ProverbPerseverance
English origin1542
English origin1542Happy is he who hath sown his wild oats betimes.
Meaning: Early indulgence in youthful excess prevents restless regret and wasted energy in later, more serious life phases.
Origin: Wild oats are a useless weed that farmers struggled to separate from real grain, so sowing them stood for youthful folly. The phrase is first recorded in 1542, in a tract by the clergyman Thomas Becon. This proverb adds that it is best to get the folly over with early.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau You're scatterbrained and forgetful.
Keep exploring