It is just like English sayings and phrases, there are Japanese sayings and phrases as well. It is called [kotowaza ことわざ].

Today’s kotowaza

急がば回れ・Isogaba maware

Its meaning

This is an example of a situation which you are in a hurry. That is when you are better of taking a safe way even if it takes a time.

 (Haste makes waste/More haste less speed.

学校におくれそうなので近道をしたら工事中で通れなかった。慌てて引き返したけれど間に合わなかった。まったく急がば回れだ。

Gakko ni okureso nanode chikamichi o shitara koujicyu de torenakatta. Awatete hikikaeshitakeredo, mani awanakatta. Mattaku isogaba maware da.

As I was running late for the school, I took a shortcut but due to the road work I could not get through. Absolutely, haste makes waste/more haste less speed.

MY THOUGH

The other day, my friend and I went to an open mic to perform. We were running late so my friend decided to take a shortcut. Well the road was close due to the road work. Then he decided to go round and again another road work. I said lets go back to our normal route. This Kotowaza exactly describe our situation. Something like an open mic we can still go there late, we surely made an error of judgement. This kotowaza is so true. We tend to do that specially when we are in a hurry.

arigato