Better Late Than Never

Cf. [Dionysius of halicarnassus Roman Antiquities ix. 9] κρɛῖṯṯον γάρ ἐσṯίν ὀψεἄρϰασθαί ṯὰ δέονṯα ρράṯṯɛίν ἢ μηδέροṯɛ, it is better to start doing what one has to late than not at all; [Livy Hist. iv. ii.] potius sero quam nunquam.

A. Better is lat than neuer blinne [cease] Our soules to maken fre.
[c 1330 in C. Keller Die Mittelenglische Gregoriuslegende (1941) 146]

Vyce to forsake ys bettyr late then neuer.
[c 1450 Lydgate Assembly of Gods (EETS) l. 1204]

Things done, can not be vndoone,‥But better late then neuer to repent this.
[1546 J. Heywood Dialogue of Proverbs i. x. C4]

Whilst he was murdering the unhappy Aleppians, Caled (better late than never) came to their Relief.
[1708 S. Ockley Conquest of Syria I. 276]

I am sorry your holiday will have to be postponed so long; but better late than never.
[1954 A. Huxley Letter 16 Sept. (1969) 711]

‘Consider these a “late Valentine's Day” bouquet.’ ‘It was three days ago.’ ‘I know, but better late than never, I always say.’ ‘Better never late, I always say.’
[2002 Washington Post 17 Feb. SC4 (Sally Forth comic strip)]

Related to: lateness

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

Being tardy is better than not at all, as in We've been waiting for you for an hour--but better late than never. This phrase, first recorded about 1200, appears in several early English proverb collections, often with the added but better never late. Today it is often used in exasperation over a delay, as in the example.

Better Late Than Never can mean either:

• Better Late Than Never (album), a 1996 album by The Slackers
• Better Late Than Never (Trife Diesel album), a 2009 album by Wu-Tang affilliate Trife Da God (A.k.a. Trife Diesel)
• Better Late Than Never (film), a 1982 film.

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