If you make not much of threepence you'll ne'er be worth a groat.
Meaning: Neglecting small sums leads to poverty; careless management of modest earnings prevents accumulating greater wealth.
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
- For what thou canst do thyself rely not on another. — Self-reliance in capable matters preserves your independence and avoids unnecessary oblig…
- Simon Noland, clown, is a better style and title than Humphrey Hadland, gent. — A fool's honest name beats a gentleman's pretense; character matters more than titles.
- Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. — Arriving early prevents missing opportunities, while lateness—no matter how brief—causes…
- He that grasps at too much, holds fast nothing. — Excessive ambition scatters effort, leaving you empty-handed where focused pursuit secure…
- We can't all be top sawyers. — Not everyone possesses equal skill or talent; accepting different aptitudes prevents rese…
- He that hath a trade hath an estate. — A skilled profession provides reliable income and security equivalent to owning property…
From our untranslatable words
- Matpakke — The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
- Takk for sist — A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…
- Orka — To have the energy or will for something. Jag orkar inte carries the whole of 'I can't fa…