- English translation
An oversized stone misses the target.
- Literal wording
Whoever makes the stone large will not hit the mark.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying warns that a plan or attack can fail when it is made too grand, heavy, or conspicuous. Its image is of a stone made so unwieldy that it can no longer be aimed accurately; force alone does not ensure success.
In dealing with an adversary, it favors restraint and precise calculation over displays of scale. More broadly, it can caution against any overblown strategy: a smaller, carefully controlled move may be more effective than an impressive but poorly directed one.
- When it is used
Use it to caution against overblown tactics in a conflict, dispute, or competitive situation, especially when a carefully chosen, manageable response would be more effective than a large but poorly controlled attempt.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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