Never do things by halves.勿半途而废。
句中by halves是“事情只做了一半,不完整”。此语是劝告人们做事必须有始有终,不要半途而废。
类似意思的谚语还有:
If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
或What is worth doing is worth doing well.
该做的事,必须做好。
Better never to begin than never to make an end.
做事虎头蛇尾,宁可不做。
还有一首民歌,也表达这意思:
Whatever you do, do it with might;
Things done by halves are never done right.《尚书·旅獒》中有云:“为山九仞,功亏一篑。”那是用造山作比喻,劝人们做事不要半途而废。
另有一句谚语似乎与上面意思相反:
The best is often the enemy of the good.
“尽善尽美”常常是“善”与“美”的死敌。
这句意思是叫人做事不要过分求完美。