Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.
Meaning: Leading a humble domain grants more authority and respect than serving in an exalted position.
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.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Mieux vaut être tête de chien que queue de lion (literally: Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion)
- Spanish: Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león (literally: Better to be a mouse's head than a lion's tail)
- Japanese: 鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ (Keikou to naru mo gyūgo to naru nakare) (literally: Rather be the beak of a rooster than the rear of an ox)
- German: Lieber der Erste im Dorf als der Zweite in Rom (literally: Rather the first in the village than the second in Rome)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- When the head aches, all the body is the worse. — A leader's weakness or poor decisions inevitably harm everyone under their authority.
- God healeth, and the physician hath the thanks. — Skilled professionals receive credit for outcomes they facilitate, even when forces beyon…
- Where the hedge is lowest, men commonly leap over. — Temptation proves strongest where safeguards are weakest, inviting transgression.
- A low hedge is easily leapt over. — Weak boundaries invite transgression; those who set minimal standards find them readily i…
- One pair of heels is often worth two pair of hands. — Women's domestic labor, though undervalued, accomplishes more than additional male worker…
- Hide nothing from thy minister, physician, and lawyer. — Trust these three professionals completely; withholding information from them undermines…
From our untranslatable words
- Gigil — The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something unbearably cute.
- Iktsuarpok — The restless anticipation that makes you keep stepping outside to see if someone is final…
- Meraki — Pouring your soul, love, and creativity into whatever you do — cooking, art, anything.