Famous Proverbs

1] You never know your luck

2] Might is right

3] A heavy purse makes a light heart

4] The eye that sees all things else sees not itself

5] A stitch in time saves nine

6] Praise without profit puts little in the pot

7] Give us the tools, and we will finish the job

8] The earthen pot must keep clear of the brass kettle

9] Borrowed garments never fit well

10] Scatter with one hand, gather with two

11] God never sends mouths but he sent meat

12] All good things must come to an end

13] Never spur a willing horse

14] He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief

15] If you pile up enough sand, you make a pagoda

16] A thief passes for a gentle man when stealing has made him rich

17] What can you expect from a pig (or hog) but a grunt?

18] A horse that will not carry a saddle must have no oats.

19] He who gives fair words feds you with and empty spoon

20] A goose drinks as much as gander

21] Use the means, and God will give the blessings

22] He mediates revenge who least complains.

23] We should publish our joys and conceal our griefs

24] Fools rush in where angles fear to tread

25] It is as hard to please a knave as knight

26] He who aims at the moon may hit the top of a tree; he who aims at the top of a tree is unlikely to get off the ground

27] Ignorance is the peace of life

28] Don’t teach your grandmother how to suck eggs

29] Time flies

30] Ask no question and you’ll be told no lies

31] A wise man will learn something even from the words of a fool

32] Never tell your enemy that your foot aches

33] Hear twice before you speak once

34] Every man is the architect of his own fortune

35] The more wicked, the more lucky

36] Hope springs eternal in the human heart

37] Give and take is fair play

38] Hitch your wagon to a star

39] A good servant must have good wages

40] Necessity breaks iron

41] A little is better than none

42] Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad

43] It will be the same a hundred years hence

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

45] No man is his craft’s master the first day

46] Danger makes men devout

47] He that asks faintly begs a denial.

48] Where every man is master, the world goes to wrack

49] It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor

50] He that knows little often repeats it

51] Wisdom is better than strength

52] The anvil lasts longer than the hammer

53] Better a bare foot than none

54] It is easier to get a favour from fortune than to keep it

55] Desert and reward seldom keep company

56] The hand that gives, gathers

57] He who rides on a tiger can never dismount

58] Wrong has no warrant

59] As is the mould, so will the cake be.

60] Naughty boys sometimes make good men.

61] It signifies nothing to play well if you lose.

62] You see a man’s face but not his heart.

63] Every man to his trade.

64] Words bind men

65] Every man to his trade.

66] Barking dogs seldom bite

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

68] Burn not your house to fright the mouse away

69] The best go first

70] Live not to eat, but eat to live

71] The devil tempts all, but the idle man tempts the devil

72] Standing pools gather fifth

73] Advice is something the wise don’t need and fools won’t take

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

75] Remember, you are but a man

76] The devil’s children have the devil’s luck

77] Everything tempts the man who fears temptation. If you can’t be good, be careful.

78] Can we ever too much of a good thing?

79] Nothing ventured, nothing gained

80] Truth may walk through the world unarmed

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

82] A creaking gate (or door) hangs long

83] Who greases his way travels easily

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

85] Never too late to learn

86] Better a husband without love than a jealous husband

87] You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs

88] When you know there are tigers on the hills, don’t go there

89] Busiest men find the most time

90] In indecision itself, grief is present.

91] Needs must when the evil drives

92] Even water has its ebb and flow

93] Where there is peace, there is blessing

94] There is truth in wine

95] Words fly, writings remain

96] Joy and sorrow are next door neighbours.

97] Not good is it to harp on the frayed string

98] To know the husband, observe the face of the wife

99] Even the tiger will appear if you talk about him

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