It is the thrift of a spendthrift which ruins him most effectually.
Meaning: Excessive caution about isolated expenses blinds wastrels to their broader financial destruction.
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 Perseverance
- Keep me from still water; from that which is rough I can keep myself. — Stagnation breeds invisible danger while active struggle naturally sharpens survival inst…
- With stomach, wife, and conscience keep on good terms. — Neglecting basic needs—nourishment, domestic harmony, and moral integrity—invites interna…
- Morning is the time for study. — Studying when mentally fresh at dawn yields better comprehension than attempting learning…
- Tis a good horse that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles. — A flawless partner, like a flawless horse, doesn't exist—accepting minor faults shows wis…
- Who depends upon another man's table often dines late. — Relying on others' generosity leaves you vulnerable to hunger and uncertain timing.
- A mouse, in time, may bite in two a cable. — Persistent small efforts, repeated long enough, can eventually overcome even the stronges…
From our tongue twisters
- Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. — A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. — A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
- Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. — Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.