
ProverbWisdom
French origin14th c.
The pitcher does not go so often to the water, but it comes home broken at last.
Meaning: Repeated exposure to risk eventually results in failure, no matter how fortunate previous escapes.
Example: “He's gotten away with speeding for years, but the pitcher goes to the well once too often.”
Origin: A medieval proverb: a pot carried to the water often enough will eventually break. French had it early in the 14th century, and the English Ayenbite of Inwit (1340) says the pot goes so long to the water that it comes home broken. Keep taking the same risk and one day it will catch up with you.
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