Italian Proverb of the Day: “Having done thirty, one might as well do thirty-one” a life lesson on finishing what you start

Italian Proverb of the Day: “Fatto trenta, si fa trentuno,” translated as “Having done thirty, one might as well do thirty-one,” is a well-established Italian proverb about continuing an effort after most of the work has already been completed. The saying suggests that when someone has already invested considerable time, energy or resources in something, making the additional effort to finish it may be worthwhile.

The meaning behind “Having done thirty, one might as well do thirty-one”

The proverb uses the simple progression from thirty to thirty-one to express a broader lesson about perseverance.

Thirty represents substantial progress, while thirty-one represents the additional step needed to go a little further. The saying suggests that once a person has already invested heavily in an undertaking, stopping immediately before completion may not always make sense if the remaining effort is manageable.


The proverb is therefore not simply encouraging people to do more. It asks them to consider whether the final effort could make the work already completed more valuable.

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Why “thirty” becomes “thirty-one”

The numerical contrast gives the proverb its memorable quality.

The difference between thirty and thirty-one is only one, but that single number represents an important decision. After reaching thirty, a person can either stop or make the additional effort to reach thirty-one.

This can be applied to ordinary situations where most of a task has already been completed. A project may require one final adjustment, an application may need one last document, or a long preparation process may leave only a small amount of work remaining.

The proverb turns this small numerical difference into a metaphor for completion.

What “one might as well do thirty-one” teaches about effort

The second half of the saying focuses on the value of the final step.

When substantial work has already been done, the additional effort may sometimes be relatively small compared with what has already been invested. Completing that final stage can therefore bring the entire undertaking to a more useful or satisfactory conclusion.

The lesson can apply to professional projects, education and personal goals. Someone who has already spent considerable time preparing for an examination, for example, may decide to use the remaining time to review the final material rather than stop prematurely.

The proverb encourages people to recognise when one additional effort can complete what they have already begun.

The story traditionally linked to “Having done thirty”

The proverb is traditionally associated with Pope Leo X and an anecdote concerning his appointment of cardinals.

According to the traditional story, Giovanni de’ Medici, who became Pope Leo X in 1513, appointed 30 cardinals and then decided to appoint one more, bringing the total to 31. The saying is commonly connected with this anecdote, although the story should be regarded as a traditional explanation of the proverb rather than an indisputably established historical origin.

The anecdote nevertheless provides a clear illustration of the proverb's central idea. After reaching thirty, taking the additional step to thirty-one can appear worthwhile when the opportunity is already at hand.

Why “one might as well do thirty-one” remains relevant

The proverb remains applicable wherever people have already made significant progress toward a goal.

In education, a student who has completed most of their examination preparation may choose to spend additional time revising the remaining material. In the workplace, a professional who has already devoted substantial effort to a project may decide to make a final improvement rather than leave the work incomplete.

The saying can also apply to everyday decisions where the additional effort is relatively small but the benefit of completion is significant.

The timeless lesson of “Having done thirty”

“Having done thirty, one might as well do thirty-one” turns a simple numerical progression into a lesson about persistence and completion.

The proverb reminds people that the final step can sometimes be worthwhile when substantial effort has already been invested. It encourages a practical assessment of whether continuing a little further could turn an almost-finished effort into a completed result.

Its message is ultimately simple: when you have already come this far, one more reasonable step may be enough to finish the journey.