The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him.
Meaning: The cunning schemer is ultimately undone by someone possessing even greater intelligence and strategy.
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
- A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial. — Predators cannot impartially judge those they naturally prey upon; self-interest corrupts…
- When the fox preaches, beware of your geese. — Predators exploiting trust through false virtue pose the greatest danger to the vulnerabl…
- Though the fox runs the chicken hath wings. — Predator and prey possess different advantages; cunning alone cannot always overcome natu…
- Such as the tree is, such is the fruit. — People's actions and character naturally reflect their inner nature and values.
- If you would enjoy the fruit, pluck not the flower. — Premature harvesting destroys potential; patience allows natural development to completio…
- Take away fuel, take away flame. — Eliminating the source of a problem stops the problem itself from spreading or persisting.
From our idioms
- auf keinen grünen Zweig kommen — To fail to achieve success or prosperity, to make no progress in life or a project.
- grün vor Neid — Consumed with jealousy or envious feeling.
- Hinz und Kunz — Any ordinary person; everyone; the man in the street; used to refer to people indiscrimin…