proverb · Words worth keeping
Better go about than fall into the ditch.
Better go about than fall into the ditch.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A longer or less direct route may be better than a shortcut with an avoidable hazard. Going about instead of entering the ditch pictures a worthwhile adjustment, without requiring someone to avoid every uncertain path.
Example
A group takes extra time to obtain permission for a display rather than installing it immediately and risking having to remove the work afterwards.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The ditch makes the direct route costly in the proverb’s image, while going about takes more distance but avoids that obstacle. Figuratively, a revised method can be sensible even when it appears slower or less convenient. The useful reading compares the actual difficulty with the effort of an alternative. Detours can also have costs, and a feared obstacle may be manageable with suitable preparation. The saying does not make indirectness inherently wise. It encourages choosing a route that fits the conditions, rather than allowing the appeal of a shortcut to replace a realistic assessment of where it leads.
When to use it
Use it when a manageable detour may prevent an avoidable setback.
Keep in mind
Compare real obstacles and alternatives; caution is not a reason to abandon every unfamiliar approach.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their 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
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English