A rotten apple injures its companions.
Meaning: Corruption spreads through proximity; one person's moral decay threatens the integrity of their entire community.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- A rugged stone grows smooth from hand to hand. — Repeated human contact and use gradually refine even the roughest nature into something p…
- There is no rule without an exception. — Absolute rules inevitably encounter situations where their strict application breaks down…
- He that runs fastest gets the prize. — Swift action and competitive urgency often secure advantages before slower competitors ca…
- Sadness and gladness succeed each other. — Life's emotional states naturally alternate, so neither despair nor joy remains permanent.
- Make not your sail too large for your ship. — Ambition must match your actual resources, or you'll capsize under the weight of your own…
- Salmon and sermon have their season in Lent. — Both salmon and sermons flourish during Lent because scarcity and spiritual focus make th…
From our compliments & insults
- È un mammone — An overgrown man who can't make a decision without his mother — the Italian archetype of…
- Che piagnucolone — A relentless crybaby who finds something to complain about in every situation.
- È un orso — Gruff, anti-social, and impossible to approach — they growl when spoken to and hibernate…