- English translation
The bald man is bound to end up at the old-sandal seller.
- Literal wording
The bald man's end is at the seller of old sandals.
- Meaning and lesson
The picture is of a man whose bald head spoils any cap he wears, so caps never last him long. His fate, rather than any literal journey, is to end up at the dealer in worn sandals, whose sturdy leather can be turned into a durable covering for his head.
The lesson drawn from this image is that every person, in the end, arrives at whatever genuinely fits them. Whatever else may be tried, the outcome that matches one's condition is where one finally settles.
- When it is used
Apply it when observing that someone has come to rest with the thing, place, or arrangement that suits their particular circumstances, illustrating the idea that each person inevitably reaches what fits them.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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