The great Homer himself sometimes nods.
Meaning: Even the most skilled and accomplished people occasionally make mistakes or lose focus.
Origin: From the Roman poet Horace's Ars Poetica, where he says he is annoyed whenever good Homer nods — then allows that in a long work, some drowsiness is forgivable. It is said whenever a master makes an uncharacteristic slip.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- Doing nothing is the hardest work. — Idleness demands constant mental struggle against restlessness and guilt, making it parad…
- Old friends to meet, old wine to drink, and old wood to burn. — Cherished relationships and familiar comforts—people, drinks, and fires—improve with time…
- Old friends and old wine are best. — Enduring relationships and tried experiences improve with time, unlike novelty which ofte…
- Once well done is twice done. — Completing work carefully the first time eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming c…
- None is so wise but the fool overtakes him sometimes. — Even the cleverest person occasionally errs, while chance may grant unexpected advantage…
- Pardon all men, but never thyself. — Holding yourself to stricter standards than others builds personal integrity through self…
From our tongue twisters
- Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando. — An unbroken stampede of 'tr' and 't'.
- 東京特許許可局 (Tōkyō tokkyo kyokakyoku) — A machine-gun of 'kyo' / 'kyoku' sounds.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. — An 's' / 'si' minefield.