It is more painful to do nothing than something.
More German Proverbs:
Who falls short in the head, must be long in the heels.German
He laughs at scars who never felt a wound.
German
Where money, there friends.
German
Never tickle the nose of a sleeping bear.
German
Between the hand and the lip the soup may be spilt.
German
Good thongs may be cut out of other people's hides.
German