---
title: For Want of a Nail
created: 2026-02-28
modified: 2026-06-10
authors: Benjamin Franklin
category: Poem
---

> For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
>
> 少了釘子，失了蹄鐵。
>
> For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
>
> 少了蹄鐵，失了戰馬。
>
> For want of a horse the rider was lost.
>
> 少了戰馬，失了騎士。
>
> For want of a rider the message was lost.
>
> 少了騎士，失了情報。
>
> For want of a message the battle was lost.
>
> 少了情報，失了勝仗。
>
> For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
>
> 少了勝仗，失了王國。
>
> And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
>
> 這全因少了個馬蹄釘。