Meaning it's better to be satisfied with what you have, rather than risking it for a chance at a larger reward.

This proverb turns out to be very old indeed. It comes from an ancient book called "The Story of Ahikar" also known as the "Proverbs of Ahiqar." 

The Story of Ahikar (page 110)
The book tells the story of an advisor to the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian rulers. It was probably written about 600 BCE, with the earliest surviving fragments dating to about 500 CE. 

Similar proverbs from around the world...
French:

Japanese

Italian

And one more for fun...

Do you think this proverb is good advice? When is it better to go with a sure thing now or take a chance and search for something better?

Siku moja, mfanyabiashara mashuhuri alitafuta msaidizi. Alipokea maombi na CV za watu wengi sana, lakini wawili tu walikidhi vigezo: Amina na Baraka. Ili kuamua kati yao, aliwaita wote wawili, na akawaalika waje kwaajili ya mahojiano ya ajira, kesho yake asubuhi. "Saa tatu kamili -- vaa mavazi ya kazi, na usichelewe!" Akawaonya.

Kesho yake Ali aliwahi kuamka, akavaa suti yake nzuri, na alipanda basi kijijini kwake saa 2. "Bora kinga kuliko tiba" alifikiria. Njiani kuelekea mjini, basi ilianza kutoa moshi. Abira wote walishuka na waliachwa porini. Hapo hapo mvua ilianza kunyesha. Kila basi lililompita, Ali akaomba nafasi, lakini, kutokana na hali ya hewa, mabasi yote yalikuwa yameshajaa. Kwa hivyo ikabidi atembee kwa miguu. Ilipotimia saa tatu, bado Ali alikuwa mbali na mji, na mvua ikawa kali zaidi na zaidi. "Lazima niendelee" akajiambia, "Bora kuchelewa kuliko kukosa kabisa."

Wakati huohuo mjini, Baraka aliamka ghorofani kwake, na akashtuka ghafla akiona jua lilikuwa limeshafika mbali angani. "Aisee! Niliweka alarm! Simu yangu ina shida gani sasa?" Alitazama saa ukutani: Saa tatu kamili. "Bora niache tu. Hata nikiondoka saivi, bado nitachelewa kufika. Si alisema usichelewe? Hatamwajiri aliyechelewa." Kwa hivyo Baraka, akiwa na huzuni, akalala tena.

Saa nne na nusu, hatimaye, Ali alifika ofisini kwa mfanyabiashara na kugonga mlango, suti yake ikichuruzika maji na matope sakafuni. Mfanyabiashara akajibu. "Si nilikwambia vaa mavazi yanayofaa na usichelewe? Sasa umechelewa zaidi ya saa limoja na mavazi yako yamechafuka. Niambie nitawezaje kukuajiri baada ya hapo?" Kisha Ali akaeleza yote yaliyomtokea. Mfanyabishara akamjibu "Nimejifunza mengi kuhusu wewe kutoka kwa hadithi yako Ali. Ukiwa na kusudi kichwani, utafanya kazi kwa bidii, na pale unapokutana na vikwazo hukati tamaa, hata kama umechelewa. Nakwambia, wewe ndiye wa kwanza kufika leo. Mwingine alikosa kabisa. Nitakuajiri wewe."

Mafanikio makubwa huanza na makosa mengi, lakini baada ya muda, uvumilivu na ustahilimilu huleta matunda. Kukosa ni uanadamu, lakini Mungu ni mvumilivu sana kwetu. Anatupa nafasi nyingi za kujifunza na kujaribu tena, ilimradi tusikate tamaa.

Wengine wanasema methali ya "Better late than never never" inatoka kwa kitabu cha The Canterbury Tales, kilichoandikwa na Chaucer miaka ya 1390.

Wengine wanasema chimbuko la kweli ni kitabu cha Historia ya Roma, kilichoandikwa na Livy takriban mwaka wa 20 KK.

Methali ya Kiingereza inayoendana ni:

 Methali ya Kiingereza inayopinga:

Methali ya Kihindi: 

Tofautisha na linganisha matunda na pipi. Matunda yameiva, yana ladha halisi, yamejaa virutubisho na vitamini -- kweli yanajiuza yenyewe.

Kwa upande mwingine, mfuko wa pipi unalia “nisikilize!”, kwa rangi kali, na kauli mbiu zinazolipuka *BOOM*! Lakini chini au nyuma ya kinachong'aa, tunajua kwa kkweli pipi ni sukari tupu tu yenye rangi na ladha bandia ya matunda.

Kama nyani, binadamu hupenda matunda kwa sababu yanatupatia nishati pamoja na lishe na virutubisho. Pipi hutoa nishati bila lishe halisi (Kalori tupu). Pipi huiga tunda. Usidanganywe!

Kizuri hakihitaji kutangazwa, maana ubora hujieleza yenyewe. Kama wachumi wasemavyo, “demand” inazidi “supply”. Matangazo yanaweza kutuahidi furaha, uzuri, upendo, mali au heshima. Lakini jiulize, je, inawezekana kwa kweli? Coca-Cola sio dawa ya upendo.

Methali hii inatukumbusha thamani ya ubora wa kweli kuliko muonekeano maridadi. Methali hii hutumika wakati msemaji ana mashaka juu ya mtu anayejisifu au kujivunia kupita kiasi.

Tuwe kama kikapu cha matunda: mwazi na mwema. Sifa hizi zitawavuta wengine kwako — angalau wao wanaoelewa kwamba “Chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza!”

Methali zinazohusiana:
Vingaravyo vyote si dhahabu

Don’t judge ya book by it’s cover
Usihukumu kitabu kwa kava yake (muonekeno)

Appearances are deceptive
Maonekano hudanganya
 
高嶺の花
Hana yori dango
Chakula [ni bora] kuliko maua

Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work? Or maybe an artisan shaping hot glass? It's pretty incredible to watch, right? (If not, visit Shanga Foundation in Arusha or check out video links below)
In our everyday experience, glass is hard, brittle and breakable, but glass is actually made by melting sand and shaping it like liquid.

Some things in life seem unchangeable; they just will not bend. If we use all our strength, they only shatter in our hands and hurt us. But a skillful craftsman can make brittle things soft and malleable by preparing them appropriately, and taking decisive action at the right moment.

This proverb is often used to mean that you should take action quickly when an opportunity arises, so that you don't miss it. See also: There is a tide

However, it's worth noting that in the play, this advice has pretty bad consequences for Brutus, who didn't exactly sail on to fortune after this speech (read more...)

Many cultures and languages have a proverb that is very similar to "Strike while the iron is hot." It seems likely that the proverb has multiple independent origins.