- English translation
Crying over what is already gone only shows a lack of sense.
- Literal wording
Weeping over what has passed is a shortfall in the mind.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying holds that lamenting something already lost or over and done with shows poor judgment. Tears and complaints cannot restore what has slipped away, so dwelling on it only wastes effort and reveals a lapse in good sense.
In practice it urges a person to accept what cannot be changed and redirect attention to what still lies within reach. It frames emotional fixation on the past as unreasonable, favoring composure and forward-looking action.
- When it is used
Use it reproachfully when someone laments an irreversible loss or missed opportunity, arguing that tears cannot bring it back. The saying explicitly treats such weeping as a failure of judgment, so it may sound severe or hurtful when directed at someone in genuine grief.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Crying over what is already gone only shows a lack of sense.