If things go wrong, don't go with them.

Babson’s aphorism urges moral and practical independence in the face of failure, panic, or collective drift. When circumstances deteriorate—whether in markets, politics, or personal life—the easiest response is to be swept along by the same forces: to imitate others’ bad decisions, surrender standards, or accept decline as inevitable. The line counsels a deliberate refusal to “follow” misfortune: keep judgment intact, hold to principles, and choose corrective action rather than resignation. Its punchy phrasing also implies emotional discipline: acknowledge what’s going wrong without letting it dictate one’s behavior. In that sense, it fits Babson’s broader reputation for emphasizing self-control, prudence, and contrarian steadiness.