A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

It is better to accept or be content with what one has than to try to get more and risk losing everything. Cf. 13th-cent. L. plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis, one bird in the hands is worth more than two in the woods. Parodied by the American actress Mae West (1892-1980) in the 1934 movie Belle of the Nineties: ‘A man in the house is worth two in the street.’

It is more sekyr [certain] a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a-boue.
[c 1450 J. Capgrave Life of St. Katharine (EETS) ii. iii.]

Betyr ys a byrd in the hond than tweye in the wode.
[c 1470 Harley MS 3362 f.4]

You haue spoken reasonably, but yet as they say, One Birde in the hande, is worth two in the bush.
[1581 N. Woodes Conflict of Conscience iv. i.]

That Proverb, A Bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more Authority with them, then are all‥testimonies of the good of the world to come.
[1678 Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress i. 42]

We have an expression in English—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I don't know anything about that ‘afterwards’. I only know I would like to live another ten years.
[1973 G. Greene Honorary Consul ii. iii.]

The firm could realise a very good price now. ‥The situation may not be as good as this in three or four years. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
[2002 Oxford Times 18 Jan. 15]

Related to: prudence; risk

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

A benefit available now is more valuable than some possibly larger future benefit. For example, Bob thinks he might do better in a bigger firm, but his wife insists he should stay, saying a bird in the hand. This expression, which in full is A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, was an ancient Greek proverb. It was well known in English by about 1400 and has been repeated so frequently that it is often shortened.