Mischiefs come by the pound and go away by the ounce.

Troubles may arrive rapidly and in great quantity, while removing or repairing their effects takes much longer and proceeds only little by little.

The proverb contrasts a large measure with a small one to stress this common imbalance: harm can accumulate suddenly, but recovery, restitution, and resolution often demand patience and sustained effort; it is not a guarantee about every difficulty.

Use it when setbacks, damage, or complications have piled up quickly but can be dealt with only gradually. It can console someone facing a long repair process or warn against expecting a swift cure for accumulated problems.