proverb · Words worth keeping
Better a fortune in her than on her.
Better a fortune in her than on her.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A partner’s qualities matter more than the wealth attached to them. The contrast between fortune in and on a person redirects attention from possessions to character.
Example
Someone considering a partnership gives greater weight to mutual respect and dependable conduct than to impressive possessions.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying compares an inward kind of value with an outward material advantage. Read in the context of choosing a partner, it can encourage attention to kindness, judgment and compatibility instead of treating money as the decisive attraction. Its gendered wording belongs to the source; the principle can apply to anyone. A person is not a prize or a financial asset, and character should be understood through conduct rather than idealised expectations.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish a person’s qualities from the advantages associated with their wealth.
Keep in mind
People are not assets, and wealth or its absence does not establish character.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their 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
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English