Idiom idiom
slow and steady wins the race
Meaning
Reliability is more important than speed
Examples
“I take my time because slow and steady wins the race.”
“You should not rush your homework; remember that slow and steady wins the race if you want a good grade.”
“While his competitors burned out by working through the night, his consistent and careful approach proved that slow and steady wins the race in the long run.”
Origin
first recorded 18th c. disputed origin
first recorded 18th c. disputed origin
The moral of Aesop's fable 'The Tortoise and the Hare'; this English phrasing comes from Robert Lloyd's 1762 poem 'The Hare and the Tortoise'.
Last updated June 7, 2026