A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

Meaning: A group's effectiveness is limited by its weakest member.

Origin: English proverb from Thomas Reid's writings in 1786.

Translations

• French: Une chaîne n'est jamais plus solide que son maillon le plus faible (literally: A chain is never stronger than its weakest link)
• Spanish: Una cadena es tan fuerte como su eslabón más débil (literally: A chain is as strong as its weakest link)
• Japanese: 鎖は最も弱い環の強さ (Kusari wa mottomo yowai wa no tsuyosa) (literally: A chain is the strength of its weakest link)

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