Плохое начало не к доброму концу

A piece of work started not in the proper way is likely to go wrong. See Каково начало, таков и конец (K), Худо начинается, худо и кончается (X)

Var.: Плохое начало - плохой и конец

Cf: A bad beginning has a bad (makes a worse) ending (Br.). A bad day never has a good night (Am.). If you miss the first buttonhole, you will not succeed in buttoning up your coat (Am.). An ill beginning, (has) an ill ending (Br.). Ill begun, ill done (Br.), So goes Monday, so goes all the week (Am.)