a stitch in time saves nine

English

Alternative forms

• a stitch in time short form

Etymology

From the practice of mending a small tear in cloth before it becomes a larger one.

Proverb

a stitch in time saves nine

1. A little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem, prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later; A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later; consistency (achieving a set rhythm) is better than trying to rush ahead.

Translations

a timely effort can prevent larger problems

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 小洞不補，大洞吃苦, 小洞不补，大洞吃苦 (xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chīkǔ), 防微杜漸, 防微杜渐 (zh) (fángwēidùjiàn)， 事半功倍 (zh) (shìbàngōngbèi) （half the work, twice the effect)

• Finnish: parempi katsoa kuin katua
• French: mieux vaut prévenir que guérir (fr)
• German: was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen (de)
• Hungarian: a rest kétszer fárad
• Italian: meglio prevenire che curare

• Korean: 호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다 (ko) (homi-ro mag-eul geos-eul garae-ro mag-neun-da) (what can be stopped up with a short-handled hoe must be done with a shovel later)
• Portuguese: é melhor prevenir do que remediar
• Russian: один стежок, сделанный вовремя, стоит девяти (odín stežók, sdélannyj vóvremja, stóit devjatí)
• Serbo-Croatian: ono što možeš učiniti danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra
• Spanish: más vale prevenir que curar