If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand

If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand is a compact warning that present ease can conceal the consequences of failing to look ahead. Its force lies in the reversal it makes: what seems remote is already relevant to the troubles that will soon feel immediate.

Meaning and Structure

The saying sets distant consideration against near sorrow. It does not specify a particular danger or prescribe a detailed plan; instead, it states a general relation between foresight and consequence. The compressed conditional form makes the warning memorable: neglect the far-reaching, and trouble draws close.

Context and Significance

The Master offers the saying as a standalone teaching in the book’s sequence of brief pronouncements. Its scope remains deliberately broad, allowing the principle to apply wherever present decisions have consequences beyond the immediate moment. The movement from distance to nearness gives the aphorism its urgency: foresight is not merely abstract prudence, but attention that may prevent future distress.