Who repairs not his gutters repairs his whole house.不修檐沟,就得修全屋。
谚语指出及时快速的措施可以避免以后的麻烦。同样意思的还有:
He that repairs not a part, builds all.
不愿修补小部分,结果就要全部重建。
A stitch in time saves nine.
一针及时省九针。(或一针不补,十针难缝)
中国有句俗语“小洞不补,大洞吃苦”(See to a problem as soon as it starts and you will save yourself a lot of trouble.),说的也是这个意思。
以上谚语都是劝人不要偷懒,不要因小失大,反过来也就是宁可吃点小亏,可以得到大的好处。这可参阅另一组谚语:You must lose a fly to catch a trout.