proverb · Words worth keeping
A little good is soon spent.
A little good is soon spent.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A small store of something useful can be exhausted quickly. The saying draws attention to scale and the need to notice how much is available.
Example
A group spreads a small supply of materials across the tasks it most needs to complete.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Little good is pictured as a limited resource that disappears through use. The phrase can describe money, supplies, time or a modest opportunity, depending on the situation. Its point is that something welcome may not last if its size is forgotten. It can encourage proportionate planning without turning every use into a mistake: resources often exist to be used. A careful application compares the actual amount with the purpose it must serve and avoids treating scarcity as a moral failing.
When to use it
Use it to recognise the limits of a modest resource or opportunity.
Keep in mind
Using a resource is not inherently wasteful, and scarcity is not proof of poor judgment.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English