- Meaning
- This idiom advises against risking everything on a single plan, investment, or opportunity, advocating for diversification to minimize potential loss. It suggests spreading resources or efforts across multiple options to ensure safety, much like not carrying all eggs in one basket to avoid breaking them all if it falls. The phrase is used in financial, career, or personal contexts to promote caution and strategic planning, often with a prudent or warning tone, emphasizing the dangers of over-reliance on one outcome.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 17th-century English, rooted in agrarian life where eggs were valuable and baskets were used for transport. An early version appears in Miguel de Cervantes’ *Don Quixote* (1605, translated to English 1612): ‘It is not convenient to put all your eggs in one basket.’ It was recorded in English by the 1660s, with Samuel Pepys’ diary noting a similar proverb. By the 19th century, it was common in British and American English, particularly during the rise of stock markets, as seen in Mark Twain’s advice on investments. Its practical wisdom and vivid imagery ensured its enduring use, especially in finance and risk management.
- Variants
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- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
- Put not all your eggs in one basket
- Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket
- Examples
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- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—invest in multiple stocks to reduce risk.
- She didn’t put all her eggs in one basket, applying to several universities to ensure acceptance.
- Put not all your eggs in one basket; rely on multiple suppliers to avoid disruptions.
- He learned not to keep all his eggs in one basket after betting everything on one failed startup.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—build a diverse skill set to stay employable.
- They avoided putting all their eggs in one basket by exploring multiple marketing strategies.
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