It doesn’t work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps.

This proverb warns that some challenges cannot be solved by half-measures or incremental compromises. A “twenty-foot chasm” represents a gap so large that attempting to cross it in smaller, seemingly safer steps still fails because the intermediate landing does not exist. In practical terms, it argues for decisive commitment when the situation demands it: certain reforms, personal changes, negotiations, or strategic pivots require a full transition rather than a partial one. The image also critiques wishful thinking—treating an all-or-nothing problem as if it were divisible—highlighting the importance of accurately assessing constraints before acting.

It is not possible to cross a chasm in two jumps.
You can’t jump a chasm in two leaps.
You can’t cross a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps.