Grasp all, lose all.
Meaning: Excessive greed causes you to forfeit everything you already possess through careless ambition.
Origin: A warning against greed, with the same moral as Aesop's fable of the dog who drops his meat to snatch at its reflection in the water. Its first appearance in English has not been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Great marks are soonest hit. — Ambitious targets attract the most attention and effort, making them easier to accomplish…
- Gray hairs are death's blossoms. — Aging is nature's visible warning that mortality approaches with each passing year.
- Harm watch, harm catch. — Obsessing over potential dangers often manifests them through anxious behavior and poor j…
- Over haste makes certain waste. — Rushing through tasks carelessly destroys more value than the time saved by hurrying.
- Hasty resolutions seldom speed well. — Rushing into decisions without reflection typically produces poor outcomes and delays eve…
- High places have their precipices. — Elevated positions of power and prestige carry corresponding risks of catastrophic fall a…
From our untranslatable words
- Râler — To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.
- Mono no aware — A bittersweet awareness of impermanence — the gentle sadness and appreciation that arise…
- Ikigai — The thing that makes you want to get out of bed — the intersection of what you love, what…