ProverbWisdom
English origin
English originDo not spur a free horse.
Meaning: Pushing someone already willing to help creates resistance instead of cooperation.
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, and Italian
French: A bon cheval point d’éperon (literally: Spur not a willing horse)
Spanish: A caballo que corre, no es menester espuela (literally: For a horse that runs, no spur is needed)
Italian: A caval che corre non abbisognano speroni (literally: A running horse needs no spurs)
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