Rolling Stone

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Greek: Λιθος κυλινδομενος το φυκος ου ποιει.
(Erasmus: Proverbs; Assiduitas.)

Latin: Saxum volutum non obducitur musco (or Saxum volubile etc.)

Planta quæ sæpius transfertm non coalescit. (Fabius.)

Sæpius plantata arbor fructum profert exiguum.

French: Pierre qui roule nʹamasse jamais mousse.

La pierre souvent remuée nʹamasse pas volontiers mousse.

Pierre souvent remuée nʹattire pas mousse.

Italian: Pietra mossa non fa muschio.

“Three removes are as bad as a fire.”

“I never saw an oft-removed tree,

Nor yet an oft-removed family.

That throve so well as those that settled be.”

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.