proverb · Words worth keeping
Over haste makes certain waste.
Over haste makes certain waste.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Rushing too much can create mistakes that waste the time or resources you hoped to save. A controlled pace may complete a task more efficiently.
What the words are saying
Over haste is excessive hurry, beyond what the work can safely or accurately support. The proverb points to the hidden cost of skipped checks, misunderstood instructions or careless handling: repairing those mistakes can take longer than doing the task steadily. It does not praise slowness for its own sake. A simple task may be completed quickly and well, while a demanding one needs pauses at important points. The useful distinction is between efficient action and urgency that removes necessary care. Choose a pace that serves the result rather than merely looking busy.
Everyday example
A volunteer checks the address labels before mailing invitations, avoiding the delays and replacement postage caused by rushing them into the wrong envelopes.
When to use it
Use it when avoidable errors are being caused by excessive speed.
What it does not mean
The wording is emphatic, not a universal rule; speed can be useful when accuracy is maintained.
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
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 755 · Haste
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English