Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Meaning: Optimism should be balanced with practical preparation.
Origin: The earliest known use is in Benjamin Disraeli's novel The Wondrous Tale of Alroy (1833), in the reverse order: "I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Espérer le meilleur, se préparer au pire (literally: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst)
- Spanish: Espera lo mejor, prepárate para lo peor (literally: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst)
- Japanese: 備えあれば憂いなし (Sonae areba urei nashi) (literally: If prepared, there is no worry)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Don't make a mountain out of a molehill — Don't exaggerate small problems.
- The grass withers, the flower fades — All worldly things are temporary.
- First come, first served — Opportunities go to those who arrive early.
- A fool and his money are soon parted — Foolish people quickly lose their wealth.
- The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now — The right time to act is always now, no matter how late it feels.
- To know the road ahead, ask those coming back — Learn from people with experience before embarking on an unfamiliar path.
From our compliments & insults
- Без царя в голове (Bez tsarya v golove) — Foolish and reckless — with no one in charge upstairs.
- Cabeça de alho chocho — A forgetful scatterbrain whose thoughts won't stay put.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil — A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.