Methali hii inahusiana na tabia ya kufikiria kwamba watu wengine wana vitu vizuri zaidi, hali nzuri zaidi nk... Kwa mfano kufikiri jirani yako ana majani mazuri kuliko wewe.

Chanzo cha methali hii ni "Sanaa ya Upendo" na Ovid, kitabu cha mashairi yaliyotungwa ili kutoa shauri kwa wanaume na wanawake kuhusu kutafuta na kudumisha mahusiano ya kimapenzi. Kitabu hiki kiliandikwa zaidi ya miaka 2000 iliyopita, takribani 2 KK:

 - Ovid Ars Amatoria (Sanaa ya Upendo), Ukurasa wa 24

Kwa upande mmoja, methali hii inamaanisha, bora kushika kile ulicho nacho, na kupuuza kile ambacho wengine wanacho, hata kama inaonekana ni bora zaidi. Lakini pia kwa mtazamo mwengine, inamaanisha bora kutumia akili yako katika kuboresha hali yako mwenyewe (kama kumwagilia shamba lako) badala ya kufikiria sana ukweli kwamba shamba lako, au hali kwa ujumla, ni duni. Methali nyingine ni "Majani huonekana ya kijani zaidi pale ambapo yalipomwagiliwa maji." 

Methali zinazofanana kikanuni:
Kihindi: 

Kichina: 

Kijapani:

Kurusi:

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?

Widespread economic prosperity typically reaches all citizens of a country or region. A country cannot benefit without all of its citizens somehow benefitting, in the same way that an incoming tide will lift all boats including both the behemoth cruise ships and the tiny canoes.

Occasionally, the adage also may be used when referring to entire groups benefitting from a change in circumstances, particularly an influx of resources that seemingly might reach only individuals. I have heard co-workers respond to their co-workers receiving large sales commissions by saying, "a rising tide lifts all boats," implying that the increase in business for the company will expand the total opportunities for the company (and thus all employees). In this use case, clearly it is understood that the "rising tide" does not lift all boats equally.

Critics of this proverb may dispute its veracity claiming the phrase is erroneously used to justify any type of deal or arrangement that seems to benefit the few, but typically the expression is used with optimism or as a form of mild celebration by leaders, or members of the group themselves.

The proverb is often attributed to John F. Kennedy after he used it in a 1963 speech disputing the claim that a dam construction project had too much pork (wasteful spending). Kennedy's speechwriter (Ted Sorensen) revealed that the New England Council originally used the phrase, which Kennedy borrowed regularly.

A similar phrase is "to grow the pie," which means to make the entire set of opportunities greater, presumably so that everyone can appreciate a larger piece of pie, even if their percentage of the pie does not change.

Do you share the sentiment that broad economic prosperity reaches all?

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: