Famous Proverbs

1] He who owes is in all the wrong

2] A good name is better than riches

3] History repeats itself

4] If you always say ‘No’, you’ll never get married

5] A fault confessed is half redressed

6] Lookers-on see more than players

7] One of these days is none of these days

8] He that will not go over the stile, must be thrust through the gate

9] When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then a gentleman?

10] Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it

11] One is what one eats

12] He that will thrive must rise at five

13] If you have known one, you have known them all

14] Children have wide ears and long tongues.

15] So many countries, so many customs

16] An old ox makes a straight furrow

17] An old ox will find a shelter for himself

18] Too far east is west

19] An empty purse fills the face with wrinkles

20] Soft fire makes sweet malt

21] One man’s loss is another’s gain

22] He should have (or He needs) a long spoon who sups with the devil

23] What is worse than ill luck?

24] Drunkards and fools cannot lie.

25] The best fish swim near the bottom

26] Everything is good in its season

27] The reason of the strongest is always the best.

28] No matter how much perfume you put on an onion, it will still emit a bad smell.

29] Example is better than precept

30] It is the first step that is troublesome

31] By his deeds we know a man

32] The rain of tears is necessary to the harvest of learning

33] Little pitchers have big (or long) ears

34] He who carries the burden knows the weight of it.

35] Anger begins with folly and ends with repentance.

36] Rip not up old sores

37] Cowardice is afraid to be known or seen

38] Love is lawless.

39] The first day a guest, the second day a guest, the third day a calamity

40] He that does most at once, does least

41] The camel never sees its own hump, but that of its brother is always before its eyes

42] The envious grow thin at others’ prosperity

43] Excessive happiness produces pain

44] Lose a leg rather than a life

45] Even though one’s aunt sells the cakes, one will not buy unless they are cheap.

46] Nothing stake, nothing draw.

47] Wait’ is a hard word to the hungry.

48] The rich knows not who is his friend

49] Hard cases make bad law

50] A curse will not strike out an eye unless a fist goes with it

51] To advise someone not to gamble is to win money for him

52] The hole calls the thief

53] Don’t swap horses while crossing a stream

54] If you can’t ride two horses at once, you shouldn’t be in the circus

55] The mill cannot grind with water that is past

56] There is truth in wine

57] All are not saints that go to church

58] One hour today is worth two tomorrow

59] Give him an inch and he’ll take a yard

60] Nothing comes from nothing

61] It is a good horse that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles

62] All glory comes from daring to begin

63] Through hardship to the stars

64] All’s well that ends well

65] Keep something for a rainy day

66] When a fool is sent to market, the storekeepers rejoice

67] He is wise who looks ahead

68] If you want peace, prepare for war

69] Deeds are fruits; words are but leaves

70] You cannot put an old head on young shoulders.

71] Often and little eating makes a man fat

72] Every dog has his (its) day

73] No one is satisfied with his fortune, nor dissatisfied with his intellect

74] Forethought is easy, repentance hard

75] Birds once snared fear all bushes

76] How ever much you learn, you won’t know how to raise the dead

77] Practice what you preach

78] See which way the cat jumps

79] Needs must when the evil drives

80] Even silence may be eloquent

81] The knowledge of a learned man is limited if he stays at home all the time

82] If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind

83] Honest is the best policy

84] Life is not all beer and skittles

85] Death and life are in the power of the tongue

86] A strong town is not won in an hour

87] Half an egg is better than empty shell

88] An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening

89] Better ask the way than go astray

90] Keep no more cats than will catch mice

91] He who considers too much will perform little.

92] When the weather is cold, there is not such thing as dirty clothing

93] Lend, and lose the loan or gain an enemy

94] The money you refuse will never do you good

95] See how the wind blows

96] The early bird catches the worm

97] If we have not the world’s wealth, we have the world’s ease

98] Nothing venture (or ventured), nothing gain (or gained)

99] An ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory

100] The least boy always carries the greatest fiddle