An oak is not felled by one blow.

Meaning: Great strength and resilience require persistent effort; single attempts cannot overcome deeply rooted obstacles.

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

Translations

Spanish: Un solo golpe no derriba á un roble (literally: An oak is not felled at one blow)

An occasion lost cannot be redeemed. — Missed opportunities vanish permanently; time's passing erases chances that won't return.
An old cat laps as much as a young kitten. — Age doesn't diminish appetite or basic needs; elderly and young require similar sustenanc…
As the old cock crows so crows the young. — Children naturally imitate their parents' behavior, words, and habits rather than followi…
An old dog barks not in vain. — Experience earns credibility; when veterans finally speak, their warnings deserve serious…
An old sack wanteth much patching. — Neglected problems compound over time, requiring increasingly costly repairs to restore w…
The mouse that hath but one hole is easily taken. — A creature relying on single escape route faces inevitable capture when discovered.

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