On the sea sail; on the land settle.
Meaning: Venture boldly where uncertainty reigns, but root yourself firmly where stability matters most.
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
- Tis the second blow that makes a fray. — The first insult merely offends, but your retaliatory response transforms a moment into m…
- He that revealeth his secret maketh himself a slave. — Sharing confidences surrenders your autonomy, granting others leverage over your privacy…
- Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance. — Pursuing trivial distractions causes you to forfeit what truly matters and holds real val…
- The finest shoe often hurts the foot. — Beauty and perfection in appearance frequently come at the cost of comfort and practical…
- God tempers the wind to the shorn sheep. — Hardship diminishes in proportion to one's vulnerability, or mercy matches misfortune.
- Short and sweet like a donkey's gallop. — Brief moments of intensity fade quickly, so appreciate their value without expecting perm…
From our idioms
- fishy — Looking or sounding suspicious.
- fits and starts — In short bursts of motion or effort.
- fix someone's wagon — To return an irritation caused by a person through some form of mild revenge.