He that longs most lacks most.
Meaning: Constant desire reveals scarcity within oneself; craving signals deprivation rather than abundance.
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
- Tis not lost that comes at last. — Delayed arrival doesn't constitute loss; what eventually reaches you remains gained despi…
- Lowly sit and be richly warm. — Humble comfort surpasses prideful exposure to hardship and cold.
- It is better to be born lucky than rich. — Fortune's favor opens doors that money alone cannot, offering unexpected advantages beyon…
- It's better to be lucky than wise. — Fortune often achieves what intellect cannot, suggesting preparation matters less than fa…
- A bushel of March dust is worth a king's ransom. — Spring plowing requires dry soil; early-season dust signals ideal conditions for successf…
- Forsake not the market for the toll. — Avoid sacrificing greater opportunities for minor immediate gains or obligations.
From our tongue twisters
- גנן גידל דגן בגן, דגן גדול גדל בגן. (Ganan gidel dagan bagan, dagan gadol gadal bagan.) — A 'g / d / n' reshuffle — the same three consonants rearrange in every word.
- Barbara Ara bar Ara araba bara rabarbara. — An unbroken 'bar / ara / rab' roll built almost entirely from the same handful of syllabl…
- Ular melingkar-lingkar di atas pagar pak Umar. — A rolling 'l / r / ling' drill that loops like the snake it describes.