008Japanese proverb ことわざ
善は急げ
ぜんはいそげZen wa isoge
“What is good, do quickly.”
The meaning
When something is right and good, hesitation does not improve it. Waiting gives time for doubts to grow and occasions to vanish.
At the origin
A traditional proverb, deliberate counterpoint to "if you are in a hurry, take the long way": wisdom distinguishes haste from promptness.
The characters
- 善 zenthe good
- は watopic marker
- 急げ
はParticleMarks the topic: what the sentence is about — “as for…”.
In practice
The good deed you have been postponing for days: do it this morning.