ProverbWisdom
German origin
German originWer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert
Meaning: If you don't value small amounts, you don't deserve large ones.
Literally: He who does not honor the penny is not worth the thaler
Example: “Heb die Münze ruhig auf – wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert.” — Go on, pick up the coin: a penny saved is a penny earned.
Equivalents in English, Japanese, Dutch, Russian, and Polish
English: A penny saved is a penny earned
Japanese: 一銭を笑う者は一銭に泣く (Issen wo warau mono wa issen ni naku) (literally: Those who laugh at a penny will cry over a penny)
Dutch: Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd (literally: Whoever doesn't honor the small isn't worthy of the big)
Russian: Бережёная копейка рубль бережёт (Berezhyonaya kopeyka rubl' berezhyot) (literally: A saved kopeck saves a ruble)
Polish: Grosz do grosza, a będzie kokosza (literally: Penny to penny, and there'll be a hen)
Origin: The Taler was a large silver coin worth many pennies; whoever looks down on the penny won't keep the thaler either.
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