Who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard.
Meaning: Rebellion against authority demands absolute commitment—there is no safe retreat or hedge your bets.
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 Communication
- Talk of the devil and his imp appears. — Mentioning someone unexpectedly often causes them to arrive or contact you shortly after.
- The greatest talkers are always the least doers. — Excessive speech consumes energy better spent on action, making verbose people perpetuall…
- He loseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth. — Postponing promised help damages gratitude, as delayed assistance feels less generous tha…
- One may think that dares not speak. — Silent thoughts remain powerless; voicing ideas, however risky, gives them potential forc…
- Think twice before you speak once. — Hasty words cause irreversible harm; deliberation before speaking prevents regret and mis…
- Think much, speak little, and write less. — Excessive speech and writing scatter thought; silence preserves wisdom's clarity and powe…
From our compliments & insults
- És uma joia — You're a gem — a precious, lovely person.
- Sei un salame — You're a clumsy, dopey softie — said with a smile.
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco — You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.