A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

that?’ said the tinker: ‘it’s betther be sure than sorry’. 1933 Radio Times 14 Apr. 125

Cheap distempers very soon crack or fade. Better be safe than sorry. Ask for Hall’s. 1972

J. WILSON Hide & Seek vii. It’s not that I want to shut you in.. but—well, it’s better to

be safe than sorry. 2002 Washington Post 12 Jan. C10 (Garfield comic strip) ‘You’re

breaking up with me? But we’ve never dated. You don’t want to take any chances?’

‘Better safe than sorry.’ prudence; security

BETTER late than never

Cf. DIONYSIUS OF HALICARNASSUS Roman Antiquities ix. 9
it is better to start doing what one has to late than not at
all; LIVY Hist. IV. ii. potius sero quam nunquam.

c 1330 in C. Keller Die Mittelenglische Gregoriuslegende (1941) 146 A. Better is lat

than neuer blinne [cease] Our soules to maken fre. c 1450 LYDGATE Assembly of Gods

(EETS) 1.1204 Vyce to forsake ys bettyr late then neuer. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of

Proverbs i. x. C4 Things done, can not be vndoone,.. But better late then neuer to repent

this. 1708 S. OCKLEY Conquest of Syria I. 276 Whilst he was murdering the unhappy

Aleppians, Caled (better late than never) came to their Relief. 1954 A. HUXLEY Letter

16 Sept. (1969) 711 I am sorry your holiday will have to be postponed so long; but better

late than never. 2002 Washington Post 17 Feb. SC4 (Sally Forth comic strip) ‘Consider

these a “late Valentine’s Day” bouquet.’ ‘It was three days ago.’ ‘I know, but better late

than never, I always say.’ ‘Better never late, I always say.’ lateness

BETTER one house spoiled than two

Said of two foolish or wicked people joined in marriage and troubling only themselves.
Spoiled (or spilled [destroyed]) is sometimes contrasted with filled (see quots. 1670 and
1805).

1586 T. B. tr. de la Primaudaye’s French Academy xlvi. The wicked and reprobate,

of whom that common proverbe is spoken, that it is better one house be troubled with

them than twaine. 1587 R. GREENE Penelope’s Web V. 162 The old prouerb is fulfild,

better one house troubled than two. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 51 Better one house

fill’d then two spill’d. This we use when we hear of a bad Jack who hath married as bad a

Jyll. 1805 W. BENTLEY Diary 28 May (1911) III. 161 One of the company discovering a

disposition to speak much of his own wife.. the Gen. observed.. One house filled was

better than two spoiled. 1924 Folk-Lore XXXV. 358 Better one house spoilt than two

(said when a witless a man marries a foolish woman). marriage