Let the best dog leap the stile first.

Meaning: Merit should determine priority; the most capable should lead the way.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• The better the day, the better the deed. — Good fortune amplifies moral responsibility—prosperity demands virtue, not vice.
• Every bird must hatch her own egg. — Each creature bears sole responsibility for nurturing what they themselves have created o…
• One beats the bush and another catcheth the bird. — One person's labor enables another's gain, rewarding the opportunist over the worker.
• Even small birds must have meat. — The poorest among us require sustenance and dignity, not merely scraps or leftovers.
• He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison. — Indiscriminately sampling everything you encounter will eventually expose you to somethin…
• A bit in the morning is better than nothing all day. — Early action, however modest, accomplishes more than delayed grand efforts.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…