proverb · Source-linked selection
It is in vain for a man to rise early who has the repute of lying in bed all the morning.
It is in vain for a man to rise early who has the repute of lying in bed all the morning.
In print by 1857 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A changed habit may not immediately change a settled reputation. Consistent evidence over time can matter more than a single effort to reverse others’ expectations.
What the words are saying
The early riser still meets the reputation of a person who stays in bed. The contrast shows how an earlier pattern can outlast the behaviour that produced it. The saying’s claim that reform is in vain is too absolute: repeated reliable action may gradually give others reason to reconsider. It helps distinguish changing conduct from changing its public interpretation. A person can work on the first while accepting limited control over the second, and observers can make room for credible evidence of improvement.
Everyday example
A colleague who often missed deadlines begins delivering on time. The team acknowledges the improvement while waiting for a sustained pattern before changing responsibilities.
When to use it
Use it to discuss the time needed for trust or reputation to change.
Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗
What it does not mean
A reputation can be unfair or mistaken from the start. Do not require endless proof from someone merely because others repeat an old label.
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 (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1857 AD · industrial
In print by 1857: recorded in A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857) (1857 AD)
Printed page 20; French section, paragraph 404; source wording: Il a beau se lever matin qui a le renom de dormir la grasse matinée.
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.