You can't make ropes of sand.

Meaning: Attempting to bind unstable elements together will fail; fragile foundations cannot support lasting structures.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. — Fair rules must apply equally to both parties, regardless of gender or status.
Sweet meat must have some sauce. — Desirable things often require effort, cost, or unpleasant accompaniment to obtain them f…
One scabbed sheep infects the whole flock. — A single corrupted member spreads moral or practical contamination throughout an entire c…
A sceptre is one thing, a ladle another. — Different tools suit different purposes; authority and domestic work require wholly disti…
A mere scholar a mere ass. — Accumulated knowledge without practical judgment or common sense produces foolishness, no…
The greatest scholars are not always the wisest men. — Deep knowledge doesn't guarantee good judgment or practical sense in living well.

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