3 Timeless Proverbs That Will Change Your Life
Simple Wisdom for a Year of Action
When I started the job, I had no idea what I was doing. They promised me an office, but for the first year, I worked from home. My weekly task list? Two items. I could knock those out in a day, which left me with four other days to “fill.”
Meanwhile, my wife drove an hour to her real job, worked eight hours, and drove home only to find me in my pajamas, in front of the TV playing Nintendo. This was the early ’90s, and let’s say she didn’t find as much joy in that as I did.
By week one, I had already finished my tasks, so I went to the library and checked out a book about a legendary witch who lived near our town. Reading about witches might have been better than playing video games, but it wasn’t exactly work.
When you don’t have meaningful work, you’ll usually fill your time with things that do not move your life forward. (In this case, even meaningful work can lead to wasted time if you’re unsure what to do or how to do it.)
That’s why, as we head into 2026, I want to talk about work. Not just the kind that pays the bills, but the kind that builds the life you actually want. And to do that, I’ve got three ancient proverbs that will change your life.
Work Brings Profit, Talk Brings Poverty
New Year’s Resolutions are becoming a thing of the past. People made statements like: “I’m going to get fit,” “I’ll start saving,” and “This is the year I write that book.” They later realized these are wishes unless they’re backed up with action.
Oscar Wilde nailed it when he said:
Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.
A goal without a plan, and a plan without work = just a wish.
Work creates momentum. Even small steps compound over time, turning effort into results. The person who acts will always outpace the person who only talks about “getting around to it.” Action is the bridge between intention and impact.
When I’ve lost weight, it wasn’t magic. It was one meal at a time. When I’ve saved money, it was saying “No” to myself when I wanted something shiny.
Just last week, I tossed peanut butter cookie dough and mini Reese’s Cups into my cart, even though we had homemade cookies at home. Three steps later, I stopped and said:
Hey b#tth3ad, you don’t need these two items. You have desserts at home. Don’t spend this money! Your wife and daughter spent a few hours making those cookies, and you want to bring home these items just because you have a hankering for this crap?
That’s what action looks like: small, deliberate choices. If you’ve been saying, “I’ll start next week,” make today your “next week.” Talking feels productive, but only work brings profit. In 2026, let’s trade chatter for progress.
An Empty Stable Stays Clean, But There Is No Income From An Empty Stable
Clean is easy. Progress is messy. If everything in your life looks neat and perfect, chances are you’re not doing enough to grow. An empty stable is spotless, but also useless. Productivity often comes with clutter, noise, and a little chaos.
Starting a new project means papers on the desk, ideas scribbled on sticky notes, and maybe a few late nights. Building a business means learning new tools, making mistakes, and fixing them. Even getting fit means sweaty clothes and dishes from healthy meals. Growth leaves a trail.
Growth leaves a trail.
If you’re holding back because you don’t want the mess, you are holding back the income, the progress, and the joy that come with doing something meaningful. In 2026, let’s embrace the mess that comes with movement.
A Hard Worker Has Plenty of Food, But a Person Who Chases Fantasies Has No Sense
Dreams are fine, but they don’t pay the bills. Hard work does. Chasing fantasies feels exciting because it’s easy to imagine success without effort.
But if all you do is scroll through “get rich quick” videos or wait for the perfect opportunity, you’ll end up hungry: figuratively (and maybe literally).
I used to watch the Powerball and Mega Millions drawing totals in my state. I kept a spreadsheet of how I’d spend the money if I hit “the big one.” It was exhilarating thinking through this list. Below is just the first section.
Not pictured are sections on what charities I’d donate to, how my wife and I would spend what was left, and what we’d leave to our friends and family.
Unfortunately, I never won. Fantasies promise instant results, but they rarely deliver.
Most worthwhile things take time: saving money, building a career, improving your health. Hard work may not be glamorous, but it’s the only path that guarantees progress.
Identify one fantasy you’ve been chasing. Maybe it’s the idea of overnight success or a “magic” solution, and replace it with a concrete, actionable step. In 2026, let’s stop chasing illusions and start building something real.
Make 2026 the Year of Action
Talk is easy. Work is hard—but it’s worth it. These three ancient truths remind us that progress doesn’t come from perfect plans or wishful thinking. It comes from rolling up our sleeves and doing the work that matters.
Work brings profit, talk brings poverty – Resolutions without action are just noise.
An empty stable stays clean, but there is no income from an empty stable – Growth is messy, and that’s okay.
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense – Stop chasing shortcuts; start building something real.
If you want 2026 to look different, it’s simple: stop talking and start working. Progress comes from deliberate steps, not perfect plans.
If you’d like tips on how to make better decisions in 2026, subscribe to Disgustingly Simple Life Advice. Life is simple, but living can be a challenge.