ALPHABET D
Dai Ndakaziva Haitungamire
Meaning:
“Regret always comes too late.” Literal Translation: “‘If I had only known’ brings no benefit in the future.”
Deeper Insight:
Regret does not come before our mistakes to warn us; it comes afterward, when the damage has already been done. The lesson is to think carefully before acting, listen to good advice, and consider the long-term consequences of our decisions. Once something has happened, wishing we could turn back time is useless.
English Equivalents:
“Hindsight is 20/20.”
“Regret always comes too late.”
“Regret is always a day late and a dollar short.”
“It is too late to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.”
For example:
An investor puts all their life savings into a flashy, unverified get-rich-quick scheme despite warnings from friends. When the scheme collapses and they lose everything, they can only say, “I wish I had known.”