Look ere ye leap.

“Look ere ye leap” is an early English proverb commonly credited to John Heywood, the Tudor playwright and collector of sayings. Heywood’s best-known contribution to proverb history is his mid-16th-century compilation, which gathered popular maxims circulating in speech and literature. The phrasing reflects Early Modern English usage (“ere” = before) and belongs to a cluster of cautionary counsels urging forethought before action. In Heywood’s time—marked by court politics, religious upheaval, and precarious patronage—prudence and circumspection were practical virtues, and proverb collections served both as entertainment and as moral instruction for readers and speakers.

The proverb advises pausing to assess consequences before committing to a risky or irreversible step. “Look” implies deliberate scrutiny—of circumstances, motives, and likely outcomes—while “leap” evokes a decisive act that cannot easily be undone once taken. Its enduring force lies in its compact metaphor: life choices often resemble jumps where misjudging the landing can bring harm. The saying can be read as a general ethic of prudence (planning, due diligence) but also as a warning against impulsiveness and overconfidence. In rhetoric, it functions as a ready-made check on haste, urging reasoned judgment over momentary desire.

“Look before you leap.”
“Look before ye leap.”
“Look ere you leap.”