
ProverbWisdom
English origin1597
Standers by see more than the gamesters.
Meaning: Detached observers perceive patterns and opportunities that active participants miss through narrow focus.
Origin: Onlookers at a game can often see moves the players miss. Francis Bacon wrote in his Essays (1597) that "lookers on many times see more than gamesters," and the proverb is now usually heard as "lookers-on see most of the game."
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Корабли лавировали, лавировали, да не вылавировали. (Korabli lavirovali, lavirovali, da ne vylavirovali.) One verb, three inflections, pure 'lav/vir' torture — the word grows with every repetitio…
- W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie i Szczebrzeszyn z tego słynie. The opening of a poem by Julian Tuwim, now Poland's most-quoted tongue twister — the cons…
- Stół z powyłamywanymi nogami. Six words, almost no vowels — a single noun phrase that non-Polish speakers find impossib…
Keep exploring