Riches are like muck, which stink in a heap, but spread abroad make the earth fruitful.

Meaning: Wealth hoarded breeds corruption and waste, but distributed widely benefits entire communities through productive growth.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. — Practical utility and reliability matter more than prestige or impressive appearances.
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• A rotten apple injures its companions. — Corruption spreads through proximity; one person's moral decay threatens the integrity of…
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• There is no rule without an exception. — Absolute rules inevitably encounter situations where their strict application breaks down…

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