proverb · Words worth keeping
A man may hap to bring home with him what makes him weep.
A man may hap to bring home with him what makes him weep.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Something brought home can later become a cause of sorrow. The saying invites thought about a choice’s consequences while leaving room for disappointment that could not reasonably have been foreseen.
Example
A household discusses the continuing care a new commitment requires before accepting it on the strength of an attractive first impression.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The homeward movement usually suggests gaining or welcoming something, but the outcome here is weeping. That contrast asks whether an apparent acquisition will serve the life into which it is introduced. Consider responsibilities and consequences alongside immediate appeal. The word may leaves the outcome uncertain rather than declaring that every new arrival brings regret. It is also possible for sorrow to arise despite a thoughtful choice. Use the image to encourage careful consideration, not to make a person responsible for everything painful that later happens.
When to use it
Use it to consider continuing responsibilities behind something initially appealing.
Keep in mind
Do not blame someone for unforeseeable sorrow or assume that every new commitment will go badly.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (Spanish-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown