"Submit to the present evil, lest a greater one befall you"

This quote by Phaedrus is a cautioning to accept the present scenario, even if it is undesirable, in order to prevent an even worse outcome. It suggests that if one does decline the present scenario, they might be confronted with a lot more difficult or undesirable circumstance in the future. This quote motivates people to be proactive and do something about it to prevent an even worse outcome. It also indicates that if one does not do something about it, they may be faced with a higher evil. This quote is a pointer that it is often much better to accept the present circumstance and take action to prevent an even worse outcome, instead of waiting for a higher evil to befall them. It is a tip that it is frequently better to act and accept the present circumstance, instead of waiting for a higher evil to befall them.