little strokes fell great oaks

English

Proverb

little strokes fell great oaks

1. (idiomatic) Small but persistent efforts can lead to big results.
   • 1873, The Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal, page 685:

     “Little strokes fell great oaks,” says the steady worker. “One stroke fells not an oak,” makes a piece of advice to the impetuous. In danger the insignificant may console themselves with the reflection that “Oaks may fall and reeds brave the storm.

Translations

proverb

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 水滴石穿 (zh) (shuǐdīshíchuān)

• Danish: mange bække små gør en stor å
• Finnish: jokainen pisara muovaa kiveä
• German: steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein (de)
• Hungarian: lassú víz partot mos (hu)
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: ка́пля ка́мень то́чит (ru) (káplja kámenʹ tóčit) (literally, a drop gnaws the stone)

See also

• mighty oaks from little acorns grow