A Bird in Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush

A bird which one has got in the hand is always more valuable than two or three birds which one aims to get but are in the bush. The reason is that the birds in the bush are away from the person and the possibility of getting them is doubtful. The birds in the bush can always fly away and leave the person with nothing, while the one in his hand cannot escape. The one in the hand can be useful to him. So if the person lets the bird in his hand go free and tries to catch those in the bush, they may also fly away leaving him a complete loser. It is therefore wise on the part of the person to be satisfied with the bird he has got and not to go off looking for those that flew away. It is always wise to utilize whatever opportunity is at hand than to look forward to some other opportunity that may come in future with more advantages. It is best to be satisfied with whatever chance is there and make the most out of it than wait for a better one which may never come. This proverb means that it is better to be in possession of even so small thing than to have hopes or expectations based on something that is bigger or of greater value but is far away and difficult to get. This applies to people also. Those who are near to us and willing to help are more valuable friends than those who are away. Those who are away might not be willing to help at all. So it is foolish to reject whatever help is at hand. Our neighbors who are poor sometimes prove to be more helpful to us than our rich relatives who are far away. The wise man always relies on the present instead of laying his hopes in future.