Keep a thing seven years, and you will find a use for it.
Meaning: Patience with possessions reveals hidden utility; what seems worthless today becomes invaluable tomorrow.
Origin: An old piece of thrift that Walter Scott used in 1826: if you keep a thing seven years, you are sure to find a use for it. It is the hoarder's motto: keep something long enough and a use for it will turn up.
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