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He goes not out of his way that goes to a good inn.

He goes not out of his way that goes to a good inn.
Traditional

Historical period not yet established

Meaning in plain English

A worthwhile pause can belong to the journey rather than interrupt its purpose. The good-inn image values suitable rest or provision, without recommending a particular destination or claiming every detour is beneficial.

What the words are saying

The saying denies that visiting a good inn takes the traveller out of the way. Figuratively, a pause that supplies rest, information or what the next stage needs can serve the larger undertaking. A useful reading asks how the stop relates to the purpose rather than treating continuous movement as the only sign of progress. Some diversions do delay necessary work, and not every comfortable arrangement is suitable. The proverb therefore values the contribution of a particular pause, not delay for its own sake. It leaves room to judge whether the stop helps the person continue, clarify the route or reconsider the intended destination.

Everyday example

A group pauses its catalogue work to discuss recurring uncertainties, then resumes with an agreed method that saves repeated corrections.

When to use it

Use it when a useful pause is being treated as a departure from the purpose.

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What it does not mean

Assess what the pause supplies; comfort alone does not make a detour suitable or necessary.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.

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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
A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases

Entry 859 · Inn

A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.

Culture
English