the.com/precaution
Buying insurance against a future that hasn't decided to screw you yet.
means A measure taken in advance to prevent harm or risk before it actually happens.
from From French précaution, rooted in Latin praecautio — from prae 'before' and cavere 'to be on guard, beware' (the same root that gives us 'caution' and 'caveat'). So literally, it means 'guarding beforehand' — your mind standing watch at the gate before trouble even knocks.
- etymology
- from latin praecavere, to guard beforehand
- paradox
- success makes it look unnecessary in hindsight
- economics
- cheapest when nobody notices you took it
- overdose
- excessive versions have their own name, paranoia