Pity, promises, and blame, are always cheap and plentiful.
Meaning: Sympathy, commitments, and accusations cost nothing, so people offer them freely without considering consequences.
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 Communication
- Possession is nine points of the law, and they say there are but ten. — Physical control of something provides nearly complete legal claim, leaving little room f…
- He is poor indeed that cannot promise nothing. — Poverty of character stems from inability to offer even modest hope or commitment to othe…
- Be slow to promise, but quick to perform. — Caution in commitment prevents broken trust; swift action in fulfilling pledges builds re…
- Apt to promise, apt to forget. — Those quick to make commitments often lack the diligence to honor them.
- Promises are too much like pie-crusts, made to be broken. — Keeping promises requires discipline; convenience often trumps commitment, especially whe…
- If we do not hear reason she will one day make herself be heard. — Ignoring justified criticism only delays inevitable consequences; resistance to truth eve…
From our tongue twisters
- De koetsier poetst de postkoets met postkoetspoets. — Turns on the gap between the Dutch 'oe' and 'o', with a run of 'ts' and 'p' stops layered…
- Wij smachten naar achtentachtig prachtige nachten. — Five words carrying the Dutch guttural 'cht', the sound foreigners find hardest to produc…
- Liesje leerde Lotje lopen langs de lange Lindelaan. — Eight consecutive l-words, with the vowel behind the l changing every time.