I'm looking for the origin of a proverb
Once I've heard the proverb: If You can count before ten, count before three. (In Russian Умеешь считать до десяти - считай до трёх).
Someone said me that this is American proverb. But I asked people on other sites and americans answered that isn't.
Have You ever heard the proverb in English? Or may be something like that.
Do You know the origin of the proverb?

Upd
May be I translated it wrong. May be "count to ten" is more correctly.

Question

I'm looking for the origin of a proverb
Once I've heard the proverb: If You can count before ten, count before three. (In Russian Умеешь считать до десяти - считай до трёх).
Someone said me that this is American proverb. But I asked people on other sites and americans answered that isn't.
Have You ever heard the proverb in English? Or may be something like that.
Do You know the origin of the proverb?

Upd
May be I translated it wrong. May be "count to ten" is more correctly.

Answer

I'm a native English speaker, have lived in the United States my entire life, and I've never heard anything like that. I don't know what it means.

Answer

HM... It's strange. Any case, thanks all for your replies.

Answer

I've not heard it in the UK and I don't really understand its meaning.

Answer

Ah, Oleg, based on your comment, the translation should be "If you can count to ten, count to three." I understand now what the proverb is supposed to be saying. It is definitely not a proverb I have ever heard. However, I now understand the idea completely. I feel like there is probably an equivalent proverb in English, but if so I can't think of it.

Maybe the proverb comes from a specific ethnic group.

Answer

I think it means that if you can do something it is not necessary demonstrate all your powers. You should  have ace in the hole.

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