To make last-minute preparations; to take action only when an urgent need arises, without prior foresight or planning; to address a problem only when it's too late.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Zhao of Lu favored sycophants and ignored the advice of virtuous officials. Consequently, he was expelled from his state and fled to Qi. Only then did he realize the errors of his past actions.
Duke Jing of Qi, believing that Duke Zhao had repented, thought that if he were allowed to return, he might become a benevolent ruler.
However, Yan Zi, a high official of Qi, argued: "A person who falls into water only remembers to guard against slipping after they have already fallen in. A person who gets lost only realizes they should pay attention to their path after they have lost their way. It's like someone facing disaster rushing to forge weapons, or someone whose throat is choked by food rushing to dig a well for water (this is the meaning of the idiom 'lin ke jue jing'). Even if they act with the utmost speed at that moment, it's already too late. If one usually makes no preparations and takes no precautions for various matters, and only frantically takes measures to cope when things are about to happen, it simply won't work."