proverb · Words worth keeping
He that longs most lacks most.
He that longs most lacks most.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Strong longing can express a strong sense that something is missing. The paired words connect desire with a felt absence.
What the words are saying
Longing points toward something wanted, while lacking points toward what the person does not have. The saying links the two and can describe how attention becomes concentrated on an absence. That may concern companionship, a resource or an opportunity. Its superlatives exaggerate the relationship: desire is not a dependable measure of objective need, and a person can want more despite already having much. A careful application listens to what is missing for the particular person rather than ranking people’s needs by how loudly they express them.
Everyday example
Someone who misses a distant friend finds their attention repeatedly returning to the wish for a visit.
When to use it
Use it to acknowledge the felt absence behind a persistent wish.
What it does not mean
Longing does not establish entitlement or accurately measure another person’s 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
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 993 · Longs
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English