A cat loves fish, but she's loth to wet her feet.

Someone may want a desirable result while shrinking from the effort or discomfort involved in getting it. The proverb contrasts a strong appetite for the reward with reluctance to act.

It points out that wanting something is not enough when obtaining it requires an unwelcome step. The hesitation, rather than the desire, is what the saying calls attention to.

Use this proverb when someone expresses a wish for a benefit but avoids a necessary inconvenience, such as wanting a task completed while refusing to do the work it requires.