The little alms are the good alms.
The little alms are the good alms.
Meaning in plain English
A modest gift can still provide useful help. Its value depends on the recipient’s need and the way it is given, not only on its size.
Example
A neighbour offers a small amount of useful practical help after asking what would make the day easier.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The proverb praises small alms, inviting attention to a contribution that may be easy to dismiss. A little given thoughtfully can meet an immediate need or make help possible when a larger gift is beyond someone’s means. The wording does not prove that smaller gifts are always better. A larger need may require greater support, and a generous gesture can be unhelpful if it ignores the recipient’s wishes. The practical point is to judge assistance through its effect and manner rather than making the donor’s display the centre of the occasion.
When to use it
Use it to value a modest contribution suited to a real need.
Keep in mind
Do not use praise for small gifts to excuse inadequate support where greater help is possible and needed.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 30; French section, paragraph 599; source wording: La petite aumône est la bonne.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗