Famous Proverbs

1] Live and Learn

2] If you want peace, prepare for war

3] The blind man is not afraid of ghosts

4] A banana tree won’t bear fruit twice.

5] The soldier who retreated fifty paces laughed at the one who had fallen back a hundred paces

6] Saying is one thing, and doing another

7] Wink at small faults

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

9] The worse the evil, the calmer we face it.

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

11] All heiresses are beautiful.

12] A little impatience will spoil great plans

13] A man may lose more in an hour than he can get in seven

14] The disinterested observer may perceive what is missed by those who are directly involved

15] Knavery may serve for a turn, nut honesty is best in the long run

16] A fault once denied is twice committed

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

18] True gold is not transformed by fire

19] Experience is the mother of wisdom

20] All truths are not to be told

21] Knowledge has bitter roots but sweet fruits

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

23] Great talkers are never great doers

24] Look on the bright side

25] Books and friends should be few but good

26] Words bind men

27] Slander leaves a sc ore behind it

28] A man with no hands is given a ring.

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

30] If you play with fire you get burnt

31] The delay is good which makes the way the safer

32] The thief doth fear each bush an offer

33] All meat pleases not all mouths

34] If the cap fits, wear it

35] Make the best of a bad job

36] Heaven takes care of children, sailor and drunken men

37] He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow

38] An ill tongue may do much

39] Every dog has his (its) day

40] What you don’t know can’t hurt you

41] One sheep follows another

42] Steer not after every mariner’s direction

43] Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

44] Fair face, foul heart

45] With patience and time, the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown

46] No man is content with his lot

47] The money you refuse will never do you good

48] Open a book and you profit by what you read

49] From small beginnings come great things

50] When wrath speaks, wisdom veils her face.

51] Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust

52] Little and often fills the purse

53] None can guess the jewel by the casket

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

55] Like father, like son

56] Joy and sorrow are next door neighbours.

57] Plain dealing is best. Plain dealing is a jewel

58] Gifts are scorned where givers are despised

59] Under the tongue, men are crushed to death

60] Thatch your roof before the rain begins

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

62] Other times, other manners

63] If you can’t bite, never show your teeth.

64] What the king wills, that the law wills

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

66] Don’t cry before you are hurt

67] Every ass likes to hear himself bray

68] Charity covers a Multitude of sins

69] You cannot sell the cow and sup (or drink) the milk

70] Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face

71] The cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it

72] More than enough is too much

73] We don’t get something for nothing

74] The healthful man can give counsel to the sick

75] Like question, like answer.

76] Before you marry, be sure of a house wherein to tarry

77] No man is wise at all times

78] Pleasure has a sting in its tail

79] Silence is golden

80] Good clothes open all doors

81] If you play with fire you get burnt

82] Anger makes a rich man hated, and a poor man scorned.

83] Love will find a way

84] No one betrays himself by silence

85] All truths are not to be told

86] Nothing ventured, nothing gained

87] Words cut more than swords

88] A golden key opens every door

89] Honey is sweet, but the bee stings

90] Harsh words cut wounds that fester like cankerous sores

91] God (or Providence) is always on the side of big battalions

92] A good word stills great anger

93] It is courage that wins, and not good weapons

94] He that cannot pay in purse must pay in person

95] Call no man happy till he is dead

96] Wise men are caught in wiles

97] Fear the Greeks (or Beware of Greeks) bearing gifts

98] Everyone leaps over the dyke where it is lowest

99] One thief will not rob another

100] A fault once denied is twice committed