Famous Proverbs

1] Never grieve for what you cannot help

2] There is more than one way to skin a cat.

3] The bee sucks honey out of the bitterest flowers

4] A kind heart loseth nought at last.

5] What is new cannot be true

6] All men are mortal

7] Necessity breaks iron

8] The greatest step is that out of doors

9] We do as we can, since we can’t do as we would

10] Joy and sorrow are next door neighbours.

11] The child is father of the man

12] Every medal has two sides

13] An ill paymaster never wants excuse

14] No road is long with good company

15] Like will to like

16] Truthfulness becomes the gentleman

17] All lay loads on a willing horse

18] Every one thinks his own sack heaviest

19] Diseases are the price of ill pleasures

20] Many irons in the fire, some must cool

21] Manners and money make a gentleman

22] It is a good tongue that says no ill, and a better heart that thinks none

23] No choice amongst stinking fish

24] Confess and be hanged

25] Accidents will happen

26] Practice makes perfect

27] A crust is better than no bread.

28] It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions but hard to find a cure.

29] Men are blind in their own cause

30] Do not halloo till you are out of the wood

31] Experience is a dear school, but fools learn in no other

32] The grace of God enough

33] Honesty is ill to thrive by

34] You cannot serve God and Mammon

35] Love me, love the crows on my roof

36] Of the ten fingers, some are long and some are short.

37] Beauty is only skin deep

38] God never sends mouths but he sent meat

39] Fine feathers make fine birds.

40] Comparisons make enemies of our friends.

41] Variety is charming

42] A willing helper does not wait until he is asked.

43] You eat, I dreams, the custard of the day

44] One sword keeps another in the sheath

45] Plain dealing is a jewel, but they that use it die beggars

46] Nature abhors a vacuum

47] Nothing seek, nothing find

48] Shame arises more from fear of men than of God

49] Even water has its ebb and flow

50] What is told in the ear of a man is often heard a hundred miles away

51] He mediates revenge who least complains.

52] It is more blessed to give than to receive

53] It chances in an hour, that appears not in seven years

54] Poverty is not a crime

55] Red ink gives what it touches a pink glow; black ink gives what it touches a dirty stain.

56] A spear you can see can easily be avoided; a hidden arrows is difficult to guard against.

57] Great trees keep down the little ones

58] Ill weeds grow apace (or fast)

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

60] From small beginnings come great things

61] Nothing succeeds like success

62] You can’t tell a book by its cover

63] As soon as man is born, he begins to die

64] Old habits die hard

65] No naked man is sought after to be rifled

66] Poverty is no disgrace but it is a great inconvenience

67] Failure teaches success

68] Half an egg is better than empty shell

69] Medical plants from one’s own back-yard are no valued.

70] Where bad’s the best, bad must be the choice

71] Give and spend, and God will send

72] A fair face may hide a foul heart.

73] Cease to hope and you will cease to fear.

74] There is no smoke without fire

75] Absence makes the heart grow fonder

76] The envious grow thin at others’ prosperity

77] Don’t burn the candle at both ends

78] The death of the wolves is the safety of the sheep

79] Big fish eat little fish

80] Men are known by the company they keep.

81] The bigger they are, the harder they fall

82] A hungry man smells meat afar off

83] Don’t make a mountain out of molehill

84] The strong man and the waterfall channel their own path

85] Repentance is a bitter physic

86] Work has a bitter root but sweet fruit.

87] Silence is golden

88] Three helping one another, bear the burthen of six

89] Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl

90] Beggars must not be choosers

91] What’s done is done

92] Light burden I heavy if far borne

93] It takes all sorts to make a world

94] He who comes first, grinds first.

95] Don’t play with fire

96] You cannot get blood (or water) out of a stone

97] He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune

98] It is no use crying over spilt milk

99] Even Homer sometimes nods

100] Be just before you are generous