You can't make ropes of sand.
Meaning: Attempting to bind unstable elements together will fail; fragile foundations cannot support lasting structures.
Origin: Sand cannot be twisted into anything that holds. "A rope of sand" has meant a useless or futile bond in English since the 17th century.
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.
From our tongue twisters
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. — A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. — A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
- Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. — Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…