There's no such thing as a free lunch
Meaning: Everything has a hidden cost.
Origin: In 19th-century American saloons, a "free lunch" of salty food came with the purchase of a drink — and the salt made sure customers bought more. Robert Heinlein's novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966) popularized the acronym TANSTAAFL, and the economist Milton Friedman used the phrase as the title of a 1975 book.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Rien n'est gratuit dans la vie (literally: Nothing is free in life)
- Spanish: Nadie da duros a cuatro pesetas (literally: Nobody gives duros for four pesetas)
- Japanese: ただより高いものはない (Tada yori takai mono wa nai) (literally: Nothing is more expensive than free)
- German: Umsonst ist der Tod, und der kostet das Leben (literally: Only death is free, and it costs you your life)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst — Optimism should be balanced with practical preparation.
- Don't make a mountain out of a molehill — Don't exaggerate small problems.
- The grass withers, the flower fades — All worldly things are temporary.
- First come, first served — Opportunities go to those who arrive early.
- A fool and his money are soon parted — Foolish people quickly lose their wealth.
- The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now — The right time to act is always now, no matter how late it feels.