A stingy man is always poor.
A stingy man is always poor.
Meaning in plain English
Someone who refuses to use or share anything can experience possessions as perpetual scarcity. The saying criticises miserliness rather than people who lack resources.
Example
A club has ample reserves for replacing a broken heater, yet its treasurer refuses every expense while members continue meeting in the cold.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Always poor is a figurative description of a person who cannot enjoy what they possess. The store of resources may increase, but the fear of parting with anything keeps ordinary benefits out of reach. The proverb asks what saving is for and when a reasonable use would serve that purpose. It distinguishes careful provision from a refusal that defeats the value of the provision itself. This does not make poverty a matter of attitude or imply that everyone can afford generosity.
When to use it
Use it when hoarding prevents resources from fulfilling their purpose.
Keep in mind
Financial caution may be necessary. Do not apply the accusation of stinginess to someone protecting basic needs or facing an uncertain income.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 20; French section, paragraph 397; source wording: Homme chiche jamais riche.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗