When two ride together one must ride behind.
Meaning: Hierarchies emerge naturally when people work jointly; someone must defer or follow the other's lead.
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
- Let the best dog leap the stile first. — Merit should determine priority; the most capable should lead the way.
- The better the day, the better the deed. — Good fortune amplifies moral responsibility—prosperity demands virtue, not vice.
- Every bird must hatch her own egg. — Each creature bears sole responsibility for nurturing what they themselves have created o…
- One beats the bush and another catcheth the bird. — One person's labor enables another's gain, rewarding the opportunist over the worker.
- Even small birds must have meat. — The poorest among us require sustenance and dignity, not merely scraps or leftovers.
- He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison. — Indiscriminately sampling everything you encounter will eventually expose you to somethin…
From our compliments & insults
- Du hast doch einen Vogel — You're a bit out of your mind.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks — You're getting on my nerves.
- Schlaumeier — A smart aleck or know-it-all.