A little mischief is too much.

Meaning: Even small wrongdoings corrupt character and inevitably lead to greater transgressions if left unchecked.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• Mischiefs come by the pound and go away by the ounce. — Problems accumulate quickly through negligence but dissolve only through sustained, delib…
• Money is more easily made than made use of. — Earning wealth requires less wisdom than spending it prudently without self-destruction.
• The abundance of money ruins youth. — Wealth without struggle strips young people of the resilience and character earned throug…
• Tis money makes the mare to go. — Without financial resources, even the most capable asset remains immobilized and worthles…
• He that hath no money needeth no purse. — Poverty eliminates the burden of safeguarding wealth you don't possess.
• The moon's not seen where the sun shines. — Lesser truths become invisible when greater ones dominate our attention and understanding.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…