This quote, “He that pays for work before it’s done, has but a pennyworth for two pence” is a metaphorical way of saying that paying for a job or service before it’s completed may result in getting less value for your money. In other words, you may end up receiving less than what you paid for.

This statement can be understood in two ways. First, it could mean that the quality of work might decline if the payment is made upfront because the motivation to perform well might reduce once the worker has already received their compensation. Second, it could also imply a risk factor, where the worker might not complete the task after receiving the payment, leaving you at a loss.

Applying this idea to today’s world, it is quite relevant in various business transactions and personal development. In business, it is common to pay a portion of the total cost upfront as a sign of good faith. However, paying the entire amount before the completion of the work could lead to potential risks as mentioned above. Therefore, it’s often recommended to have a written contract outlining the terms of payment and expected work to protect both parties’ interests.

In terms of personal development, this quote can be interpreted as a reminder to not reward ourselves prematurely. For instance, if you set a goal to read a book every week, you should only reward yourself after you’ve completed the book, not before. Rewarding ourselves before achieving a goal might reduce our motivation to work towards it. This idea encourages discipline, patience, and the understanding that rewards come after hard work, not before.