proverb · Words worth keeping
Better a mistake at the beginning than at the end.
Better a mistake at the beginning than at the end.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
An early mistake preferred to a late one highlights the possible advantage of discovering a problem while there is time to respond. It values timely correction.
What the words are saying
The comparison depends on the task and consequences; not every early mistake is harmless or easy to fix. A useful application creates opportunities for review without deliberately causing errors. The supplied end-is-hard gloss is a possible practical reason rather than a universal rule.
Everyday example
A team reviews a draft early enough to address a discovered problem before later work depends on it.
When to use it
Use it to discuss timely detection and correction.
What it does not mean
No universal harmless beginning or unrepairable ending is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 983; PDF page 137
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.