proverb · Words worth keeping
The thorn comes forth with his point forwards.
The thorn comes forth with his point forwards.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying pictures a thorn coming out with its point facing forward. As an explicit analogy, a difficult encounter may announce its sharpness from the start.
What the words are saying
Point forwards makes the feature ready to meet whoever approaches. A careful application notices an evident problem early without assuming an entire person is inherently hostile. The image can help distinguish a clear warning from one invented after the event. It supplies no verified account of botanical growth or fixed human character.
Everyday example
A group notices an openly stated conflict of interests before committing to an arrangement and discusses it directly.
When to use it
Use it as an analogy about a visible source of difficulty.
What it does not mean
The metaphor does not establish biological facts or permanent character.
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 1604 · Thorn
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English