willingness; it should not be used to dismiss the cost of a chosen undertaking or to deny a later request for help.
When to use it
Use it to discuss how choosing a worthwhile task can affect willingness to carry it.
Keep in mind
Chosen responsibilities can still be demanding; agreement does not cancel the need for support or revision.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 168 · Burden
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 ↗