One may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
Meaning: Risk harsh punishment equally for major wrongs or minor ones, so choose the bolder course.
Origin: When sheep-stealing was a hanging offense, the penalty was the same whether the thief took a grown sheep or a lamb, so he might as well take the sheep. John Ray's English Proverbs (1678) has "As good be hanged for an old sheep as a young lamb." It means that if you will be punished anyway, you may as well commit the bigger offense.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Where we least think, there goeth the hare away. — Prey escape through negligence; danger strikes when vigilance wavers at supposed safe mom…
- Little dogs start the hare, but great ones catch it. — Small efforts initiate opportunities, yet substantial power and persistence are required…
- Sell not the hare's skin before you have caught him. — Count your gains only after securing them; premature celebration invites disappointment a…
- Haste trips up its own heels. — Rushing blindly causes you to stumble over obstacles you might have avoided through delib…
- Haste over nothing but catching fleas. — Rushing accomplishes nothing worthwhile; only frantic, undignified scrambling matches hur…
- Pull down your hat on the wind side. — Protecting yourself from hardship requires strategic positioning, not merely hoping diffi…
From our false friends
- Firma — Actually means 'signature'. Metti la tua firma = Put your signature here.
- Magazzino — Actually means 'warehouse' or 'storeroom'. A magazine (periodical) is una rivista.
- Conveniente — Actually means 'affordable', 'good value', or 'suitable'. È conveniente = It's a good dea…