One scabbed sheep infects the whole flock.
Meaning: A single corrupted member spreads moral or practical contamination throughout an entire community or group.
Origin: The Roman satirist Juvenal wrote that a whole flock in the fields falls from the scab of one. One bad member corrupts a whole group — the same idea as "one bad apple spoils the barrel."
More proverbs about Wisdom
- A sceptre is one thing, a ladle another. — Different tools suit different purposes; authority and domestic work require wholly disti…
- A mere scholar a mere ass. — Accumulated knowledge without practical judgment or common sense produces foolishness, no…
- The greatest scholars are not always the wisest men. — Deep knowledge doesn't guarantee good judgment or practical sense in living well.
- On the sea sail; on the land settle. — Venture boldly where uncertainty reigns, but root yourself firmly where stability matters…
- 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…
From our untranslatable words
- Dépaysement — The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
- Flâner — To wander a city slowly and aimlessly, savouring it with no destination in mind — the art…
- Retrouvailles — The joy of reuniting with someone after a long time apart.