ProverbWisdom
English originc. 1400
English originc. 1400The worst wheel of a cart creaks most.
Meaning: The most damaged or weakest part of any system draws attention and creates problems disproportionate to its size.
Origin: A manuscript of about 1400 already says the worst spoke of the cart creaks, and Aesop's fable of the oxen and the creaking cart makes the same point: the one that does least complains most. Benjamin Franklin printed "The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise" in 1737.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, Dutch, and Russian
French: C’est toujours la plus mauvaise roue qui crie (literally: The worst wheel always creaks most)
Spanish: La peor rueda del carro es la que más chirría (literally: The worst wheel of the cart is the one that squeaks the most)
German: Das schlechteste Rad am Wagen knarrt am meisten (literally: The worst wheel on the wagon creaks the most)
Dutch: Het slechtste rad maakt het meeste geraas (literally: The worst wheel makes the most noise)
Russian: Худое колесо пуще скрипит (Khudoe koleso pushche skripit) (literally: A bad wheel creaks louder)
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