APAD: Keep a thing 7 years and you will find a use for it

Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it, 

— a quote attributed to Walter Scott

This is a proverb that suggests that one should hold onto things that may not seem useful at the moment. With time, the item may become valuable or necessary.  It suggests that holding onto something for a significant amount of time increases the likelihood of needing or finding a purpose for it. 

This proverb is a reminder to be resourceful and not too quick to discard items, as they could potentially be valuable in the future. It reflects a mindset of patience and long-term thinking when it comes to possessions. 

“If you keep a thing seven years, you are sure to find a use for it”, Walter Scott wrote these words back in 1826 way before popular culture got its hands on the notion of seven years as a significant milestone, and it continues to resonate today.   It is believed to be rooted in European folk wisdom. It highlights that patience and time can help reveal the true worth of an item or resource. This proverb suggests that it is wise not to discard things hastily, as circumstances may change, and what seems unimportant now could be needed in the future.