Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-01
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
A person who searches without knowing what lies ahead may come upon something they would rather not have found.
The image also warns against acting or asking questions without enough understanding: the result may be an unwelcome discovery or consequence.
- When it is used
Use the proverb to caution someone who is pressing into an uncertain situation without considering what they might find or what the search itself might bring about.
- Register
- Proverbial, with archaic phrasing
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: He that gropes in the dark finds that he would not.