The early bird gets the worm is a proverb that means someone who starts something early or acts quickly will have an advantage over others. For example, if you want to buy a popular product that is in limited supply, you should go to the store as soon as possible, before it runs out. The early bird gets the worm, but the latecomer gets nothing.
The origin of this proverb is not clear, but it may have been inspired by a verse in the Bible that says: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). This suggests that people should act promptly and not delay when they have an opportunity to do something good or beneficial.
Another possible source of this proverb is a poem by John Ray, an English naturalist and writer, who wrote in 1670: “The early bird catcheth the worm” . This is one of the earliest recorded uses of this expression in English. Ray was observing how birds that wake up early and start looking for food have a better chance of finding worms than those that sleep late.
This proverb is often used to encourage people to be diligent, proactive, and ambitious. It implies that success comes to those who work hard and seize opportunities. However, some people may disagree with this proverb and argue that being too hasty or impatient can also lead to mistakes or problems. There are other proverbs that express a different perspective, such as “slow and steady wins the race” or “look before you leap”. These proverbs suggest that being careful, cautious, and consistent is more important than being fast or impulsive.
