He that hath a head of wax must not walk in the sun.
Meaning: Those with fragile vulnerabilities should avoid situations that expose or exploit their weaknesses.
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.
Equivalents in French and Japanese
- French: Qui a tête de cire ne doit pas s’approcher du feu (literally: He that hath a head of wax must not approach the fire)
- Japanese: 君子危うきに近寄らず (Kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu) (literally: The wise man does not go near danger)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Let the weakest go to the wall. — The vulnerable are sacrificed first when resources or power become scarce or contested.
- Where it is weakest there the thread breaketh. — Failure occurs at the point of greatest vulnerability, not where strength exists.
- Their folly pleads the privilege of wealth. — Wealth allows the foolish to escape natural consequences that would humble ordinary peopl…
- Everything is the worse for wearing. — Constant use and time erode even the finest things, diminishing their quality and value.
- Who weds ere he be wise shall die ere he thrive. — Marrying without maturity leads to a life of struggle and premature decline.
- Welcome is the best dish on the table. — Genuine hospitality and warmth matter more to guests than the quality or abundance of foo…
From our untranslatable words
- Menefreghista — Someone who has made not caring into an entire stance — indifference as a way of life.
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