Imagine watching a hen pecking endlessly across a farmyard. Now imagine that the hen cannot see. Logic says it should never find food. Yet, sooner or later, by persistence and chance alone, it stumbles upon a grain.That simple image has survived for centuries as one of Europe’s most memorable proverbs: “Även en blind höna hittar ett korn ibland”—literally, “Even a blind hen finds a grain sometimes.” At first glance, it sounds humorous. Look closer, however, and it reveals a profound truth about luck, perseverance, human judgment, and success.In an age obsessed with talent, rankings, and perfection, this old Swedish saying reminds us that chance has always played a role in human achievement.
What Does the Proverb Mean?
The proverb means that even someone who is inexperienced, unlucky, or generally unsuccessful can occasionally succeed through chance.It is often used in two different ways.The first is light-hearted and encouraging. If someone who usually struggles finally gets something right, people may smile and say, “Even a blind hen finds a grain sometimes.”The second usage is more ironic. It suggests that one successful result does not necessarily prove exceptional skill. A single victory may simply be good fortune rather than evidence of mastery.Like many traditional proverbs, the exact meaning depends on the speaker’s tone and the situation.
A Farming Image Everyone Once Understood
The saying emerged from a world where farming shaped everyday life.For centuries, people across northern Europe lived close to agriculture. Chickens were common on farms, constantly scratching the ground in search of scattered grains. The image of a blind hen accidentally discovering food would have been immediately understandable to rural communities.That everyday observation became a metaphor for life itself: persistence and coincidence sometimes produce success, even when ability appears limited.The proverb’s strength lies in its simplicity. No complicated explanation is needed. Anyone can picture the scene.
Where Did the Saying Come From?
The proverb is best known as a Swedish saying, although closely related versions exist across several European languages.Documented Swedish forms include:
- “Även en blind höna
kan finna ett korn. “ - “En blind höna hittar också ett
korn .” - Older variants also include the word stundom (“sometimes”).
German has a remarkably similar proverb: “Auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn” (“Even a blind chicken finds a grain someday”). Danish, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, and Russian all preserve closely related expressions using a blind hen or chicken finding grain.Because these nearly identical versions appear across Europe, language scholars generally regard them as part of an old body of shared folk wisdom rather than the invention of one identifiable author. No reliable historical evidence attributes the saying to a single individual or specific historical event.
Why Was It Said?
The proverb served an important social purpose.People have always been tempted to judge others from isolated successes or failures. One lucky guess could make someone appear brilliant. One mistake could unfairly damage a person’s reputation.The saying acted as a reminder not to draw sweeping conclusions from isolated outcomes.In other words, consistency matters more than coincidence.Farmers, merchants, teachers, and ordinary families could all apply the proverb when discussing everyday life. It encouraged people to distinguish between sustained ability and occasional luck.
The Philosophy Behind the Saying
At its heart, the proverb explores one of life’s oldest questions:How much of success comes from skill, and how much comes from luck?Modern research in economics, psychology, sports, and business increasingly recognises that luck often influences outcomes more than people realise. While preparation and competence remain essential, unpredictable circumstances can affect careers, discoveries, investments, and competitions.The proverb does not dismiss hard work. Instead, it warns against assuming that every success is entirely earned—or that every failure reflects permanent inability.It encourages intellectual humility.Sometimes people succeed because they prepared well.Sometimes they succeed because circumstances happened to favour them.Often, it is a mixture of both.
Why It Still Matters Today
Despite originating in an agricultural society, the proverb feels surprisingly modern.Consider social media. A single viral post can make an unknown creator famous overnight. Yet one successful post does not automatically indicate lasting expertise.In business, an investor may make one excellent decision through fortunate timing rather than extraordinary forecasting ability.In sports, an underdog occasionally defeats a champion. Fans celebrate the upset, but few would conclude that one result permanently changes the relative strengths of both competitors.Even in classrooms, a student who guesses correctly on one difficult question should not be judged solely by that answer.The proverb reminds us that isolated moments rarely tell the full story.
Similar Sayings Around the World
Many cultures express the same idea using different images.American English commonly says, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.”Spanish often uses another comparison altogether: “Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.” Although the wording differs, the message is similar—being correct occasionally does not necessarily demonstrate consistent competence.These parallels show that people from different societies have long recognised the complicated relationship between luck and ability.
A Lesson Worth Remembering
Perhaps the greatest strength of this proverb is its balance.It prevents arrogance by reminding successful people that fortune may have helped them.It also offers hope to those who struggle, suggesting that opportunities can appear unexpectedly if they keep trying.A blind hen continues searching despite obvious disadvantages. Eventually, it finds a grain.That image captures a timeless truth: life is rarely determined by certainty alone. Chance has always accompanied human effort.The wisest response is neither to rely entirely on luck nor to dismiss it altogether, but to recognise that success often belongs to those who continue searching long enough for opportunity to appear.
