Better GOOD afar off than evil at hand

Meaning & Analysis

It is preferable to have a positive outcome that is distant or delayed, rather than to face a negative situation that is immediate and present.

Insights

Prudence over Immediacy

The proverb champions prudence and long-term thinking, suggesting that it is wiser to wait for a potential future benefit than to accept a definite, immediate harm.

Hope vs. Despair

It frames a choice between hope for the future ('good afar off') and despair in the present ('evil at hand'). The proverb advises choosing hope, even if its fulfillment is uncertain, over surrendering to a current crisis.

Risk Aversion

As a form of risk management, the proverb advises that avoiding a certain, present danger is more important than achieving an immediate but less certain good. The value of safety outweighs the cost of proximity to trouble.

Psychology of Hope

This proverb reflects a fundamental principle of human decision-making, prioritizing long-term hope over immediate suffering. In historical contexts marked by uncertainty and hardship, the promise of a distant good provided a crucial psychological buffer against present dangers.

Delayed Gratification

The proverb's logic resonates with philosophical and religious tenets that advocate for enduring temporary hardships in exchange for future, often greater, rewards. It champions delayed gratification as a wise and prudent strategy.

Strategic Patience

In modern strategic thinking, this principle applies to everything from finance (long-term investments vs. immediate, high-risk gains) to personal development (enduring difficult training for a future career). It underscores the value of foresight and patience.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

The proverb is built on a stark contrast between 'good' and 'evil' and 'afar off' and 'at hand', creating a memorable and powerful dichotomy that makes its meaning clear.

Parallelism

The balanced grammatical structure of 'Good afar off' and 'evil at hand' creates a pleasing rhythm and reinforces the direct comparison being made.

Abstract Language

The use of universal concepts like 'good' and 'evil' allows the proverb to be applied to a vast range of moral, practical, and strategic situations.

prudencepatiencehoperiskstrategylong-term-thinking

Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on July 16, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

Better is a Far off Good, then a Neare hand Evill.

— 1623, WOD., p. 503

— 1640, HERB., no. 263

(then ill near at hand).

— 1659, N.R., p. 24

Good at a Distance, is better than Evil at Hand.

— 1732, FUL., no. 1700

Related Proverbs

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