proverb · Words worth keeping
He loseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth.
He loseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A promised kindness may lose its value to the recipient if it is delayed too long. The saying connects appreciation with timely follow-through, without making gratitude an entitlement or ignoring reasonable limits.
Example
A friend offers to read an essay before submission, then promptly says they cannot meet the deadline so the writer has time to ask someone else.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The thanks stands for the appreciation a helpful promise might receive, while delay separates the offer from the moment it is needed. A person may initially welcome assistance but find that it arrives after the practical opportunity has passed. The proverb can encourage attention to timing as part of usefulness, rather than treating a generous intention as enough. It should not turn giving into a demand for praise, and a recipient’s disappointment does not establish that the delay was avoidable. Clarify when help is needed and what can realistically be offered, then update the agreement if that timing cannot be met.
When to use it
Use it when the usefulness of a promised contribution depends on when it arrives.
Keep in mind
Help does not purchase gratitude; capacity and unavoidable delays still deserve consideration.
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