ProverbMoralityEnglish origin

Haste makes waste, and waste makes want, and want makes strife between the good man and his wife.

Meaning: Rushing through tasks creates careless errors that deplete resources, breeding household poverty and marital discord.

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.

Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

Browse all tongue twisters →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →