Pearls before swine
Meaning: Giving something valuable to those who can't appreciate it.
Origin: From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:6): "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet." It warns against offering something precious to those who cannot value it.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and Italian
- French: Jeter des perles aux pourceaux (literally: To throw pearls to swine)
- Spanish: Echar margaritas a los cerdos (literally: To throw daisies to pigs)
- Japanese: 豚に真珠 (Buta ni shinju) (literally: Pearls to a pig)
- German: Perlen vor die Säue werfen (literally: To throw pearls before the sows)
- Italian: Gettar le margherite ai porci (literally: To cast pearls before swine)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Hindsight is 20/20 — Past decisions are always clearer in retrospect.
- Let sleeping dogs lie — Don't stir up trouble that has settled down.
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away — Regular healthy habits prevent illness.
- There's method in the madness — Apparent chaos may have an underlying purpose.
- The devil is in the details — Small details can cause major problems.
- All good things must come to an end — Nothing pleasant lasts forever.