“Woe to him that's bystander to his own distress”
— Geoffrey Chaucer
Simplified Meaning:
This saying means that it's unfortunate for someone who just watches their own problems without trying to do anything about them. Imagine you have a friend who is struggling with their schoolwork and always gets bad grades. If they just sit there and do nothing to improve, like asking for help or studying harder, they are simply being a bystander to their own troubles. In the same way, if you're having problems at work or with your health, and you don’t take any actions to fix them, you’ll only make the situation worse. It’s important to be proactive and do something to address your issues instead of just waiting around and hoping they go away on their own. Taking steps, no matter how small, can lead to positive changes and make your life better.
