A new road, not an old one, often deceives the traveler.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Counsel should warn clients that novel legal theories and untested procedures carry greater risk of error than well-established paths — the old and familiar road is the safer one.

Where this applies

• A lawyer persuades a client to try a novel constitutional argument that has never been tested in court, and the client loses — the untested legal theory led them astray.
• A startup investor pours money into an unproven business model instead of an established franchise and loses everything — the new road deceived the traveler.
• A homeowner hires a contractor who uses an experimental building technique instead of conventional methods, and the roof leaks within a year.