an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure en · X
Meanings
- It is better to prevent a disease than to have to cure it.
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(broadly, idiomatic) Precaution and prevention of an undesirable thing is preferable to dealing with its potential consequences.
It has been said, that the wisdom of a nation is seen in the spirit of their common sayings and proverbs; ours has one in point to the present purpose, that the ounce of prevention is more worth than the pound of cure.
1786, J. Z. Holwell, A new experiment for the prevention of crimes:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| an ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of cure | alternative | lexicographic | |
| an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
a stitch in time saves nine · nip in the bud · prevention is better than cure · an apple a day keeps the doctor away