- English translation
Whoever owns things is never free of worry.
- Literal wording
The owner of the wealth is tired.
- Meaning and lesson
Owning things is presented as a source of constant strain, meaning ongoing worry and effort rather than bodily fatigue. Whatever a person holds, whether money, land, animals, or goods, demands work to make it productive, effort to keep it, and anxiety about losing it, so possession brings worry along with comfort.
The saying can temper envy of the well-off by pointing to the hidden burdens of ownership. It may also serve as a mild reflection that having less can mean fewer cares, without condemning wealth outright.
- When it is used
Suitable when someone envies a wealthy person, complains about the upkeep of a house, land, or business, or hesitates to acquire more. It can console those with little or gently remind owners that holding things brings duties and worry.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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