Famous Proverbs

1] The tide must be taken when it comes

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

3] The fairest silk is soonest stained

4] Children and fools have merry lives

5] The child says nothing but what it hears by the fire

6] Ill – gotten goods never prosper

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

8] Every dog has his (its) day

9] Health without money is half an ague

10] Variety is charming

11] Better be born lucky than wise.

12] Zeal is fit only for wise men, but is found mostly in fools

13] Those who sell dog-meat often display a lamb’s head

14] The best remedy against an ill man, is much ground between

15] One must howl with the wolves

16] Fair face, foul heart

17] Everyone puts his fault on the times.

18] Beauty is eloquent even when silent

19] Nothing is so certain as death

20] Truthfulness becomes the gentleman

21] What’s done cannot be undone

22] Like mother, like daughter

23] Prove your friend ere you have need

24] No pain, no cure

25] The company makes the feast

26] There’s always room at the top

27] You may know by a handful the whole sack

28] He daren’t say ‘boo’ to a goose

29] Every man to his trade.

30] One pair of heels is often worth two pairs of hands

31] He that repairs not a part, builds all

32] Crime does not pay

33] Care killed the cat

34] All good things must come to an end

35] Good company on the road is the shortest cut

36] Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today

37] A liar can go round the world but cannot come back

38] He that knows little often repeats it

39] From hearing, comes wisdom; from speaking, repentance

40] An angry man is not fit to pray

41] Scatter with one hand, gather with two

42] He that sows virtue reaps fame

43] Money is power

44] Hasty climbers have sudden falls

45] Time flies

46] One reason is as good as fifty

47] Every beginning is hard

48] A gentleman never remembers unkindness shown towards him

49] Names and natures do often agree

50] Don’t cry before you are hurt

51] A great city, a great solitude

52] If every man would sweep before his own door, the city would soon be clean

53] Without wisdom, wealth is worthless

54] What is shown by example, men think they may justly do

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

56] The envious man shall never want woe

57] If Jack’s in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty

58] Manners and money make a gentleman

59] Those who sell dog-meat often display a lamb’s head

60] Those who are used to the signs of the dumb, understand them

61] No remedy but patience

62] The exception proves the rule

63] He that has good money, gives few alms

64] Let bygones be bygones

65] God defend me from my friends; from enemies, I can defend myself.

66] The resolved mind has no cares

67] Don’t pour out the dirty water before you have cleaned

68] Two things do prolong they life: a quiet heart and a loving wife

69] Care is no cure

70] Content lodges oftener in cottages than palaces

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

72] Gold goes in at any gate except heaven’s

73] The fine pullet shows its excellence from the egg.

74] Sailors get their money like horses, and spend it like asses

75] Throw out a sprat to catch a mackerel

76] Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you

77] Man may have a thousand plans, but god’s plan is best

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

79] Excessive politeness is often a cloak for insincerity

80] No answer is also an answer

81] Good counsel has no price. Nothing is given so freely as advice.

82] An ill paymaster never wants excuse

83] A good beginning makes a good ending.

84] False friends are worse than bitter enemies.

85] Weapons breed peace

86] The orange that is too hard squeezed yields a bitter juice

87] We soon believe what we desire

88] The axe falls on a straight tree first

89] Fine words dress ill deeds

90] The mob tramples on the coward

91] Words bind men

92] No garden without its weeds.

93] The good is often the enemy of the best

94] He who says what he likes shall hear what he does not like

95] An oak is not felled at one stroke

96] It is easy to bear the misfortunes of others

97] Fear of death is worse than death itself

98] He who sits chatting about nothing loses his candle

99] You may force a man to shut his eyes but you can’t make him sleep

100] Spit to the heavens, and spittle falls on your own nose