They that will not work in heat, must hunger in frost.
Meaning: Refusing effort during favorable conditions guarantees hardship when circumstances turn difficult.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- The world was never so dull but if one won't another will. — Opportunity always finds a willing participant if the first person refuses it.
- This world is nothing except it tend to the next. — Earthly pursuits lack purpose unless they cultivate spiritual growth and eternal salvatio…
- There needs a long time to know the world's pulse. — Understanding society's true nature requires patient, sustained observation rather than h…
- When things get to the worst, they'll mend. — Despair blinds us to recovery; suffering naturally exhausts itself and reverses.
- Help yourself and your friends will like you. — Self-reliance builds respect; those who solve their own problems attract genuine companio…
- If you want a thing done, do it yourself. — Delegating tasks risks poor execution, so personal effort guarantees desired results.
From our tongue twisters
- Карл у Клары украл кораллы, Клара у Карла украла кларнет. (Karl u Klary ukral korally, Klara u Karla ukrala klarnet.) — A 'kl/kr/r' drama — crime, countercrimes, and consonant clusters all at once.
- Корабли лавировали, лавировали, да не вылавировали. (Korabli lavirovali, lavirovali, da ne vylavirovali.) — One verb, three inflections, pure 'lav/vir' torture — the word grows with every repetitio…
- W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie i Szczebrzeszyn z tego słynie. — The opening of a poem by Julian Tuwim, now Poland's most-quoted tongue twister — the cons…