proverb · Words worth keeping
It is the first step that is difficult.
It is the first step that is difficult.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying singles out the first step as difficult. It places the obstacle at the moment of beginning rather than describing the whole undertaking.
What the words are saying
Starting may involve uncertainty about what to do or reluctance to act. A useful application can identify the immediate barrier and a manageable response. The phrase does not guarantee that later stages will be easy or make hesitation a sign of weakness.
Everyday example
A learner arranges a first practice session to move beyond repeatedly planning to begin.
When to use it
Use it to focus on the particular barrier to starting.
What it does not mean
Later stages may also be difficult, and hesitation can have legitimate reasons.
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 56; PDF page 12
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.