ProverbHub
English · Latin scriptProverb: Verified

The ass that brays most, eats least.

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
Meaning and lesson

The proverb contrasts conspicuous noise with a meagre result. Making oneself heard is not the same as securing something worthwhile.

Applied to people, it suggests that excessive talk or self-display can accompany little practical achievement. It invites attention to outcomes rather than volume.

When it is used

Use it to criticize someone who talks loudly or at length while producing little of substance. It can also caution against mistaking a forceful presence for effective action.

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Proverbial and critical
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How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.

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