Literal translation
one well tied bundle is worth more than two poorly fastened ones
Meaning
one well-tied bundle beats two poorly fastened ones
Explanation
This saying defends quality over quantity, favouring one thing done well over two things done sloppily. The image of the bundle, that bunch of wood or branches gathered and tied together for carrying, is drawn directly from a daily rural gesture: a well tied bundle holds together and can be carried without falling apart, while two poorly fastened bundles risk scattering along the way and losing all the benefit of the work. The words bundle, well, to tie, two, and bad in the sense of poorly are all well attested, except for the word rendered as fastened, which could not be found under this exact form in our dictionaries, though its meaning leaves no ambiguity given the context. The saying echoes a universal wisdom that favours careful work, even on a limited scale, over a larger undertaking carried out carelessly. It is used to advise thoroughness and solidity over haste, in a practical, concrete register, inherited directly from farm labour.