This proverb highlights the discrepancy between desires and actions. Having many wishes or ambitions but little rice implies that despite many dreams, the efforts to achieve them are insufficient or nonexistent. The lazy person, never preparing his rice in advance, symbolizes indolence and lack of foresight. This saying warns against having excessive dreams without actions to back them up and encourages being proactive and diligent. An equivalent proverb in English could be: ‘Wishes won’t fill your belly’.