phrase
Better Late Than Never
Doing something belatedly still beats not doing it at all — the proverb of every overdue apology and late reply.
Origin
The thought is in Livy's Roman history (*potius sero quam numquam*, 'rather late than never') and reappears in Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales* (1386): 'Bet than never is late.' The modern English form has been standard since the 16th century.
Modern usage
Defense of choice for late birthday wishes, delayed apologies, and answering emails four months later. Also the standard line in personal-development circles for starting something at forty that you 'should have' started at twenty. Routinely mocked online with the rejoinder 'better never than late,' especially for things that should never have been done at all.
Tags
time
regret
proverb