Wrinkled purses make wrinkled faces.
Meaning: Poverty and financial hardship leave visible marks of stress and worry upon a person's appearance.
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
- Anything for a quiet life. — Compromising principles for peace often costs more than the temporary harmony it buys.
- Small rain lays great dust. — Gentle persistence dissolves entrenched problems that seem immovable through force alone.
- Self do, self have. — Personal effort yields personal reward; what you accomplish yourself remains genuinely yo…
- Short reckonings are soon cleared. — Quick settlements of debts prevent disputes and preserve relationships before resentment…
- White silver draws black lines. — Silver's brilliance requires contrast; purity and darkness define each other's value.
- Don't wake a sleeping dog. — Disturbing a calm situation risks provoking unnecessary anger or conflict.
From our false friends
- Firma — Actually means 'signature'. Metti la tua firma = Put your signature here.
- Magazzino — Actually means 'warehouse' or 'storeroom'. A magazine (periodical) is una rivista.
- Conveniente — Actually means 'affordable', 'good value', or 'suitable'. È conveniente = It's a good dea…