Stars are not seen during sunshine.
Meaning: Greatness becomes invisible when overwhelmed by more dominant presences or circumstances.
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 Wisdom
- He would starve in a cook-shop. — Incompetence in one's own field ensures failure, even surrounded by abundance and opportu…
- Step by step the ladder is climbed. — Incremental progress through consistent effort achieves what rushing toward ambitious goa…
- Whoso lacketh a stock, his gain's not worth a chip. — Without capital to reinvest profits, modest earnings disappear into daily expenses rather…
- The full stomach loatheth the honeycomb, but to the hungry every bitter thing is sweet. — Hunger transforms perception; satisfied people reject what starving people gratefully acc…
- Between two stools he comes to the ground. — Trying to sit on two stools simultaneously leaves you falling between them, unsupported a…
- He must stoop that hath a low door. — Adapting yourself to constraints, however humble, requires humility and flexibility rathe…
From our false friends
- Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
- Librairie — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Constipado — Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.