Home › Proverbs

Better are small fish than an empty dish.

Meaning: Modest sustenance surpasses pride's hunger; accept what you have rather than starve waiting for abundance.

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

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little. — Neglecting minor problems allows them to accumulate into catastrophic failure.
  • A snow year, a rich year. — Abundant winter snow ensures adequate spring water for crops and pastures, bringing prosp…
  • He that goes softly goes surely. — Moving with deliberate care and caution leads to reliable progress without missteps or re…
  • Soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer. — Idle warriors without conflict become useless burdens, their skills and purpose rendered…
  • A fat sorrow is better than a lean one. — Sharing grief with others diminishes its burden; isolation amplifies even minor sorrows.
  • When sorrow is asleep, wake it not. — Avoid reopening old wounds or painful memories that have faded with time.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…