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Kill two birds with one stone

Meaning: Accomplish two tasks with a single action.

Origin: English proverb from Thomas Hobbes in 1656, earlier Latin roots.

Translations

  • French: Faire d'une pierre deux coups (literally: Make two hits with one stone)
  • Spanish: Matar dos pájaros de un tiro (literally: Kill two birds with one shot)
  • Japanese: 一石二鳥 (Isseki nichō) (literally: One stone, two birds)

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • Don't bite off more than you can chew — Don't take on more than you can handle.
  • Every rose has its thorn — Even the best things have their drawbacks.
  • All's well that ends well — A good outcome justifies the difficulties along the way.
  • A rolling stone gathers no moss — Those who keep moving avoid stagnation (or commitments).
  • Don't burn your bridges — Don't destroy relationships you might need later.
  • Pearls before swine — Giving something valuable to those who can't appreciate it.

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