Every "may be" hath a "may not be."
Meaning: Uncertainty cuts both ways—possibility implies its opposite, so optimism requires acknowledging equal potential for failure.
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
- A windy March and a rainy April make a beautiful May. — Harsh conditions in early spring create the moisture and nutrients needed for abundant la…
- A thin meadow is soon mowed. — Shallow resources or modest wealth deplete quickly when demands persist.
- With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. — Treat others as you wish to be treated; your actions return to you in equal measure.
- He measures your corn by his bushel. — People judge others' actions using their own standards as the measure, not objective trut…
- Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again. — Parting on good terms preserves relationships, allowing joyful reunion rather than perman…
- A pennyworth of mirth is worth a pound of sorrow. — Small moments of joy provide disproportionate relief from accumulated grief and hardship.