Better to have been an old has been than a never was

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Could you tell me how I can understand this idiom(proverb) correctly and positively?

2

A has-been is someone formerly successful or important. The term is derisive. This statement means it is better to have been successful at some point than to have never been successful at all.

3

Thank you, sir. Is this the same as better the devil you know than the devil you don’t?

4

Thank you, sir. Is this the same as better the devil you know than the devil you don’t?

5

It is not even close.

This means it is better to be someone who used to be successful than to be someone who never was. You might say that to defend a past-prime musician or politician from detractors. As I said, “has-been” is a derisive term.

"Better the devil … " means you should stick with what you know even if you dislike it, because the alternative could be even worse and harder to deal with. If you were tempted to switch employers because you disliked your current boss, this might be offered as caution. The next boss could be even worse and harder to deal with, so it would be better to stick with the current one.

6

Maybe different usage, I think. So complicated.