The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (260 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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HASTE makes waste
Waste
properly means the squandering of time, money, etc., though it is also used with reference to material waste.
c
1386
Tale of Melibee
l. 1053
The proverbe seith .. in wikked haste is no profit.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. ii. A3
Som thyngs .. show after weddyng, that haste maketh waste.
1663
Hudibras
I. iii.
Festina lente
, not too fast; For haste (the Proverb says) makes waste.
1853
On Lessons in Proverbs
i.
Many Proverbs, such as Haste makes waste .. have nothing figurative about them.
1940
Body, Boots & Britches
xix.
Haste makes waste, Waste, makes want, Want makes a poor boy a beggar.
1977
Mark of Merlin
xi.
I .. slammed some logs on the grate. .. Then I had to sweep up the scattered coals .. ‘Haste makes waste,’ he chanted from the door.
1985
Ratings are Murder
V.
‘Haste makes waste,’ Kraut reminded his prop crew. ‘Let's not work ourselves out of a job.’
1997
Washington Post: Washington Business
29 Dec. 15
But I've let myself be an impulsive Internet shopper, too, and I usually regret it. In '98, my motto is ‘haste makes waste.’
haste
;
patience and impatience
;
waste
Make HASTE slowly
Cf. L.
festina lente
, make haste slowly; after SUETONIUS
Augustus
xxv. 4.
nihil autem minus perfecto duci quam festinationem temeritatemque convenire arbitratur. crebro itaque illa iactabat:
ß
, he [Augustus] thought that haste and rashness were alike unsuited to a well-trained leader. So he often came out with sayings like ‘make haste slowly’ [etc.];
c
1385
CHAUCER
Troilus & Criseyde
I. 956 He hasteth wel that wisly kan [knows how to] abyde.
1683
Poems
(1958) I. 336
Gently make haste … A hundred times consider what you've said.
1744
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Apr.)
Make haste slowly.
1938
Murders in Silk
iii.
Easy, son. Let's make haste slowly. Does Conner know where the knife came from?
1989
Little Class on Murder
xii.
‘Festina lente
,’ Miss Dora suggested slyly. ‘Not bad advice,’ Max said cheerfully. At Annie's glare, he added quickly, ‘Make haste slowly.’
haste
;
patience and impatience

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