In Hesiod’s Pandora story, Epimetheus accepted her despite Prometheus’s warning.
Prometheus understood that Zeus’s gifts could bring danger and advised his brother Epimetheus not to accept anything from the ruler of the gods. Epimetheus nevertheless took Pandora into his household. The episode reinforces the contrast built into their names: Prometheus is associated with thinking ahead, while Epimetheus represents reflection that comes afterward.
Once Pandora is accepted, the myth proceeds to the opening of the pithos. The troubles inside escape into the world, while hope remains behind. Epimetheus’s decision is therefore the immediate step that allows Zeus’s plan to reach humanity.
This event is often simplified into the claim that Pandora alone caused all human suffering. Hesiod’s narrative distributes responsibility more broadly: Zeus designs the punishment, the gods create and equip Pandora, and Epimetheus accepts the gift despite a warning. That layered structure is important to understanding the original myth rather than only its modern proverb.