proverb · Words worth keeping
A sack was never so full but that it would hold another grain.
A sack was never so full but that it would hold another grain.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Something that appears completely full may still admit a small addition. Check the actual limit before treating a convenient description as an exact measure of capacity.
Example
A librarian checks whether a slim booklet will fit on a nearly full shelf rather than assuming there is no remaining space.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The extra grain tests the word full in the source image. A container can seem unable to hold more while still leaving room for something very small. Applied elsewhere, the comparison questions an absolute claim that no adjustment is possible. Examine the real constraints rather than relying on appearance or a routine answer. The image does not prove unlimited capacity. Small additions can accumulate, and making room may require a change that affects other people. A genuine limit deserves respect once it has been established.
When to use it
Use it to test an absolute claim about capacity through a particular small addition.
Keep in mind
Do not use the image to pressure an overloaded person into accepting ever more work.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown