
ProverbHuman Nature
American origin
The forest would be silent if no bird sang except the one that sang best
Meaning: Everyone has a unique contribution; holding back out of self-doubt robs the world.
Origin: Quotation collections credit the American writer and clergyman Henry van Dyke (1852–1933), usually in the fuller form "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." No one has identified the book or speech it comes from, so the attribution is unconfirmed.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Matpakke The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
- Takk for sist A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…
- Orka To have the energy or will for something. Jag orkar inte carries the whole of 'I can't fa…
Keep exploring