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Quote of the Day by Thomas Fuller: ‘The worth of water...’ Why people often understand value only after loss
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Thomas Fuller's insights on valuing resources before they become scarce resonate today as global water issues intensify. Leaders are urged to recognize invisible essentials and invest in their maintenance to avoid crises and ensure sustainability.Quote of the Day by Thomas Fuller: ‘The worth of water...’ Why people often understand value only after loss (Pixabay)Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian born in 1608. He studied at Cambridge and became one of the wittiest writers of 17th-century England. His books included The Holy State and the Profane State and The Worthies of England. Fuller died in 1661. But many of his short sayings still sound remarkably fresh today.We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. - Thomas FullerThis is a genuine Thomas Fuller line. It is recorded in Gnomologia (1732).Meaning of the QuoteIn business terms, this quote is about recognising value too late. Fuller is pointing to a simple human habit. People often understand the true worth of something only after it becomes scarce or unavailable. Water is the literal image here. But the principle applies to much more. The "well" can mean trust, health, time, talent, or public goodwill. We tend to notice what matters most only when it becomes hard to access.That is what makes this line so useful for leaders. It warns against reactive thinking. Good leadership is not just about fixing visible problems. It is about valuing foundational things before a crisis forces you to. Fuller's deeper lesson is about stewardship. If you wait for the well to run dry before appreciating it, you are already too late.Why This Quote ResonatesThis quote feels especially relevant now because water is becoming a real global pressure point. The United Nations warned in January 2026 that the world is heading toward water "bankruptcy." Nearly 75 per cent of the global population lives in water-insecure regions. Around 4 billion people face severe water scarcity for at least one month every year. The economic toll from groundwater depletion and climate change exceeds $300 billion annually. That is Fuller's proverb playing out in modern form.A second sign comes from business. Reuters reported in April 2026 that inconsistent water reporting standards are making it harder for investors to assess risk. Water is now a business resilience issue. It affects supply chains, manufacturing, and long-term planning. Fuller's line resonates because it captures a larger truth. Essential resources stay undervalued until scarcity forces them into strategy.When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water." - Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack traditionFranklin's version echoes Fuller so closely it feels like a direct companion. Fuller's wording is older. Franklin's is terser. Together, they offer a fuller leadership lesson. Wisdom often begins by accepting that dependence is real. We are sustained by systems, people, and resources we barely notice when they are abundant. The point is not just to appreciate them emotionally. It is to protect them practically.How You Can Implement ThisIdentify the "water" in your work or life. It’s the resource you rely on most but discuss least.Protect foundational assets early, whether that means relationships, clean processes, cash discipline or actual water use.Measure what feels abundant now so scarcity does not catch you off guard later.Invest in maintenance before failure turns it into an emergency repair.Teach your team to value invisible essentials, not just visible wins.Ask before every major decision: "What well are we drawing from, and are we preserving it?"We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment. - Margaret MeadThat line sharpens Fuller's insight into a modern warning. Fuller's proverb sounds simple because it names a timeless human failure. We confuse availability with permanence. The well matters most before it runs dry, not after. That is true of water. And it is true of almost everything that quietly ke
Five children were stranded on Saturday after they climbed the structure, reportedly to make a reel.An Indian Air Force helicopter rescues children who were stranded for a day atop a water tank, in Siddharthnagar on Sunday. (ANI Video Grab)The Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued two children who were stranded overnight atop a water tank in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Sunday, officials said.Five children were stranded on Saturday after they climbed the structure, reportedly to make a reel. A 10-year-old boy died as the staircase of a defunct water tank collapsed as the children started descending. Two others — Golu (12), Sunny (14) — fell and remain in critical condition."An incident occurred when five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel, and when the stairs broke, three of them fell from the water tank. One child died, and two others are being treated at the medical college," the District Magistrate told PTI.The remaining two children, Pavan (14) and Shaban (12), who were stranded atop the tank, were safely rescued at around 5.20 am by an Indian Air Force helicopter, officials told PTI.The operation lasted about 15 minutes. They were later taken to Gorakhpur for treatment.How the rescue operation unfoldedEfforts were made overnight to construct an alternate route to reach the stranded children, but rain disrupted these operations, prompting authorities to seek aerial assistance, the District Magistrate said, expressing gratitude to the chief minister Yogi Adityanath.The rescue operation was carried out on the instructions of CM Yogi Adityanath, who took immediate cognisance of the incident and directed officials to ensure that the stranded children were brought down safely without any negligence, according to a statement.Siddharthnagar District Magistrate (DM) Shivsharanappa was quoted by PTI as saying that the rescue operation was carried out in close coordination with the Air Force and the state administration, with continuous communication maintained throughout the planning phase."As part of our planning, we were in constant contact with Air Force officials. I thank the Chief Minister's office. Their coordination made this possible. At around 5:30 in the morning, an Air Force helicopter rescued two children, and they are safe. The helicopter landed directly at Gorakhpur," he said.According to the IAF's Central Air Command (CAC), the operation was launched following a request from state government authorities after the children got stuck on top of the structure due to damage to the access ladder.In a post on X, CAC, IAF wrote, “On a request from state government authorities, an IAF Mi-17 V5 of Central Air Command (CAC) was deployed to rescue two stranded children, who were stuck on top of a water tank in Sidharth Nagar in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.”"The children were stranded in the night as the ladder of the water tank was damaged. The rescue mission, yet again, displays the IAF's professionalism and commitment to save lives with a swift response in times of need."Officials confirmed that both children are safe following the rescue. Further details are awaited.Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsIndiaFive teenagers climb UP water tank ‘to record reel’, one dies, two rescued by IAF, others in critical conditionMore
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