Where it is weakest there the thread breaketh.
Meaning: Failure occurs at the point of greatest vulnerability, not where strength exists.
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, and German
- French: Où il est faible le fil se rompt (literally: Where the thread is weakest it breaks)
- Spanish: Siempre quiebra la soga por lo más delgado (literally: The rope always snaps at its thinnest point)
- German: Wo der Strick am dünnsten ist, da reißt er (literally: Where the rope is thinnest, there it tears)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Their folly pleads the privilege of wealth. — Wealth allows the foolish to escape natural consequences that would humble ordinary peopl…
- Everything is the worse for wearing. — Constant use and time erode even the finest things, diminishing their quality and value.
- Who weds ere he be wise shall die ere he thrive. — Marrying without maturity leads to a life of struggle and premature decline.
- Welcome is the best dish on the table. — Genuine hospitality and warmth matter more to guests than the quality or abundance of foo…
- When the well is dug it is easy enough to pump. — Preparation and proper setup make execution effortless; prevention requires foresight bef…
- All things are soon prepared in a well-ordered house. — Efficient systems and discipline enable quick accomplishment of any task, large or small.
From our untranslatable words
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- Matpakke — The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
- Takk for sist — A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…