When the head aches, all the body is the worse.
Meaning: A leader's weakness or poor decisions inevitably harm everyone under their authority.
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 Wisdom
- God healeth, and the physician hath the thanks. — Skilled professionals receive credit for outcomes they facilitate, even when forces beyon…
- Where the hedge is lowest, men commonly leap over. — Temptation proves strongest where safeguards are weakest, inviting transgression.
- A low hedge is easily leapt over. — Weak boundaries invite transgression; those who set minimal standards find them readily i…
- One pair of heels is often worth two pair of hands. — Women's domestic labor, though undervalued, accomplishes more than additional male worker…
- Hide nothing from thy minister, physician, and lawyer. — Trust these three professionals completely; withholding information from them undermines…
- He is not wise that is not wise for himself. — Self-interest in practical matters—securing one's own welfare—constitutes genuine wisdom,…
From our tongue twisters
- خالد خلّى خلال خاله في الخلاء. (Khālid khallā khalāl khālih fī al-khalāʾ.) — A rapid-fire 'kh' (خ) drill — the throaty fricative that non-Arabic speakers find uniquel…
- غاب الغيم وغابت غابة الغاب. (Ghāb al-ghaym wa ghābat ghābat al-ghāb.) — An unbroken sequence of 'gh' (غ) — a voiced uvular fricative that drills the back of the…
- Khadak Singh ke khadakne se khadakti hain khidkiyan, khidkiyon ke khadakne se khadakte hain Khadak Singh. — A 'kh/kh/kh' recursive loop — each clause triggers the other, like a rattling chain react…