He fisheth on that catcheth one.
Meaning: Success in any endeavor comes only to those who actually persist in the attempt, not merely to those who wish for results.
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
- Every shoe fits not every foot. — Different solutions work for different people; what suits one person may not suit another…
- Where every hand fleeceth, the sheep go naked. — Widespread petty theft by many people causes greater damage than a single large theft wou…
- Flowers are the pledge of fruit. — Beautiful beginnings promise productive outcomes, so nurture promising signs carefully fo…
- The foremost dog catches the hare. — Speed and initiative win the prize; those who act first gain advantage over competitors.
- Change of fortune is the lot of life. — Life's circumstances shift unpredictably, so neither prosperity nor hardship remains perm…
- Better a fortune in her than on her. — A woman's character and intelligence matter more than her physical appearance or material…
From our false friends
- Lectura — Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.