We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Linguistics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Does "a Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Mean?

By A. Leverkuhn
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 16,092
Share

The phrase “a rolling stone gathers no moss” has had two opposite meanings during its centuries of use in the English language. The first, and traditional, use indicates that it is desirable or profitable to stay in one place, while the more modern meaning suggests that success depends on action and a kind of metaphorical, if not a physical, transience. This long idiomatic phrase is an example of a “platitude,” or simple illustration, of a value judgment. This specific idiom also has the distinction of having had its meaning reversed according to general societal changes.

Many attribute the origin of the phrase to ancient philosophers, such as Erasmus or another writer named Publius Syrus. In its original meaning, the phrase implied that the “moss” is good and beneficial, and that an individual should stay rooted or grounded in one place in order to prosper. By contrast, those who did not follow this platitude earned derogatory titles such as the common “wastrel” and later, “gadabout.”

As English speaking society evolved, particularly with the rise of America, the meaning of “a rolling stone gathers no moss” began to change dramatically. It became associated with the opposite idea that success depends, not on stasis, but on ambition and proactive efforts. This led to the more common use of the phrase as it stands today, as a suggestion that, in fact, travel and change are good for an individual or enterprise.

Part of the new appeal of movement and transience in the modern era can be seen in two of the most prominent uses of the shorter phrase “rolling stone.” The first is the prominent modern rock band, The Rolling Stones, which achieved worldwide fandom late in the twentieth century. The second is the use of the name by the high profile music and culture magazine, Rolling Stone, which has produced top reporting, not just in music, but in current events and American politics.

In both of the uses of the phrase “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” the metaphor remains the same. The stone represents the passage of an individual or group through both time and space. Many of those who use it in a modern context may not understand its former traditional use, but the direct metaphorical meaning is still evident.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Ruggercat68 — On May 29, 2014

This is another idiomatic phrase that would probably make little sense to non-English speakers. A rolling stone would probably suggest momentum or personal drive, but the moss gathering part would be confusing, I'd think. Moss growing on a rock near a stream isn't such a bad thing, but if you look at the idiom symbolically, it suggests remaining sedentary and stagnant is not good.

I generally agree with the sentiment behind "a rolling stone gathers no moss", but I also think some people take it too literally. They never slow down, even if there are times when a little throttling back would be helpful. A rolling stone may not gather moss, but it also doesn't gather other important things, either.

By Reminiscence — On May 29, 2014

I've always heard this idiom in the modern sense of staying busy so moss won't collect. I didn't know it had a different meaning until I read this article. I don't know that I would have seen gathering moss as a positive thing, however. I would have thought of it like gathering mold or rust.

Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-does-a-rolling-stone-gathers-no-moss-mean.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.