“One swallow does not make a summer”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase means that a single occurrence or sign does not necessarily indicate a larger trend or truth. It suggests that one positive event is not enough to assume that the situation is favorable overall.
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Where it comes from
The phrase is derived from a saying attributed to Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics, reflecting the observation that the appearance of a single swallow does not mean that the summer season has arrived.
Examples
- Just because the stock market went up today, don’t assume it’s going to keep rising. One swallow does not make a summer.
- She got an A on her first test, but one swallow does not make a summer; she needs to maintain good grades throughout the semester.
- Years ago, we closed a big deal early in the year, but learned that one swallow does not make a summer when the next few months were slow.
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