Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.
Meaning: Boasting accomplishes nothing; actually keeping what you have through persistence and reliability matters far more.
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 Morality
- Brag's a good dog, but that he hath lost his tail. — Boasting loses you the respect that makes bragging worthwhile in the first place.
- Brag's a good dog if he be well set on; but he dare not bite. — Empty boasting lacks substance—confidence unsupported by real ability cannot sustain itse…
- Business is the salt of life. — Commerce and productive work preserve society's vitality, preventing the staleness and de…
- A bad bush is better than the open field. — Imperfect shelter still protects you better than standing completely exposed to danger.
- A child may have too much of his mother's blessing. — Excessive maternal indulgence weakens a child's resilience and capacity for independent g…
- Tis the clerk makes the justice. — A skilled administrator or clerk can effectively shape legal outcomes through their knowl…
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.