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Spare to speak and spare to spend.

Meaning: Restraint in both words and money preserves resources and prevents regrettable waste.

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

Translations

  • 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…

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