it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six

proverb

In a precarious situation, it is wiser to act decisively and be judged by a jury than to be killed through inaction.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. In a precarious situation, it is wiser to act decisively and be judged by a jury than to be killed through inaction.

Origin

A jury usually consists of twelve people; a coffin may be carried by six.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20better%20to%20be%20judged%20by%20twelve%20than%20to%20be%20carried%20by%20six

MLA

“it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20better%20to%20be%20judged%20by%20twelve%20than%20to%20be%20carried%20by%20six. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20better%20to%20be%20judged%20by%20twelve%20than%20to%20be%20carried%20by%20six.

Source: it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.