Milk the cow nearby; why chase the one that runs away. –Theocritus

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Milking a nearby cow instead of chasing one that escapes contrasts an available resource with a difficult pursuit. The supplied wording attributes the statement to Theocritus.

What the words are saying

The attribution is retained as an unverified anthology claim, and the image supplies no animal-handling instruction. A useful nonliteral reading compares realistic options without making convenience the only standard or treating people as resources to use. Fair conditions and actual needs still matter.

Everyday example

Someone considers an available suitable method before pursuing a speculative alternative.

When to use it

Use it as a qualified available-option image.

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Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.