ProverbPerseverance
German origin
German originEile mit Weile
Meaning: Do things carefully rather than rushing; haste slows you down.
Literally: Hurry with leisure
Example: “Lies den Vertrag gründlich, bevor du unterschreibst. Eile mit Weile.” — Read the contract carefully before you sign: slow and steady wins the race.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 4 more languages
English: Slow and steady wins the race
French: Qui va lentement va sûrement (literally: Who goes slowly goes surely)
Spanish: Lento pero seguro (literally: Slow but sure)
Japanese: 急がば回れ (Isogaba maware) (literally: If in a hurry, take a detour)
Italian: Chi va piano va sano e va lontano (literally: Who goes slowly goes safely and goes far)
Portuguese: Devagar se vai ao longe (literally: Slowly you go far)
Dutch: Langzaam aan, dan breekt de lijn niet (literally: Take it slowly and the line won't break)
Russian: Тише едешь — дальше будешь (Tishe edesh' — dal'she budesh') (literally: The slower you ride, the farther you get)
Turkish: Ağır git ki yol alasın (literally: Go slowly so you make headway)
Origin: The German form of the Latin festina lente, make haste slowly, which Suetonius says was a favorite saying of the emperor Augustus. Eile and Weile rhyme.
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