転ばぬ先の杖 (ころばぬさきのつえ): prevention is better than cure; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; look before you leap

prevention is better than cure; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; look before you leap

For precautions taken before there is any sign of trouble. The stick is carried before the fall, not after.

A Japanese proverb (ことわざ)