A mouse, in time, may bite in two a cable.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Small repeated efforts can gradually overcome a larger obstacle. Notice cumulative progress rather than assuming that an action is useless because one attempt has little visible effect.

What the words are saying

The mouse is small and the cable substantial, making persistence the source of the imagined result. The image can apply to practice, repair or a long task divided into manageable actions. Each contribution may seem modest, but a suitable repeated process can change the whole. The proverb does not show that every obstacle yields to repetition. A method can be ineffective, and some problems require different resources or cooperation. The useful question is whether the small actions are actually moving towards the purpose. Persistence works best with observation and adjustment rather than being praised independently of its effect.

Everyday example

A volunteer corrects a few catalogue entries each session and keeps track of the remaining work, gradually completing a task that would be overwhelming in one sitting.

When to use it

Use it to recognise meaningful cumulative progress through suitable repeated actions.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.