If you must have an evil, choose a little one.
Meaning: Small harms wisely accepted spare you from greater suffering later.
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.
More proverbs about Challenge
- That which is evil is soon learnt. — Evil habits spread faster than good ones because humans naturally gravitate toward the ea…
- The evil wound is cured, but not the evil name. — Damage to reputation proves harder to repair than physical harm, as public memory outlast…
- Of evil grain no good seed can come. — Corrupt foundations yield only corrupt results; moral degradation cannot produce virtue.
- Of two evils choose the lesser. — When facing unavoidable harm, select the option causing minimum damage rather than suffer…
- If a man once fall, all will tread on him. — Misfortune invites exploitation; those already disadvantaged face renewed abuse from othe…
- The first blow is half the battle. — Taking decisive initial action often determines victory more than prolonged struggle afte…
From our idioms
- a escondidillas — in secret; covertly or without someone's knowledge.
- como pez en el agua — perfectly at ease in a situation; in one's natural element.
- de pitiminí — something trivial or of insignificant value.