marry in haste and repent at leisure
- marry in haste and repent at leisure
This formula can be applied to rash steps other than marriage: e.g. 1998 Spectator 10 Jan. 6 All modern governments legislate in haste and repent at leisure. A frequent recent variant is act in haste, repent at leisure: e.g. 1998 Times 26 Jan. 21 ‘Act in haste, repent at leisure’ would be a poor epitaph for the UK’s presidency [of the EU].
1568 E. TILNEY Duties in Marriage B4 Some haue loued in post hast, that afterwards haue repented them at leysure.
1615 J. DAY Festivals x. Marrying in hast, and Repenting by leasure.
1734 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (May) Grief often treads upon the heels of pleasure, Marry’d in haste, we oft repent at leisure.
1872 W. STIRLING-MAXWELL Works (1891) VI. xvii. ‘Marry in haste and repent at leisure’ is a proverb that may be borne in mind with advantage in the choice of a party as well as of a wife.
2002 National Review 11 Mar. 28 One might with justice adapt the old proverb about marriage to the adorning of the skin in this savage fashion: Tattoo in haste, repent at leisure.
Proverbs new dictionary.
Look at other dictionaries:
haste — n Haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch are comparable when meaning quickness or swiftness in movement or in action. Haste implies quickness or swiftness in persons rather than in machines, vehicles, or methods of transportation; thus, a… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Marry in haste, repent at leisure. — old fashioned something that you say which means if you marry someone too soon, without knowing for certain that they are the right person for you, you will have an unhappy marriage. It s true I ve only known him for six months and I know you re… … New idioms dictionary
haste — see haste is from the devil more haste, less speed haste makes waste make haste slowly marry in haste and repent at leisure nothing should be done in haste but gripping a flea … Proverbs new dictionary
marry — see never marry for money, but marry where money is marry in haste and repent at leisure marry in May, rue for aye better to marry than to burn a young man married is a young man marred … Proverbs new dictionary
leisure — see the busiest men have the most leisure idle people have the least leisure there is luck in leisure marry in haste and repent at leisure … Proverbs new dictionary
repent — see marry in haste and repent at leisure … Proverbs new dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
