proverb · Legacy record
As you go through life, make this your goal, watch the doughnut and not the hole.
As you go through life, make this your goal, watch the doughnut and not the hole.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying asks for attention to the doughnut rather than its hole. It recommends noticing what is present instead of only what is missing.
What the words are saying
The edible ring and empty centre make a difference of focus visible. A useful application can appreciate available resources while still recognising genuine needs or problems. The phrase should not demand gratitude as a substitute for addressing deprivation.
Everyday example
Someone identifies useful resources already available and also names what is still needed.
When to use it
Use it to discuss attention to existing resources without denying gaps.
Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗
What it does not mean
A positive focus does not erase real losses or unmet needs.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or 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
- 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
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 511; PDF page 75
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.