Famous Proverbs

1] Every man has the defects of his own virtues (or qualities)

2] Never do evil that good may come of it

3] As you make your bed, you must lie on it

4] He who lives with cats will get a taste for mice

5] A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

6] A good name keeps its luster in the dark

7] Fields have eyes and woods have ears

8] He that would know what shall be, must consider what has been

9] It is good to follow the old fox

10] Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today

11] No misfortune will go on forever

12] Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down

13] It is the first step that is troublesome

14] The poorer one is, the more devils one meets

15] If each would sweep before his own door, we should have a clean city

16] Idle folks lack no excuses

17] The hen that lays the eggs knows the pain

18] No playing with a straw before an old cat.

19] A fool’s bolt may sometimes hit the mark

20] An ill payer (or paymaster) never wants an excuse

21] Envy eats nothing but it own heart

22] The proud will sooner lose than ask the way

23] Not even Hercules could contend against two

24] A good Conscience is the best divinity

25] The squeaking wheel gets the grease

26] A old poacher makes the best gamekeeper

27] Talk much end err much

28] He that knows little often repeats it

29] No man fears what he has seen grow

30] Good ware makes quick market

31] The devil lurks behind the cross

32] Never was a cat or dog drowned, that could but see the shore

33] Look at the bright side

34] When a man grows angry, his reason rides out.

35] The loftiest towers rise from the ground

36] Better a louse in the pot than no flesh at all

37] Threatened folk live long

38] A new broom sweeps clean, but the old brush knows all the corners

39] There is no tree but bears some fruit

40] There is no redemption from hell

41] The dog that fetches, will carry.

42] He that cannot ask, cannot live

43] Needs must when the devil drives

44] Better to ask the way than go astray.

45] The best things in life are free

46] Don’t pour out the dirty water before you have cleaned

47] The purse of the patient protracts the disease

48] To forget a wrong is the best revenge

49] The orange that is too hard squeezed yields a bitter juice

50] Don’t cross the bridge before you get to it

51] All are not thieves that dogs bark at

52] When wrath speaks, wisdom veils her face.

53] Let every pedlar carry his own burden

54] True doctrines require no miracles

55] He that has lost his credit, is dead to the world

56] He that has no money needs no purse

57] Good advice is often annoying, bad advice never.

58] If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again

59] Bad excuses are worse than none.

60] Laughter makes good blood

61] Much travel is needed to ripen a man’s rawness

62] A man must plough with such oxen as he has

63] Everything is good in its season

64] What is deferred is not abandoned

65] He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find a stick.

66] There are spots even in the sun

67] A guilty conscience feels continual fear

68] Either mend or end

69] Though the food is plain, stomach may be filled; though the cloth is coarse, one may be clad to a ripe old age

70] Whom god loves, his house is sweet to him

71] The goat must browse where she is tied

72] Friendship should not be all on one

73] Early sow, early mow

74] Love is a disease, and the loved on is the only medicine

75] As you sow, so shall you reap

76] God defend me from my friends; from enemies, I can defend myself.

77] The end crowns the work.

78] Little pitchers have big (or long) ears

79] Dreams go by contraries

80] Choose thy company before thy drink

81] The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts

82] He who cannot put up with extreme hardship cannot be the best among men

83] One good turn deserves another

84] A fair face may hide a foul heart.

85] The bait hides the hook

86] A wise man is never less alone than when he is alone

87] The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man

88] A ragged colt may make a good horse.

89] Tempt not a desperate man

90] No man is indispensable

91] Eaten bread is soon forgotten

92] He that has good money, gives few alms

93] Promises may make friends, but it is performances that keep them

94] Burn not your house to fright the mouse away

95] Death keeps no calendar

96] If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

97] Good riding at two anchors, men have told, for if one breaks the other may hold

98] Gold is tried in the fire

99] The longest way round is the shortest way home

100] The child is father of the man