“Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs” is the proverb that warns greed against destroying its own source of wealth. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its lesson.
What Does “Kill the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs” Mean?
The proverb means to destroy, through greed or impatience, the very thing that provides you with a steady, valuable benefit. Instead of being content with a reliable, ongoing reward, the greedy person grabs for everything at once — and in doing so ruins the source forever. It is a timeless warning against short-term greed that sacrifices long-term gain.
Origin of the Proverb
The saying comes from one of Aesop’s fables, “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs.” A poor couple own a wonderful goose that lays one solid gold egg every day, slowly making them rich. But greedy and impatient, they decide that the goose must be full of gold, and kill it to get all the treasure at once — only to find it is an ordinary goose inside. Having destroyed their golden goose, they lose their daily egg forever. The fable has taught the folly of greed for over two thousand years.
Examples in a Sentence
- “Raising prices so high that all the loyal customers leave is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
- “Overfishing the lake would kill the goose that lays the golden eggs for the whole village.”
- “Don’t overwork your best people — that’s killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Similar Proverbs
- Don’t bite the hand that feeds you — don’t harm the source of your support.
- Greed overreaches itself — wanting too much loses everything.
- All covet, all lose — grasping for everything ends in losing all.
- Much wants more and loses all — greed destroys what it already has.
For more sayings about greed and good sense, see our money proverbs and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “kill the goose that lays the golden eggs” mean?
It means to destroy, out of greed or impatience, the very thing that gives you a steady and valuable benefit.
Where does the proverb come from?
It comes from Aesop’s fable “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs,” in which a greedy couple kill their golden goose to get all its gold at once and lose everything.
What is a similar proverb?
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and “much wants more and loses all” share the warning against destroying your own source of good fortune.
