I think Rudyard Kipling wrote the phrase in "The Copybook Gods".
2007-02-01 13:07:25 · 7 answers · asked by Incorrectly Political 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
If you have a choice of bad situations, deal with the one that you're familiar with. Take advantage of your experience when working out problems.
2007-02-01 13:10:20 · answer #1 · answered by Andrea 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Don't remember the original source, but it means it is better to choose the known adversary over the unknown one. Often you can deal with the known over the unknown. Familiarity with a foe, can assist in bargaining or defeating a foe.
2007-02-01 21:36:27 · answer #2 · answered by David Y 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means if you have nothing but bad choices go with the familiar bad choice, at least you can anticipate the outcome.
2007-02-01 21:19:25 · answer #3 · answered by Slimsmom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that it is better to deal with things that you know about as opposed to things you don't know about.
Dealing with known problems (devil) is always easier than unknown problems.
2007-02-01 21:17:08 · answer #4 · answered by angelthe5th 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you know that devil, at least it's familiar and you have a chance of handeling it... If it is not familiar how are you to know if you can deal with it?
2007-02-01 21:13:34 · answer #5 · answered by CANCEL 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes the thing you fear is better than the alternative.
2007-02-01 21:17:41 · answer #6 · answered by Amalthea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do what you are good doing.
2007-02-01 21:15:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋