proverb · Words worth keeping
Little dogs start the hare, but great ones catch it.
Little dogs start the hare, but great ones catch it.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Those who initiate a task may differ from those who obtain its result or recognition. The small and large dogs invite attention to complementary contributions and unequal rewards, without making either contribution automatically more valuable.
Example
A group credits the researcher who found the material as well as the presenter who delivered the final exhibition talk.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The smaller dogs set the hare in motion, while the larger dogs make the catch. The image separates the work of beginning an undertaking from the visible act that completes it. It can acknowledge cooperation, but it can also expose how credit or benefit goes to a stronger participant after another supplied an essential start. The line alone does not settle which attitude is intended. Its useful reading traces each contribution and asks how the result should be shared fairly. It should not become a fixed judgement about people’s size, status or ability, nor a justification for taking credit from those whose early work made the outcome possible.
When to use it
Use it when the beginning and completion of a task depend on different contributions.
Keep in mind
Do not let the most visible finish erase earlier work or turn status into an entitlement to all the credit.
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