Happy 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.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- A wilful man never wants woe. — Stubbornness breeds its own suffering—those who insist on their way invite the consequenc…
- Willows are weak, yet they bend other wood. — Flexibility and gentleness can overcome rigidity; what appears fragile often proves stron…
- Wine is a turncoat, first a friend, then an enemy. — Excessive alcohol initially pleasures but ultimately betrays through addiction, health de…
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. — Recognizing divine authority and moral accountability forms the foundational discipline f…
- Wit is folly, unless a wise man hath the keeping of it. — Cleverness without prudent restraint becomes destructive, as unchecked intelligence ampli…
- He had enough to keep the wolf from the door. — Survival requires only minimal resources; having just enough to prevent destitution satis…
From our compliments & insults
- 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.