He loseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth.
Meaning: Postponing promised help damages gratitude, as delayed assistance feels less generous than immediate action.
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 Communication
- One may think that dares not speak. — Silent thoughts remain powerless; voicing ideas, however risky, gives them potential forc…
- Think twice before you speak once. — Hasty words cause irreversible harm; deliberation before speaking prevents regret and mis…
- Think much, speak little, and write less. — Excessive speech and writing scatter thought; silence preserves wisdom's clarity and powe…
- Thrifty men are fond of thrifty sayings. — Those already practicing frugality naturally gravitate toward advice reinforcing their es…
- Thunder in December foretells fine weather. — Winter storms pass quickly, leaving clear skies; turbulence doesn't persist into lasting…
- A man may hold his tongue in an ill time. — Silence during conflict or crisis preserves safety and dignity better than speaking in an…
From our idioms
- make a long story short — To summarize; to tell only the main points.
- make ends meet — To manage financially; to have enough money for one's basic needs.
- make heads or tails of something — To understand something.