Nothing for nothing.
Ex nihilo nihil fit.
Meaning and origin
This Latin proverb "Ex nihilo nihil fit." translates to "Nothing comes from/of nothing" in English. It is often used to convey the idea that something cannot come into existence out of nothing, but rather must have a cause or origin.
The origin of this proverb can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides, who first articulated the concept in his philosophical work. It was later adopted and popularized by the Roman poet Lucretius in his epic poem "De Rerum Natura" (On the Nature of Things), where he explores the principles of atomism and the nature of reality. The idea that nothing can come from nothing has since become a fundamental principle in various fields of philosophy, science, and logic.
Proverbs on a similar topic
- Necessity is the mother of invention.
- To make a virtue of necessity.
- In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
- Half a loaf is better than no bread.
- Poverty is the mother of crime.
- Losers are always in the wrong.
- Poverty is no sin.
- Poverty is the mother of all arts.
- An empty sack cannot stand upright.
- Where nothing is the king must lose his right.
- An empty purse fills the face with wrinkles.
- A man cannot give What he hasn't got.
- If thou hast not a capon, feed on an onion.
- Need makes the old wife trot.
- The beggar may sing before the thief.
- If it should rain pottage, he would want his dish.
- Nail drives out nail.
- Who has no horse may ride on a staff.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in the same language
English
- Where nothing is nothing can be had.
- Nothing comes of nothing.
Similar proverbs in another language
Latin
- Ex nihilo nihil fit. From nothing comes nothing.
- E cocto pullus numquam producitur ovo. An egg is never produced from a cooked chicken.
- Ex nihilo nihil gignitur. Nothing is created from nothing.
French
- On ne fait rien de rien. We don't make anything out of nothing.
- A l'impossible nul n'est tenu. The impossible is impossible.
- De rien rien. You're welcome.
German
- Von nichts kommt nichts. Nothing comes from nothing.
- Aus nichts wird nichts. Nothing becomes nothing.
- Mit nichts kann man kein Haus bauen. You can't build a house with nothing.
Czech
- Nula od nuly pojde. Zero to zero will do.
- Z ničeho nebude nic. Nothing will be nothing.
- Za nic zas nic nekoupíš. You can't buy anything with nothing.
- Holý nahého neokryje. Bare doesn't cover naked.