Loss and gain are brothers twain
Meaning: Misfortune and prosperity are inseparable companions in life's journey, each inevitably following the other.
Origin: Best known from English translations of Leo Tolstoy's story "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" (1886), in which Pahom's wife warns against chasing riches: "Loss and gain are brothers twain." Its earlier history is untraced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb — Harsh beginnings soften with patience; turbulent starts often yield to gentle endings thr…
- Marry in haste, repent at leisure — (by extension) Joining (or merging) two things together too soon will lead to problems.
- Money is the root of all evil — Excessive pursuit of wealth corrupts moral judgment and leads to harmful actions.
- Ne'er cast a clout till May be out — Delay removing winter clothing until late spring arrives to avoid illness from unexpected…
- No bucks, no Buck Rogers — Without money or resources, you cannot afford luxuries or escape difficult circumstances…
- No guts, no glory — Without risk and courage, achievement remains impossible; safety guarantees nothing remar…
From our compliments & insults
- Eres más lento que el caballo del malo — You're painfully slow — the villain's horse never catches the hero.
- Testa di rapa — A blockhead who isn't thinking.
- Du hast doch einen Vogel — You're a bit out of your mind.