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The mill cannot grind with the water that is past.

Meaning: Dwelling on past opportunities wastes energy; focus your effort on present circumstances to achieve results.

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

Translations

  • French: Le moulin ne moult pas avec l’eau coulée en bas (literally: The mill does not grind with water that is past)

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