Mills will not grind if you give them not water. 
Proverbs on a similar topic
- Easy come, easy go.
- As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
- The labourer is worthy of his hire.
- As you bake so shall you eat.
- He who greases his wheels helps his oxen.
- As you sow you shall mow.
- The cow knows not What her tail is worth till she hath lost it.
- Come with the Wind, go with the water.
- A toiling dog comes halting home.
- Sow thin and mow thin.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in the same language
English
- Even a bagpipe won't speak till his belly be full.
Similar proverbs in another language
French
-
Quand la cornemuse est pleine on en chante mieux.
When the bagpipes are full, they sing better.
-
Jamais la cornemuse ne dit mot si elle n'a le ventre plein.
The bagpipe never says a word unless its belly is full.
German
-
Ein Dudelsack pfeift nicht, wenn er nicht voll ist.
A bagpipe does not whistle when it is not full.
Czech
-
Zadarmo ani kuře nehrabe.
He doesn't even dig for free.
-
Kdo lépe krmen, lépe táhne.
He who is better fed, pulls better.
-
Jak dudy nadmeš, tak hrají.
When you blow the bagpipes, they play.
-
Lačný osel ani kůň nepotáhne.
A lazy donkey can't pull a horse.
-
Kdo syt, ten táhne.
He who is full, pulls.
-
Bolí hrdlo zpívat darmo.
It hurts my throat to sing for nothing.