Medical marijuana is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Of those states, Washington and Colorado have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Colorado's first retail marijuana stores opened Jan. 1 for sale to people 21 years and older.
In the English-speaking world, the expression to save face describes the lengths that an individual may go to in order to preserve their established position in society, taking action to ensure that one is not thought badly of by his or her peers.
Clearly, the first users of this expression were referring to saving nine stitches. The proverbial expression was clearly meant as an incentive to the lazy. It's especially gratifying that 'a stitch in time saves nine' is an anagram for 'this is meant as incentive'. The Anglo Saxon work ethic is being called on here.