A fool and his money are soon parted
Meaning: Foolish people quickly lose their wealth.
Origin: Thomas Tusser, a 16th-century farmer-poet, wrote in his Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry that "a fool and his money be soon at debate" — that is, they soon part company. The modern wording came later, and the warning has never gone out of date.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Le sot et son argent se séparent vite (literally: The fool and his money part quickly)
- Spanish: A tonto nacido, dinero prestado (literally: To a born fool, borrowed money)
- Japanese: 愚者に金は残らず (Gusha ni kane wa nokorazu) (literally: Money doesn't remain with fools)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now — The right time to act is always now, no matter how late it feels.
- To know the road ahead, ask those coming back — Learn from people with experience before embarking on an unfamiliar path.
- The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists — Flexibility and adaptability are greater strengths than rigid resistance.
- When the student is ready, the teacher will appear — Learning happens when one is truly open and prepared to receive knowledge.
- He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever — Admitting ignorance and seeking knowledge is always wiser than pretending to understand.
- Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped — Focus on the root cause of a problem rather than just its consequence.