Better are small fish than an empty dish

Better are small fish then an empty dish.
[1678 J. Ray English Proverbs 204]

Sma' fish are better than nane.
[1862 A. Hislop Proverbs of Scotland 171]

Better are small fish than an empty dish.
[1874 painted on cornice at Ascott House, Wing, Bucks., UK.]

Better are small fish than an empty dish.
[1971 J. Gluski Proverbs 133]

Why should the great ones of this world settle such particular questions? However, the answer is simple: better a small fish than an empty dish.
[2000 Pravda (English version, online ed.) 17 Oct.]

Related to: content and discontent

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.