The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest.

Meaning: Heavy loads rarely yield profits; exhausting work often produces meager returns.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

French: En grand fardeau n’est pas l’acquêt (literally: The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest)

Who more busy than they that have least to do. — Idle people create unnecessary tasks to justify their existence and appear productive.
Better pay the butcher than the doctor. — Investing in good food prevents illness more cost-effectively than treating disease after…
Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, lead at night. — Fresh butter's nutritional value diminishes with time, rewarding early consumption over d…
What is a pound of butter amongst a kennel of hounds? — One small gift cannot satisfy many hungry recipients, so generosity loses its value when…
Once a year butter is in the cow's horn. — Even the poorest circumstances offer occasional abundance if you wait long enough for for…
He knows on which side his bread is buttered. — Self-interest guides his loyalty; he cultivates favor with those who benefit him most.

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