ProverbWisdomLatin origin

He who is everywhere is nowhere

Meaning: Trying to do too many things at once means accomplishing nothing properly.

Who said it? Seneca, Letters to Lucilius

Origin: From Seneca's second letter to Lucilius: nusquam est qui ubique est. Seneca was advising his friend to read a few great authors deeply rather than skim many, just as people who spend their lives traveling find many places to stay but no real friendships.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese

  • French: Qui trop embrasse mal étreint (literally: Whoever embraces too much holds badly)
  • Spanish: Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta (literally: He who grasps much, holds little)
  • German: Wer zwei Hasen zugleich jagt, fängt keinen (literally: He who hunts two hares at once catches none)
  • Italian: Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe (literally: Whoever wants too much grasps nothing)
  • Portuguese: Quem tudo quer tudo perde (literally: Whoever wants everything loses everything)

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