Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure understated.
It's much easier to stay out of trouble now than to get out of trouble later.
It's no use locking the door after the steed is stolen.
Trouble that is easily recognized is half-cured.
Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own, Believe no evil, till the evil's done. [Fr., Nous n'ecoutons d'instincts que ceux qui sont les notres. Et ne croyons le mal que quand il est venu.]
If you don't choose to do it in leadership time up front, you do it in crisis management time down the road.
You want to be an alchemist so badly? Don't wait to react to the immediate problem. Plan ahead. Look at the big picture and you won't ever have to deal with that problem. Better to save yourself from a major catastrophe than drag your feet over a bunch of little inconveniences.
It is better to take time to consider before than to find time to repent after.
It is better to catch the idol-maker than to smash each idol.
A moment of consideration often prevents a thousand apologies