
ProverbWisdom
International origin1919
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail
Meaning: Neglecting advance planning guarantees poor outcomes when circumstances demand readiness.
Origin: Often credited to Benjamin Franklin, but no source in his writings has been found. The earliest known version was written by a clergyman, H. K. Williams, in 1919, and the basketball coach John Wooden later made it a favorite.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- 눈치가 없다 (nunchi ga eopda) Hopelessly socially oblivious — can't pick up on emotional cues, awkward silences, or uns…
- حمار (ḥimār) A stubborn fool — the donkey being the universal symbol of obstinacy in Arabic culture.
- Je bent een kanjer You're a star — a champ and a wonderful person.
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