better late than never

Perhaps a calque of Latin potiusque sero quam numquam from the 4th book[1] of Ab Urbe condita (History of Rome) by Titus Livius, around 27 BC.

better late than never

1. It's better to do something late, than to never do it at all.
   • c. 27 BCE, Livy, Ab Urbe Condita [From the Founding of the City], published 1996:

     (please add the primary text of this quote)

     Their insolence and recklessness must be opposed, and better late than never.

   • 1989 June 16, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis; Ivan Reitman, director, Ghostbusters II, spoken by Dock Supervisor (Cheech Marin):

     [after seeing the ghost of the Titanic arrive in New York Harbor] Well, better late than never.

• better safe than sorry