it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
In a precarious situation, it is wiser to act decisively and be judged by a jury than to be killed through inaction.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six” mean?
In a precarious situation, it is wiser to act decisively and be judged by a jury than to be killed through inaction.
Is “it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.