Home › Proverbs

A whet is no let [hindrance].

Meaning: Sharpening a tool causes only momentary delay before it works far more effectively than before.

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

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • You may pay too dear for your whistle. — Pursuing trivial pleasures often costs more in dignity, money, or opportunity than their…
  • There's ne'er a why, but there's a wherefore. — Questioning "why" proves futile; instead, seek the practical "how" and "where" of circums…
  • Wise men are not caught by wiles. — Intelligent people recognize and resist deception through careful discernment, unlike the…
  • None ever yet got fat on windfalls. — Unexpected gain alone cannot sustain you; reliable work and effort build lasting prosperi…
  • More have been drowned in wine than water. — Excessive indulgence in pleasure proves more destructive than hardship or deprivation eve…
  • When wine is in, wit is out. — Alcohol impairs judgment and rational thinking, leaving only foolishness in its place.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…