It's better to have something, than nothing at all.
This expression is first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 book of proverbs:
Throwe no gyft agayne at the giuers head,
For better is halfe a lofe then no bread.
John Heywood (c. 1497 – c. 1580) was a 16th century English dramatist employed as a singer, musician and playwright at the court of Henry VIII, and, later, at the court of Henry's daughter, Queen Mary. When the Protestant Elizabeth I succeeded to the throne in 1564, Heywood (a Roman Catholic) fled to Belgium where he stayed for the rest of his life. He is considered important to the development of English comedy, and is also remembered for his epigrams, proverbs and ballads.
More expressions and their source
Challenge yourself with BookBrowse Wordplays
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide.
The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson
From the new Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks, a richly-woven story of family, forgiveness, and reinvention.
The Funeral Cryer by Wenyan Lu
Debut novelist Wenyan Lu brings us this witty yet profound story about one woman's midlife reawakening in contemporary rural China.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
