Famous Proverbs

1] What one loses (or you lose) on the swings, one makes up (or you gain) on the roundabouts

2] Change of pasture makes fat calves

3] What costs little is little esteemed

4] Nature is the true law

5] Put too much lemon-grass into the curry and you’ll spoil the flavour

6] Better be out of the world than out of the fashion.

7] A bow long bent at last waxes weak

8] Hunger breaks stone walls

9] The best horse needs breaking, and the aptest child needs teaching

10] Ninety per cent of inspiration is perspiration

11] The effect speaks, the tongue need not

12] A man’s in his own mouth stinks

13] A fault confessed is half redressed

14] Beggars must not be choosers

15] Take the tone of the company you are in

16] Do not kick against the pricks

17] Give a dog a bad name and hang him

18] There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.

19] The ass that brays most eats

20] Hunger is the best sauce

21] Every little helps

22] When children stand quiet, they have done some ill.

23] Ill news comes apace.

24] Praises fill not the belly

25] A forced kindness deserves no thanks

26] The weeds overgrow the corn.

27] The heart soon forgets what the eye sees not

28] He that knows little often repeats it

29] The cobbler should stick to his last

30] Human blood is all of a colour

31] Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your hedge

32] The best is often the enemy of the good

33] Don’t bargain for fish which are still in the water

34] It will be the same a hundred years hence

35] Nothing is so certain as death

36] A burdened conscience will never need a hangman

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

38] Nothing is so popular as kindness.

39] The result justifies the deed

40] A man has choice to begin love, but not to end it.

41] Say as men say, but think to yourself.

42] It is the bridle and spur that makes a good horse

43] An old cart well used may outlast a new one abused

44] He that seeks trouble never misses

45] There is nothing like being on the safe side

46] Everyone puts his fault on the times.

47] It is best to be on the safe side

48] He that the devil drives, feels no lead at his heels

49] He who spends before he thrives will beg before he thinks

50] If you agree to carry the calf, they’ll make you carry the cow.

51] Be not too bold with your biggers or betters

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

53] He thinks not well that thinks not again

54] Hard cases make bad law

55] We always weaken whatever we exaggerate

56] If you want a thing well done, do it yourself

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

58] It’s dogged that does it

59] It is better to conceal one’s knowledge than to reveal one’s ignorance

60] A little learning is dangerous thing

61] He that would have eggs must endure the cackling of hens

62] Dead men don’t bite

63] Where there is a question, there must be an answer

64] Do not triumph before the victory

65] Out of the frying-pan into the fire

66] None can guess the jewel by the casket

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

68] Give credit where credit is due

69] All are not saints that go to church

70] Man does what he can, and God what he will

71] He that dwells next door to a cripple, will learn to halt

72] Many dishes make many diseases

73] Manners make the man

74] Old age doesn’t protect from folly

75] It is an ill dog that deserves not a crust

76] Each day brings its own bread

77] Fall not into the fire when you try to avoid smoke

78] The unexpected always happens.

79] He who waits for another man’s platter has a cold meal

80] Never grieve for what you cannot help

81] Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your hedge

82] Money can influence even the spirits

83] Trust is dead-ill payment killed it.

84] A little body often harbours a great soul

85] Success has many friends

86] No man is content with his lot

87] Punishment is a cripple, but it arrives

88] Many irons in the fire, some must cool

89] Think of ease, but work on.

90] The Friar Preached against stealing and had a goose in his sleeve

91] If the lad goes to the well against his will, either the can will break or the water will spill

92] An ill tongue may do much

93] It is the lot of a king to do well but to be ill-spoken of

94] Needs must when the evil drives

95] A single filament of silk does not make a thread; a single tree does not make a forest

96] New lords, new laws

97] Anger managers everything badly.

98] See which way the cat jumps

99] Little pitchers have big (or long) ears

100] Youth will have its course.