Hunger will break through stone walls.
Meaning: Desperation drives people to overcome barriers they'd otherwise consider insurmountable.
Origin: In Shakespeare's Coriolanus (c. 1608), the proud general Marcius sneers at the proverbs the starving citizens repeat: "That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat." The saying means that desperate need will overcome any barrier.
More proverbs about Challenge
- Idle folk take the most pains. — Lazy people create unnecessary hardship through procrastination, requiring greater effort…
- Better be idle than ill employed. — Doing nothing wisely surpasses doing something harmful or wasteful to yourself and others.
- Idleness is the root of all evil. — Lack of productive activity breeds vice, as unoccupied minds and hands naturally drift to…
- It is an ill bird that defiles its own nest. — Betraying your family or community harms the very foundation of your own security and bel…
- Tis an ill dog that deserves not a bone. — Even the most troublesome dog has earned some small reward through its service or loyalty.
- He who hath no ill fortune, is dazed with good. — Unrelenting prosperity blinds people to reality; adversity provides necessary clarity and…
From our idioms
- niet veel zaaks — Unimpressive or mediocre; not worth much.
- in de kiem smoren — To nip something in the bud; to stop a problem before it grows.
- veel noten op zijn zang hebben — To be demanding or to offer many critical comments.