chi troppo vuole nulla stringe

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “who too much wants nothing clasps”, or more loosely translated as “he who wants too much ends up with nothing”. From Aesop's fable The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs. Compare French qui trop embrasse mal étreint.

Proverb

chi troppo vuole nulla stringe

1. grasp all, lose all