proverb · Words worth keeping
Let every tub stand on its own bottom.
Let every tub stand on its own bottom.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Each person or undertaking should have a basis that can support its responsibilities. The tub standing on its own bottom pictures that stability, without making independence a demand to refuse cooperation or needed help.
Example
Two clubs sharing a hall agree who handles each booking and which tasks they will share, instead of leaving both to assume the other is responsible.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A tub relies on its bottom to stand and hold what belongs inside it. Figuratively, an undertaking needs an arrangement that supports what it promises, and a person may need to account for their own commitments. The useful reading clarifies the foundation: resources, roles or a workable plan. Standing on one’s own bottom does not require complete isolation. Shared provision can be part of a dependable arrangement, and lack of support is not a measure of someone’s worth. The proverb encourages clear responsibility while leaving room to agree assistance rather than assume another person will quietly carry an undefined burden.
When to use it
Use it when responsibilities or the support behind a commitment need clarification.
Keep in mind
Dependable shared support is compatible with responsibility; independence is not a test of human worth.
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