What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Many hands make light work’?
Having more people available to help in a task makes the task easier to complete and succeed at.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘Many hands make light work’?
The origin story of the phrase ‘many hands make light work’ is a murky one, and is not a hundred percent clear.
For instance, the idea of using collective effort to complete a task appears in several English translations of the Christian bible in Nehemiah 3, but it does not use the exact phrase ;many hands make light work ‘.
There is also an ancient Chinese proverb that is very similar to the phrase which translates as ‘When everybody adds fuel, the flames rise high’, but again, although it reflects the same idea, it does not use the exact words.
But, there is an early printed citing that can be confirmed, dating back to 1546, when John Heywood the playwright included it in his work “A Dialogue Containing the Number in Effect of All the Proverbs in the English Tongue” (1546). This was the earliest known recorded use of “Many hands make light work” in English.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘Many hands make light work’?
The phrase ‘many hands make light work’ was used frequently during the American Civil War in the 1860s in speeches and writings as a motivational slogan intended to drum up support for the war effort on both sides.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher used the phrase in one of her speeches in 1984. Though her policies were often seen as emphasising individualism, the phrase here was used to reinforce the idea that cooperative effort, particularly in economic development, is beneficial.
The phrase is often cited by The Scouts Movement, where group participation is strongly encouraged, and by humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross and UNICEF for disaster relief campaigns. The phrase is also used in workplaces, in community organising, and in children’s literature and media.
