Spoil not the ship for a penn'orth of tar.

Meaning: Neglecting small, inexpensive preventive measures risks losing something far more valuable.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• It's poor sport that is not worth the candle. — Endeavors requiring more resources than their rewards provide are not worthwhile pursuits.
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• Throw a sprat to catch a whale. — Small initial sacrifices yield disproportionately larger gains when investments are strat…
• Do not spur a free horse. — Pushing someone already willing to help creates resistance instead of cooperation.
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