On a dark night an owl would be glad of a lantern.
Meaning: Even those naturally suited to darkness benefit from light when circumstances demand visibility.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The law is not the same at morning and night. — Justice depends on who applies it and when, revealing law's human inconsistency rather th…
- Law makers should not be law breakers. — Those who craft laws must follow them, or their authority crumbles through hypocrisy.
- Tis folly to dig for lead with a silver shovel. — Using precious resources to pursue worthless goals wastes what you already possess.
- The least boy always carries the greatest fiddle. — The weakest person often bears the heaviest burden or responsibility disproportionate to…
- Life is half spent before we know what it is. — We waste years discovering our genuine desires and values, leaving limited time to pursue…
- He stands in his own light. — Blocking one's own path to success through poor positioning, stubbornness, or self-defeat…
From our idioms
- kończ waść, wstydu oszczędź — A plea to someone to stop and spare the speaker further humiliation, even if it means acc…
- światełko w tunelu — A sign of hope or improvement after a long period of hardship or darkness.
- krzyżyk na drogę — Good riddance; a dismissive farewell wishing someone away.