
ProverbWisdom
English origin
Too much liberty spoils all.
Meaning: Unlimited freedom without restraint breeds chaos; boundaries enable flourishing.
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.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 2 more languages
French: Trop de zèle gâte tout (literally: Too much zeal spoils all)
Spanish: Ni tanto ni tan calvo (literally: Neither so much nor so bald (avoid both extremes))
Japanese: 過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如し (Sugitaru wa nao oyobazaru ga gotoshi) (literally: Going too far is just like falling short)
German: Allzu viel ist ungesund (literally: Too much is unhealthy)
Italian: Il troppo stroppia (literally: Too much cripples)
Polish: Co za dużo, to niezdrowo (literally: Too much is unhealthy)
Chinese: 过犹不及 (Guò yóu bù jí) (literally: Going too far is as bad as falling short)
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks You're getting on my nerves.
- Schlaumeier A smart aleck or know-it-all.
- 石頭 (Ishiatama) A stubborn, inflexible person who won't budge.
Keep exploring