Try an author, a thought, or a phrase in “quotes”.↑ ↓ Navigate · Esc Close

Type a word, saying or author to search.

Browse the library ↗

A man of words and not of deeds, Is like a garden full of weeds.

A man of words and not of deeds, Is like a garden full of weeds.
Traditional

Historical period not yet established

Meaning in plain English

Words that are not supported by action can leave a responsibility neglected. The weed-filled garden makes that neglect visible, without assuming that every statement requires a physical task or that discussion cannot itself be useful.

What the words are saying

The garden provides a place where the desired result needs attention, and weeds stand for what grows when that attention is absent. The person who speaks but does not act is compared to an undertaking whose maintenance has been neglected. Figuratively, the saying can challenge a promise or plan that never becomes the contribution it describes. It should not erase the value of explanation, listening or thoughtful planning, and the historical man is not a measure of one gender’s conduct. The useful question is which action the words reasonably imply and whether that action has been undertaken, rather than counting statements as proof of progress.

Everyday example

Housemates say they want a tidy shared kitchen but only change the routine when they agree who will clear the surfaces and check the supplies.

When to use it

Use it when a stated intention requires practical care that has not yet been provided.

Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗

What it does not mean

Distinguish necessary planning or listening from empty assurances; do not judge by speech alone.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.

▷ Play from here
Attribution & collection notes
Author or tradition
Traditional
Attribution: traditional
Country attributed
Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.
Historical period
Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates.
Recorded source
A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases

Entry 1833 · Words

A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.

Culture
English