ProverbWisdomEnglish origin

Harm watch, harm catch.

Meaning: Obsessing over potential dangers often manifests them through anxious behavior and poor judgment.

Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.

Equivalents in French and Italian

  • French: Qui mal cherche, mal trouve (literally: Whoever looks for harm finds harm)
  • Italian: Chi cerca mal, mal trova (literally: Whoever looks for harm finds harm)

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