Better a fortune in her than on her.
Meaning: A woman's character and intelligence matter more than her physical appearance or material possessions.
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
- Foul hands befoul all they touch. — Moral corruption spreads through contact, tainting everything and everyone a person influ…
- Four farthings and a thimble make a tailor's pocket jingle. — A tailor's meager earnings remind us that even small accumulations of modest wealth deser…
- The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him. — The cunning schemer is ultimately undone by someone possessing even greater intelligence…
- A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial. — Predators cannot impartially judge those they naturally prey upon; self-interest corrupts…
- When the fox preaches, beware of your geese. — Predators exploiting trust through false virtue pose the greatest danger to the vulnerabl…
- Though the fox runs the chicken hath wings. — Predator and prey possess different advantages; cunning alone cannot always overcome natu…
From our idioms
- ein Liedchen singen können — To have direct, personal knowledge of something through lived experience.
- sein Damaskus erleben — To undergo a sudden, transformative spiritual or moral awakening.
- in den Wind sprechen — To speak in vain or to an audience that will not listen or act on one's words.