It is better to restrain or meet a thing in time, than to seek a remedy after a wrong has been inflicted.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Prevention is superior to cure — it is better to restrain a threatened wrong by injunction than to seek damages after the injury has been inflicted.

Where this applies

• A court issues a temporary restraining order to stop a developer from demolishing a historic building before the preservation lawsuit can be heard.
• A judge grants an emergency injunction preventing a company from destroying documents that are evidence in a pending fraud case.
• A city obtains a stop-work order against a builder who is about to pour concrete over a protected wetland, rather than waiting to sue for damages after the wetland is destroyed.