You cannot step into the same river twice
Meaning: Everything is constantly in flux; no experience can ever truly be repeated.
Origin: From the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (c. 500 BC), as paraphrased in Plato's Cratylus: everything flows, and you cannot step twice into the same river, because fresh waters are always flowing past. The saying expresses his view that the world is constant change.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: On ne se baigne jamais deux fois dans le même fleuve (literally: One never bathes twice in the same river)
- Spanish: Nunca te bañas dos veces en el mismo río (literally: You never bathe twice in the same river)
- Japanese: 同じ川に二度入ることはできない (Onaji kawa ni nido hairu koto wa dekinai) (literally: You cannot step into the same river twice)
- German: Man kann nicht zweimal in denselben Fluss steigen (literally: One cannot step into the same river twice)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- A little knowledge is a dangerous thing — Partial knowledge breeds overconfidence and can be more harmful than honest ignorance.
- The frog in the well knows not the great ocean — Those with limited experience cannot comprehend the vastness of the wider world.
- A good beginning makes a good ending — How you start something largely determines how it will finish; preparation and intention…
- He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened — Understanding others requires wisdom, but self-knowledge is the highest form of understan…
- Measure twice, cut once — Take time to plan carefully before acting, to avoid costly and irreversible mistakes.
- The best mirror is an old friend — True friends who have known us for a long time see us most clearly and honestly.