One swallow does not make a summer.
Meaning: A single favorable occurrence cannot establish a lasting pattern; sustained evidence requires repetition.
Origin: From Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one fine day — and neither does a short spell of good fortune make a person happy. Aristotle's Greek says spring; English adopted summer, and Richard Taverner's 1539 translation of Erasmus's collection of proverbs gave it in English.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, and Italian
- French: Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps (literally: One swallow does not make a spring)
- Spanish: Una golondrina no hace verano (literally: One swallow does not make a summer)
- German: Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer (literally: One swallow does not yet make a summer)
- Italian: Una rondine non fa l’estate (literally: One swallow does not make a summer)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- One swallow makes not a spring, nor one woodcock a winter. — A single favorable occurrence cannot establish a pattern; sustained evidence is needed to…
- They have need of a besom that sweep the house with a turf. — Using inadequate tools wastes effort; poor implements cannot accomplish their intended pu…
- He must needs swim that's held up by the chin. — Desperation forces you to learn survival skills you'd never develop in safety or comfort.
- Remove the tale-bearer and contention ceaseth. — Silencing gossip's source eliminates the conflict it generates among those previously div…
- To him that hath lost his taste, sweet is sour. — Loss of perspective inverts our values; deprivation corrupts even formerly cherished plea…
- Nothing dries up sooner than tears. — Grief, however overwhelming, naturally fades with time as emotions settle and healing beg…
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…