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A rising tide lifts all boats

Meaning: General improvements benefit everyone.

Origin: Popularized by John F. Kennedy in 1963, originally a New England Council slogan.

Translations

  • French: La marée montante soulève tous les bateaux (literally: The rising tide lifts all boats)
  • Spanish: La marea alta levanta todos los barcos (literally: The high tide lifts all boats)
  • Japanese: 好景気は皆に恩恵をもたらす (Kōkeiki wa mina ni onkei wo motarasu) (literally: Good times bring benefits to all)

More proverbs about Communication

  • A chain is only as strong as its weakest link — A group's effectiveness is limited by its weakest member.
  • Silence speaks volumes — What is not said can be more meaningful than what is.
  • There's no such thing as bad publicity — Any attention, even negative, can be beneficial.
  • Many hands make light work — Tasks are easier when shared among many people.
  • What you see is what you get — There's nothing hidden or disguised.
  • The customer is always right — In business, the customer's satisfaction takes priority.

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