Better Late Than Never
Meaning
It is always preferable to accomplish something, even if delayed, rather than to never do it at all.
Origin
The enduring wisdom of "Better Late Than Never" stretches back to antiquity, finding a clear voice in the Roman Empire. The historian Livy, writing around the 1st century CE, encapsulated this profound truth with the Latin phrase "Melior est tarda quam nulla mora" – "better is a late delay than none." This maxim wasn't just abstract philosophy; it was often applied to military strategy and political decisions, where a slow but decisive action was deemed superior to outright failure or paralysis. The proverb, born from the pragmatic realities of Roman power, eventually journeyed through centuries, shedding its specific context to become a universal mantra for persistence and the value of completion, no matter the timing.
Examples
- The student finally submitted his assignment a week late, knowing his teacher would prefer better late than never.
- She finally apologized for her rude comment, and though it took her a week, her friend thought, better late than never.