- English translation
Even mountains of kohl wear away with use, and time can consume even great wealth.
- Literal wording
Mountains of kohl are used up by applicators, and great wealth is used up by the years.
- Meaning and lesson
Even a vast store can disappear through repeated small uses and the mere passage of time. The saying counsels against mistaking present abundance for permanence or security.
Its force lies in accumulation: individual losses may look trivial, yet their continuation can exhaust what once seemed immense. It encourages foresight, restraint, and attention to gradual depletion, without implying that every small withdrawal is harmful.
- When it is used
Use it to caution someone against complacency about money, supplies, or another limited resource that is being steadily drawn down over time.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Even mountains of kohl wear away with use, and time can consume even great wealth.