Sätta bocken till trädgårdsmästare.
“To make the goat the gardener.”
Putting someone in charge of exactly the thing they are most likely to abuse or destroy.
— Traditional Sweden Wisdom, Sweden
Source: Traditional Swedish proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Sweden
Away is good, but home is best.
No matter how pleasant travel or other places may be, one's own home is the most comfortable and cherished.
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Moderation is best.
The ideal is neither too little nor too much but a balanced, sufficient amount — the uniquely Swedish notion of 'lagom'.
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The morning hour has gold in its mouth.
Rising early and starting work in the morning brings reward and productivity.
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Better one bird in the hand than ten in the forest.
A small certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain possibility.
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The more cooks, the worse the soup.
Too many people involved in one task spoil the result.
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One should not cross the stream to fetch water.
Do not seek far away what is already close at hand; avoid making things needlessly complicated.
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