- English translation
An egg cannot break a stone.
- Literal wording
The egg does not break the stone.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying points to the futility of confronting a much stronger obstacle with means too weak to affect it. It advises recognizing when an attempted remedy, challenge, or effort is unequal to the problem.
It may be said of someone who persists with an inadequate approach against entrenched power or a hard reality. Its force lies in the contrast between fragility and hardness, urging a more realistic choice of method or objective.
- When it is used
Use it as a caution about taking on a problem with tools, resources, or strength plainly insufficient for the task. It can comment on a futile effort without necessarily condemning the person's intention.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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