יֵשׁ זָרִיז וְנִשְׂכָּר וְיֵשׁ זָרִיז וְנִפְסָד

ביטוי (אנגלית)

There is the first-comer who is first served and the first-comer who is served last/you can be sprightly and win, or be sprightly and lose

הגדרה (אנגלית)

A diligent person may succeed thanks to diligence, while another diligent person may lose; diligence is not always helpful, and it depends on who is acting.

("One who does work on the eves of Sabbaths and festivals from the time of the afternoon offering onward never sees a sign of blessing... There is one who is diligent and rewarded, and there is one who is diligent and loses; there is one who is humble and rewarded, and there is one who is humble and loses" - Pesachim 50b)