Где тонко, там и рвётся
With accent marks:
Где то́нко, там и рвётся.
Translation:
Where it is thin, it breaks.
Meaning:
Everything that is in a poor, unsustainable, neglected state becomes a cause of great misfortune, problem, disaster. New troubles begin exactly where it was already bad before.
The same idea is expressed in other languages by many peoples of the world.
The closest English equivalents of this Russian proverb are:
- The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
- The worst spoke in a cart breaks first.
Other Russian proverbs
-
Poor people are inventive.
-
Жизнь прожить – не поле перейти
To live a life is not the same (not as easy) as to go through a field.
-
What you will sow, that you will reap.
-
Что имеем – не храним, а потерявши – плачем
We don't appreciate what we have but we cry when we lose it.
-
Man does not live thanks to bread alone.
-
An old friend is better than two new ones.
-
Everything has its time.
-
The best is the enemy of the good.
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