You Can’t Run Before You Crawl

Origin

The idea behind "you can’t run before you crawl" belongs to a broad proverb family found in British, European, and early American moral instruction. Variants such as "learn to walk before you run" appear in 19th-century books for children, etiquette guides, and general advice writing across the English-speaking world. While the South uses this phrase often-especially in teaching, parenting, and church settings-it did not originate there, nor was it distinctively preserved by the region. Its Southern reputation comes from its simple, down-home tone rather than historical roots.

Verdict: Southernish. Sounds warm and rural, fits easily into Southern conversation, but comes from widespread English proverb tradition rather than Southern dialect.