You can't accumulate if you don't speculate. So, though funds were running a bit low by this time, I invested a couple of bob in a cab.
[1925 Wodehouse ‘Bit of Luck for Mabel’ in Eggs, Beans and Crumpets (1963) 127]
Krebs took out his billfold. ‘Can you give me any assurance that you have useful information?’ ‘Nope.’‥‘You never accumulate if you don't speculate.’
[1941 D. Dodge Death & Taxes xxiii.]
Don't spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar, or, putting it another way, if you don't speculate, you can't accumulate.
[1957 Wodehouse Something Fishy iv.]
‘Bloody liquor's becoming an expense.’ ‘Won't be for long. You have to speculate to accumulate, if we kept her sober we couldn't do it our way.’
[1984 J. S. Scott All Pretty People ix.]
Related to: gains and losses; riches; risk
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
