Tis easy to build castles in the air.

Meaning: Imagination costs nothing, but translating dreams into reality requires effort and resources.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

French: Faire des châteaux en Espagne (literally: To build castles in the air)

Rolling in cash he can't use, like a cat in a corn-bin. — Abundance becomes worthless when it's fundamentally unsuited to one's nature or needs.
The cat is hungry when a crust contents her. — Extreme hunger makes even the poorest sustenance—a mere crust—seem like a satisfying meal.
The cat sees not the mouse ever. — A predator blinded by complacency allows its prey to escape unnoticed.
When the cat winketh, little wots the mouse what the cat thinketh. — A predator's benign appearance masks hidden intentions; never trust surface calm from tho…
Though the cat winks awhile, yet sure she is not blind. — Temporary inattention doesn't indicate genuine inability; the cat merely feigns sleep whi…
Those are wise who learn caution from their own experience; but those are wiser who learn it from the experience of others. — Benefiting from others' mistakes costs less than accumulating your own painful lessons.

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