keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it
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used to suggest that if one holds on to something for a long enough time, one will eventually find a purpose or a use for it
The origin of the proverb "keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it" is believed to be rooted in European folk wisdom. It highlights that patience and time can help reveal the true worth of an item or resource. This proverb suggests that it is wise not to discard things hastily, as circumstances may change, and what seems unimportant now could be needed in the future.
- My grandmother never threw anything away - she believed in the old saying that if you keep a thing seven years, you'll eventually find a use for it.