A stitch in time saves nine

A stitch in time saves nine

Have you heard the proverb 'a stitch in time saves nine'?

You may have heard this proverb in English class or read it in a novel. Some years ago, this proverb was frequently used. Now, it is not used that much anymore. Someone hearing this might think it quaint and old-fashioned.

This kind of a reaction about proverbs being quaint and old-fashioned is true of many other proverbs. Proverb use in the United States has significantly decreased. 

Most people think 'a stitch in time saves nine' comes from sewing clothes. This proverb may actually come from sewing done long ago when burying a sailor at sea. Over time, the origins of proverbs often become vague.

Returning to our contemporary view of this proverb, let's take a look at sewing. When we sew, we use stitches. What happens if one stitch comes undone on your clothes?

Well, if you stitch it back quickly, not much happens. You can easily solve the problem.

However, if you don't do anything, another stitch will come undone, and then another stitch, and then another. Soon, the problem will get bigger and bigger.

So, if we do one stitch at the right time, the one stitch will save us from making nine stitches later.

This is true of many things. 

Let's take the example of a parking meter. This driver of this car still has money in the parking meter. Everything is fine.

Almost every American city has parking meters. We put money in the parking meters to pay for parking on the street. If we don't put money in, the police put tickets on car windshields as a penalty for not paying the parking fee. If we don't pay the tickets on time, we have to pay for the ticket plus the late fee.

So, if you are downtown in San Francisco, and you forget to put 25 cents more in the meter, you may get a $50.00 parking ticket. Then, if you don't pay the parking ticket within 21 days, you will have a $25.00 late fee. Then, if you don't pay it within 50 days, you will have a $35.00 late fee.

If you simply forget the 25 cents and if you are late paying the fine, you could spend up to $105.00 because you didn't put 25 cents in the meter.

A stitch in time saves nine…

Here is a parking meter that is getting low. Somebody may be about to get a ticket. The driver needs to remember that a stitch in time saves nine.

What happens when parking meters run out of money? 

That depends if a traffic enforcement officer is nearby. In some places, they are called traffic wardens. Long ago, they used to be called meter maids. You may remember the line from the Beatles song that went, "Lovely Rita, meter maid…"

If you can see a vehicle like this nearby, it means that some people are going to get tickets.

There is always somebody who forgets to put money in the meter. That is what this man is doing.

This next car, however, has been forgotten. You can see that there is no time left on the meter.

Then, if nobody gets back to the car on time, you can see what happens in the next picture. What is on the windshield?

Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.

Whether related to sewing, cars, or anything else, your problem is generally easier to resolve at the right time. Then, you can avoid a little problem growing into a bigger problem.