One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two hours after.
Meaning: Early sleep aligns with natural circadian rhythms, making pre-midnight rest more restorative than equivalent post-midnight sleep.
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
- There is sleeping enough in the grave. — Excessive rest now wastes precious living time that death will eventually steal forever.
- Sloth turneth the edge of wit. — Idleness dulls intellectual sharpness, leaving the mind unable to cut through problems ef…
- Sloth is the mother of poverty. — Idleness breeds want because accumulated inaction prevents accumulation of resources or o…
- Better are small fish than an empty dish. — Modest sustenance surpasses pride's hunger; accept what you have rather than starve waiti…
- He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little. — Neglecting minor problems allows them to accumulate into catastrophic failure.
- A snow year, a rich year. — Abundant winter snow ensures adequate spring water for crops and pastures, bringing prosp…
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.