# an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/an-ounce-of-prevention-is-worth-a-pound-of-cure
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

You can prevent a problem with little effort. Fixing it later is harder.

## Origin

Coined by Benjamin Franklin in 1735, writing (pseudonymously) about fire prevention in Philadelphia.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.