Spare to speak and spare to spend.
Meaning: Restraint in both words and money preserves resources and prevents regrettable waste.
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.
Equivalents in French
- French: Qui ne veut parler, ne veut gagner (literally: Spare to speak and spare to speed)
More proverbs about Communication
- There is a time to speak as well as to be silent. — Knowing when to withhold words proves as valuable as knowing when to voice them.
- Many speak much that cannot speak well. — Verbose people often lack the clarity and wisdom that characterizes truly eloquent speech.
- Speak fair and think what you will. — Private thoughts remain free even when public words must be diplomatic and measured.
- Speech is the picture of the mind. — Words reveal a person's inner thoughts, beliefs, and character more honestly than any del…
- One story is good until another's told. — The first account you hear seems credible until you consider alternative perspectives and…
- He that strikes with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard. — Violence begets proportional retaliation; aggressors face consequences matching their own…
From our compliments & insults
- Eline sağlık — Praise and thanks to someone — especially a cook — for something made beautifully by hand.
- És uma joia — You're a gem — a precious, lovely person.
- Sei un salame — You're a clumsy, dopey softie — said with a smile.