The game is not worth the candle

Meaning: Pursuing a goal costs more in effort or money than any benefit you'll actually gain from achieving it.

Origin: English proverb.

Translations

French: Le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle (literally: The game is not worth the candle)

The Lord helps those that help themselves — Self-directed effort attracts divine favor; passivity alone cannot substitute for persona…
The more one learns about people, the more one likes one's pet — Familiarity with human flaws makes the unconditional loyalty of animals more precious.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down — Conformity protects individuals; standing apart invites suppression or punishment from so…
The proof of the pudding is in the eating — Results matter more than promises; only actual experience reveals true quality.
There are plenty of pebbles on the beach — Replaceable individuals or opportunities abound; losing one person or chance matters litt…
There is no honor among thieves — Criminals cannot trust each other since shared criminal intent provides no moral foundati…

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