ProverbPerseveranceDutch origin

De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond

Meaning: The early morning is the best time to get things done.

Literally: The morning hour has gold in its mouth

Example: “Ik schrijf het liefst om zes uur 's ochtends. De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond.” — I like to write at six in the morning: the early bird catches the worm.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages

  • English: The early bird catches the worm
  • French: L'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt (literally: The future belongs to those who wake up early)
  • Spanish: Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda (literally: God helps those who rise early)
  • Japanese: 早起きは三文の徳 (Hayaoki wa sanmon no toku) (literally: Waking early is worth three coins)
  • German: Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund (literally: The morning hour has gold in its mouth)
  • Italian: Chi dorme non piglia pesci (literally: Whoever sleeps catches no fish)
  • Portuguese: Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga (literally: God helps those who rise early)
  • Russian: Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог подаёт (Kto rano vstayot, tomu Bog podayot) (literally: God gives to whoever rises early)
  • Polish: Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje (literally: God gives to whoever rises early)

Origin: The Dutch twin of German Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund; why the hour has gold in its mouth has been explained in several ways, none confirmed.

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