The mouse that hath but one hole is easily taken.
Meaning: A creature relying on single escape route faces inevitable capture when discovered.
Origin: The Roman playwright Plautus praised the mouse that never trusts its life to one hole only, and Chaucer's Wife of Bath says she would not give a leek for a mouse's heart that has but one hole to flee to. George Herbert's collection gives the English proverb. Always have more than one way out.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- In an orderly house all is soon ready. — Organized systems and preventive habits eliminate the friction and delay that chaos creat…
- Some are wise, and some are otherwise. — Intelligence distributes unevenly among people; foolishness is as common as wisdom.
- Do what thou ought, let come what may. — Fulfill your moral duties regardless of feared consequences or uncertain outcomes.
- Be not too hasty to outbid another. — Competitive overbidding exhausts resources while enriching only the seller, benefiting ne…
- Study to be worthy of your parents. — Striving for excellence honors those who raised you and validates their investment in you…
- Patch and sit long, build and soon flit. — Maintaining what you have requires patience; creating anew invites restless abandonment.
From our compliments & insults
- 空気が読めない (kūki ga yomenai) — Completely oblivious to the unspoken social mood — the person who kills the atmosphere wi…
- 눈치가 없다 (nunchi ga eopda) — Hopelessly socially oblivious — can't pick up on emotional cues, awkward silences, or uns…
- حمار (ḥimār) — A stubborn fool — the donkey being the universal symbol of obstinacy in Arabic culture.