Even a clown clings to his cloak when it rains.
Meaning: Self-preservation transcends social role; even those who entertain others prioritize survival when circumstances demand it.
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 Wisdom
- Cut your coat according to your cloth. — Live within your financial means rather than spending beyond what you can afford.
- Let not the cobbler go beyond his last. — Each person works best within their area of expertise; overstepping into unfamiliar domai…
- The cock crows and the hen goes. — Male leadership or declaration prompts female action; authority initiates response.
- Where coin's not common, commons must be scant. — Monetary poverty forces communities to rely on scarce shared resources rather than abunda…
- When you ride a young colt see your saddle be well girt. — Secure your foundations before undertaking risky ventures with unpredictable partners or…
- There's no companion like a penny. — Reliable money stays loyal through misfortune when fair-weather friends abandon you.
From our tongue twisters
- なまむぎ なまごめ なまたまご (Nama mugi, nama gome, nama tamago) — A nimble warm-up for the Japanese 'na / ma / ge' syllables.
- Pablito clavó un clavito, ¿qué clavito clavó Pablito? — A bouncy drill on the 'cl' cluster.
- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. — The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.