Medlars are never good till they be rotten.

Meaning: Unpleasant external conditions sometimes precede inner ripeness; patience reveals hidden value in apparent decay.

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

More proverbs about Perseverance

• Time and straw make medlars ripe. — Patience and neglect accomplish what effort cannot; some things require only waiting.
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