Ask thy purse what thou shouldst buy.
Meaning: Let your purse, not your wishes, decide what you can buy.
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
- The ass that brays most, eats least. — The one who brays loudest often gets the smallest share.
- Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king's horses. — Even fools fancy themselves fit to stand among their betters.
- Be bail and pay for it. — Risking your reputation by vouching for someone unreliable often costs you dearly in the…
- The balance distinguishes not between gold and lead. — A scale measures only weight, so material worth becomes irrelevant when judged by quantit…
- A bald head is soon shaven. — Removing what's already gone requires no effort; unnecessary actions waste time on the im…
- Barefooted men should not tread on thorns. — Those lacking protection or resources must avoid situations that expose their vulnerabili…
From our idioms
- Met de gebakken peren zitten — To be stuck with the unpleasant aftermath.
- De koe bij de horens vatten — To tackle a problem head-on.
- Μου έφυγε το καφάσι — I was utterly shocked.