--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't cross the bridge til you come to it." description: "\"Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.\" — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg" --- # Don't cross the bridge til you come to it. ![“Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.” quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg) > “Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.” [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice to avoid premature worry; deal with problems when they arise. **In simple terms:** Don't worry before the problem appears. Key Takeaway Address issues as they come. Themes caution patience problem solving Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice proverbial When to use this quote - project planning - personal relationships - financial decisions - health concerns Key Concepts Stoicism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - Do you often anticipate problems that never happen? - How could early preparation help? A Different Perspective May cause missed opportunities if overcautious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge/) [Bridge Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge-til-5868917/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Cross Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-bridge-438412/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Til Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/til-come-5868918/) ## Related quotes > [Worrying makes you cross the bridge before you come to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/worrying-makes-you-cross-the-bridge-before-you-come-to-it/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [With a nasty attitude you will never cross over to the other side of the bridge ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/with-a-nasty-attitude-you-will-never-cross-over-to-the-other-side-of/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [“When you feel yourself sinking, if you step back and look at the big picture, you’ll realize that for every body of water you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-jordan/when-you-feel-yourself-sinking-if-you-step-back-and-look-at-the-big/) [Christy Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-jordan/) > [Sometimes you'll go back to cross that bridge you thought would always be there, and you'll find that time has eroded it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-ll-go-back-to-cross-that-bridge-you-thought-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not good to cross the bridge before you get to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/it-is-not-good-to-cross-the-bridge-before-you-get-to-it/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [A politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when he comes to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/a-politician-is-a-man-who-will-double-cross-that-bridge-when-he-comes/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [What am I doing? What are we doing. We know it wont end well but we are living in the moment. We'll cross that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-am-i-doing-what-are-we-doing-we-know-it-wont-end-well-but-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I cross a bridge at the outskirts of town and look back over the river at rows of houses, windows, lines of drying laundry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/i-cross-a-bridge-at-the-outskirts-of-town-and-look-back-over-the/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [“He wanted more than anything, to walk over the bridge. To just leave Oyster Point and go to college in the city, where maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-altebrando/he-wanted-more-than-anything-to-walk-over-the-bridge-to-just-leave/) [Tara Altebrando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-altebrando/) > [I do not like the phrase: Never cross a bridge till you come to it. The world is owned by men who cross bridges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barton/i-do-not-like-the-phrase-never-cross-a-bridge-till-you-come-to-it-the/) [Bruce Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barton/) > [Its good to plan ahead, but I guess ill cross that bridge when I get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-good-to-plan-ahead-but-i-guess-ill-cross-that-bridge-when-i-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't fear what you can't control. Don't fear what might happen. Don't fear who might care. You can cross that bridge when you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-fear-what-you-can-t-control-don-t-fear-what-might-happen-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll worry about that when I have to. Cross that bridge when I get to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-worry-about-that-when-i-have-to-cross-that-bridge-when-i-get-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow > [The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-spring-came-suddenly-bursting-upon-the-world-as-a-child-bursts/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [In old age our bodies are worn-out instruments, on which the soul tries in vain to play the melodies of youth. But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“ Endymion The rising moon has hid the stars; Her level rays, like golden bars, Lie on the landscape green, With shadows brown between.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/endymion-the-rising-moon-has-hid-the-stars-her-level-rays-like-golden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/fame-comes-only-when-deserved-and-then-is-as-inevitable-as-destiny/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“  Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian farmers,—   Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from   Fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-dwelt-together-in-love-these-simple-acadian-farmers-dwelt-in-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling upward in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/heights-by-great-men-reached-and-kept-were-not-obtained-by-sudden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [All things come round to him who will but wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/all-things-come-round-to-him-who-will-but-wait/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Ah, how skillful grows the hand That obeyeth Love's command! It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ah-how-skillful-grows-the-hand-that-obeyeth-love-s-command-it-is-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Thus departed Hiawatha, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, In the purple mists of evening, To the regions of the home-wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-departed-hiawatha-hiawatha-the-beloved-in-the-glory-of-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Books are sepulchres of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/books-are-sepulchres-of-thought/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/morality-without-religion-is-only-a-kind-of-dead-reckoning-an/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Buried was the bloody hatchet; Buried was the dreadful war-club; Buried were all warlike weapons, And the war-cry was forgotten. Then was peace among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/buried-was-the-bloody-hatchet-buried-was-the-dreadful-war-club-buried/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) [Explore all 755 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## More Bridge quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. A bridge constructed entirely out of trust, honesty, and in our case, wooden planks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-bridge-between-your-future-and-mine-a-bridge-constructed/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I do is I'm trying to bridge the gap between yoga and fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/what-i-do-is-i-m-trying-to-bridge-the-gap-between-yoga-and-fitness/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Historically, Hong Kong has served as an important bridge between China and the world. Our freedoms, stability and the rule of law have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/historically-hong-kong-has-served-as-an-important-bridge-between/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Tower Bridge would make a cool house. I like the idea of living over the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/tower-bridge-would-make-a-cool-house-i-like-the-idea-of-living-over/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) [Browse all 736 Bridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bridge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_bridge_don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-i_2376115.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't cross the bridge til you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/don-t-cross-the-bridge-til-you-come-to-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```