Old praise dies, unless you feed it.
Old praise dies, unless you feed it.
Meaning in plain English
Past recognition may fade unless it is supported by continuing substance or renewed attention. Feeding old praise gives reputation the needs of a living thing.
Example
A group keeps a valued project useful through careful maintenance instead of relying only on its successful launch.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying imagines praise losing strength when nothing sustains it. A person or piece of work may once have been valued, but that earlier response is not always enough to keep attention indefinitely. It can encourage continued worthwhile effort or care for something people want to preserve. Feeding praise should not mean manufacturing applause or demanding repeated compliments. A useful reading asks whether there is something real to maintain, rather than treating constant public recognition as the only sign of value.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish an earlier achievement from what sustains its present value.
Keep in mind
Recognition can fade despite merit, and a person need not continually earn their basic worth.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1285 · Praise
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 ↗