The squeaky wheel may get the most oil, but it’s also the first to be replaced.

The saying revises the familiar proverb “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” by adding a cautionary second clause. It acknowledges that complaining, demanding attention, or making noise can indeed bring short-term relief or resources (“oil”), but it can also mark the complainer as a persistent problem to be eliminated (“replaced”). The point is not simply to discourage speaking up; rather, it highlights the trade-off between visibility and vulnerability in organizations and relationships. The line functions as a pragmatic warning about incentives: systems may address the loudest issue first, yet they may also seek a longer-term fix by removing the source of disruption.