First come, first served
Meaning: Opportunities go to those who arrive early.
Origin: Chaucer has it in the prologue to The Wife of Bath's Tale (c. 1390): whoever comes first to the mill, grinds first. Farmers brought their grain to the miller and waited their turn, and the rule of the queue has kept the saying useful ever since.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Premier arrivé, premier servi (literally: First arrived, first served)
- Spanish: El que primero llega, primero come (literally: The first to arrive eats first)
- Japanese: 先着順 (Senchaku jun) (literally: Order of arrival)
- German: Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst (literally: He who comes first, mills first)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- A fool and his money are soon parted — Foolish people quickly lose their wealth.
- The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now — The right time to act is always now, no matter how late it feels.
- To know the road ahead, ask those coming back — Learn from people with experience before embarking on an unfamiliar path.
- The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists — Flexibility and adaptability are greater strengths than rigid resistance.
- When the student is ready, the teacher will appear — Learning happens when one is truly open and prepared to receive knowledge.
- He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever — Admitting ignorance and seeking knowledge is always wiser than pretending to understand.