The early worm gets eaten

Meaning: Being first isn't always advantageous — sometimes it's risky.

Origin: Modern counter-proverb to 'the early bird,' gaining popularity in the 20th century.

Translations

• French: Il faut savoir attendre son heure (literally: One must know how to wait for one's hour)
• Spanish: No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano (literally: Getting up early doesn't make dawn come sooner)
• Japanese: 出る杭は打たれる (Deru kui wa utareru) (literally: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down)

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