“Haste makes waste” warns that rushing a job usually ends up costing you more than it saves. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its case for taking your time.
What Does “Haste Makes Waste” Mean?
The proverb means that doing something too quickly or carelessly leads to mistakes, which then take extra time and effort to put right — so hurrying actually wastes time in the end. The rhyme of “haste” and “waste” makes the lesson stick: slow down, do it properly the first time, and you’ll avoid having to do it twice.
Origin of the Proverb
The saying is old, and the idea older still. The Roman playwrights warned against rash speed, and in English the proverb was already current by the late Middle Ages. It was set down by John Heywood in his famous 1546 collection of English proverbs, and Benjamin Franklin later gave it a memorable companion in Poor Richard’s Almanack: “Great haste makes great waste.” Its neat rhyme has kept it in everyday use for centuries.
Examples in a Sentence
- “He rushed the paint job and had to redo the whole wall — haste makes waste.”
- “Take your time filling in the form; haste makes waste.”
- “We skipped testing to ship early and spent a month on bug fixes. Haste makes waste.”
Similar Proverbs
- Slow and steady wins the race — patient, careful effort beats rushing.
- More haste, less speed — hurrying often gets you there slower.
- Measure twice, cut once — care up front prevents waste later.
- Look before you leap — think before you rush into action.
For more sayings about patience and care, see our proverbs about patience and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “haste makes waste” mean?
It means that rushing a task leads to mistakes that take extra time to fix, so hurrying actually wastes time and effort overall.
Where does the proverb come from?
It was current in English by the late Middle Ages and recorded in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection. Benjamin Franklin later wrote “great haste makes great waste.”
What is a similar proverb?
“More haste, less speed” and “slow and steady wins the race” both make the same point that hurrying can be counter-productive.