Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air — a certain, modest gain is more valuable than the prospect of great gains that may never materialise. The Venetian merchant preferred the realised profit over the speculative dream.
The Venetian version of the universal 'bird in hand' proverb (known in Latin as plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis) was inflated from the usual 'two in the bush' to 'a hundred in the air' — a characteristically Venetian exaggeration that underlines the point more dramatically. Venice built its commercial empire on exactly this principle: the risky but potentially vast profits of purely speculative ventures were balanced against the certain but smaller returns of established trade routes and proven commodities. The system of sea-loans (commenda contracts) that financed Venetian trading voyages allocated risk carefully between the investor who stayed home and the merchant who sailed, with the proportions reflecting this proverb's wisdom. In the agricultural Veneto, the same logic governed decisions about whether to sell grain now at a fair price or hold it hoping for a higher price later — a gamble that often ended badly when stored grain rotted or prices fell further. The proverb is alive in contemporary Veneto business culture, where it circulates as a check on over-ambitious expansion: consolidate the bird you have before chasing the hundred that may or may not be there.
The Venetian form exaggerates the standard proverb ('one in hand vs two in the bush') to 'one vs a hundred' — a mercantile amplification reflecting the dramatic stakes of Levantine trade where potential profits were indeed enormous but losses equally catastrophic.
A merchant advising his nephew to accept a fair offer rather than hold out
Prendi i soldi che ti offrono adesso. Xe mejo un usel in man che sento par aria — domani potrebbero offrire meno.
Take the money they are offering you now. Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air — tomorrow they might offer less.
A farmer deciding to sell his apple crop at harvest rather than wait for higher prices
Vendo adesso. Xe mejo un usel in man che sento par aria — l'anno scorso ho aspettato e il prezzo è crollato.
I sell now. Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air — last year I waited and the price collapsed.
A career counsellor advising a student who rejected a solid job offer waiting for a dream job
Hai rifiutato un lavoro certo per aspettare qualcosa che forse non arriva. Xe mejo un usel in man che sento par aria.
You refused a secure job to wait for something that may never come. Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air.
Two business partners debating whether to sell the company now or wait for a better offer
L'offerta è buona. — Ma potrebbe arrivarne una migliore. — Forse. Xe mejo un usel in man che sento par aria.
The offer is good. — But a better one might come. — Maybe. Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air.