It is better to leave the child’s nose dirty than wring it off.
It is better to leave the child’s nose dirty than wring it off.
Meaning in plain English
A cure can cause more harm than the small problem it addresses. Correct gently and proportionately rather than pursuing a spotless result at someone’s expense.
Example
A teacher corrects one small mistake privately rather than humiliating a child in front of the class to make the exercise look perfect.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The dirty nose is a minor imperfection; injuring it in the effort to clean it is a much greater harm. The exaggerated contrast makes proportionality visible. Before correcting a fault, consider its actual consequences and the effects of the proposed response. A small mistake may need a brief explanation, a quiet adjustment or no intervention at all. The image gives particular weight to the wellbeing of the person affected. It does not suggest neglecting an important problem; it asks that the remedy be better than the condition.
When to use it
Use it when a proposed correction risks creating a greater harm.
Keep in mind
Some apparently small problems have serious consequences. Assess the real risk rather than assuming that every correction is excessive.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 22; French section, paragraph 437; source wording: Il faut laisser l’enfant morveux plutôt que lui arracher le nez.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗