Famous Proverbs

1] As you brew, so shall you drink.

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

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

4] By falling we learn to go safely

5] Make hay while the sun shines

6] Distance lends enchantment to the view

7] Do as I say, not as I do

8] Old vessels must leak

9] It is ill striving against the stream

10] He who does nothing but sits and eats, will wear away a mountain of wealth

11] Greedy eaters dig their graves with their teeth.

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

13] T’ is safest making peace with sword in hand

14] Borrowed garments never fit well

15] If you play with fire you get burnt

16] There’s a time and place for everything

17] Noting is impossible to a willing heart

18] Repentance is a bitter physic

19] Early sow, early mow

20] Fair play’s a jewel

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

22] Reputation is often got without merit, and lost without crime

23] The peony, though large, is useless; the date blossom, though small, yields fruit

24] First thrive then wive

25] Anything will fit a naked man.

26] Beauty is potent but money is omnipotent

27] Self do, self have

28] When the melon is ripe, it will drop by itself

29] One of these days is none of these days

30] Money isn’t everything

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

32] What is worse than ill luck?

33] He that tells his wife news, is but newly wed

34] Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.

35] Much law but little justice

36] Beauty fades like a flower.

37] Though the food is plain, stomach may be filled; though the cloth is coarse, one may be clad to a ripe old age

38] No man is content with his lot

39] A burdened conscience will never need a hangman

40] A man turned pig no longer fears filth

41] Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down

42] Nothing crave, nothing have

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

44] Anger begins with folly and ends with repentance.

45] Plain dealing is best

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

47] Truth lies at the bottom of the well

48] The best things in life are free

49] Ask, and it shall be given to you.

50] Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof

51] Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still

52] Time and tide wait for no man

53] The money you refuse will never do you good

54] Man punishes the action but God the intention

55] A burthen of one’s own choice is not felt

56] It is not easy to steal when the landlord is a thief

57] Never say die

58] One man’s means another man’s poison

59] Learn to see in another’s misfortune, the ills which you should avoid.

60] Frugality is the mother of virtue

61] He that would catch fish must venture his bait

62] Wherever an ass falls, there will he never fall again

63] Saying is one thing, and doing another

64] If your can’t help friend with money, help him at least with a sigh

65] A successful man is seldom at ease; a life of ease does not breed success

66] Sweet are the uses of adversity

67] A wise man cares not for what he cannot have

68] An old ox makes a straight furrow

69] Honour is the reward of virtue

70] Creditors have better memories than debtors

71] An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains

72] Gold brings gold; lack of gold, a headache

73] Happy is the country (or nation) that has no history

74] A golden key opens every door

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

76] Truth may walk through the world unarmed

77] Comfort is not known if poverty does not come before it

78] Because he would not eat it, the food got maggoty

79] Rich folk have many friends

80] Hope is grief’s best music

81] The proud will sooner lose than ask the way

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

83] Hazard not your wealth on a poor man’s advice

84] It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest

85] Never spur a willing horse

86] Each day brings its own bread

87] Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

88] Empty vessels make the most noise

89] The biter is sometimes bit

90] Of one ill come many

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

92] When you live next to a cemetery, you cannot weep for everyone

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

94] There is none misfortune cannot reach

95] When the fox preaches, then beware your geese

96] It at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again

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

98] Dying is as natural as living

99] Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!

100] Great actions speak minds