It is easy to miss the timing involved in Proverbs 17:14, where it says “abandon the quarrel BEFORE it breaks out”. “BEFORE” — THAT is the time to stop a quarrel. Not “shortly after”, and certainly not “after it has gone a long way” – it is MOST difficult to stop then! No, abandon it BEFORE it breaks out! Have the foresight to see that what you are about to engage in is going to be contentious, and DO NOT START down that road in the first place! Don’t say that controversial thing! Don’t RESPOND in a way that you know is going to promote a quarrel. Abandon it BEFORE it breaks out! It is just like the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The best time to end a quarrel is not to get involved in it in the first place! “Abandon the quarrel BEFORE it breaks out”!