Diligence is a good patrimony.

Steady effort can be valuable in the way an inheritance is valuable: it gives a person a resource to draw on when facing work and difficulty.

The proverb presents diligence as a lasting asset. Its worth lies not in property received from others, but in the habit of applying oneself.

Use the proverb to praise consistent effort or to encourage someone to develop useful habits. It fits a discussion of what a person can build through work, especially when inherited resources are not the point.