Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to lament.”
Taking precautions beforehand is wiser than regretting a preventable misfortune later.
— Traditional Peru Wisdom, Peru
Source: Traditional Spanish-language proverb used in Peru; public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Peru
Do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy.
The three core moral commandments of the Inca ethical code, demanding honesty, integrity, and diligence from every member of society.
Today for you, tomorrow for me.
Help others when you can, because one day you will need their help in return — a reminder of reciprocity and mutual aid.
He who is born a flowerpot never gets past the hallway.
A fatalistic saying suggesting that a person rarely rises beyond the station or limits into which they were born.
The shrimp that falls asleep is carried off by the current.
If you are careless or inattentive, you will lose your opportunity — stay alert and act in time.
The sun shines for everyone.
Opportunities, fortune, and the goods of the world are available to all people equally, without privilege.
Little by little one walks far.
Steady, patient effort accomplishes great things over time — perseverance beats haste.