proverb · Words worth keeping
A poor man's table is soon spread.
A poor man's table is soon spread.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Limited means may leave a meal simple to prepare because little is available. The saying recognises scarcity without making it a virtue or an occasion for ridicule.
What the words are saying
The table is quickly spread because its provision is imagined to be modest. It can prompt attention to a person’s circumstances before judging an offer of hospitality. Simplicity may also be chosen freely, so appearance alone does not establish poverty. A useful reading values the welcome and considers practical support where it is wanted.
Everyday example
Guests appreciate a modest meal without comparing it dismissively with what a wealthier household might offer.
When to use it
Use it to reflect respectfully on modest provision and hospitality.
What it does not mean
A simple table does not prove poverty, and limited means do not reduce dignity.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1576 · Table
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English