A thing too much seen is little prized.
A thing too much seen is little prized.
Meaning in plain English
Frequent familiarity can reduce appreciation. Something useful or valuable may be taken for granted because it is always present rather than because its worth has diminished.
Example
A team rarely thanks the colleague who keeps its shared records accurate. When they describe how the records prevent missed work, that steady contribution becomes more visible.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Repeated exposure can make a thing seem ordinary. The proverb separates that feeling from the value of the thing itself. Reliable assistance, a familiar place or an everyday skill may attract less notice than something new, despite contributing steadily. Making the contribution explicit can restore attention without pretending that everything familiar deserves admiration. It also helps distinguish appreciation from constant excitement. A dependable resource does not have to surprise us each day to remain important in our lives.
When to use it
Use it to notice value hidden by routine familiarity.
Keep in mind
Familiarity can also reveal genuine flaws. Appreciation should not require ignoring evidence that something needs to change.
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 13; French section, paragraph 266; source wording: Chose trop vue n’est chère tenue.
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 ↗