Famous Proverbs

1] God arms the harmless

2] Three helping one another, bear the burthen of six

3] Give the devil his due

4] A fool’s bolt is soon shot

5] If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

6] Hoist your sail when the wind is fair

7] Wisdom is better than strength

8] The poorer one is, the more devils one meets

9] Repeat a piece of good advice three times and even a dog will be bored.

10] Early sow, early mow

11] A fair face may hide a foul heart.

12] It is easier to raise the devil than to lay him

13] He who owes is in all the wrong

14] All is vanity.

15] In vain they rise early that used to rise late

16] Even a worm will turn

17] 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

18] Fortune knocks once at every man’s door

19] The day obliterates the promise of the might

20] Real friendship does not freeze in winter

21] Blood is thicker than water

22] A good husband makes a good wife

23] Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion

24] A hungry man smells meat afar off

25] A soft answer turns away wrath

26] If the thorn falls, the leaf is pierced; if the leaf falls the leaf is pierced

27] Afflictions are sent to us by God for our good

28] A kind heart loseth nought at last.

29] Better bend than break

30] He thinks not well that thinks not again

31] He knows the water best who has waded through it

32] Men strain at gnats and swallow camels

33] A little impatience will spoil great plans

34] Misfortune does not always come to injure

35] Long looked for, comes at last

36] What children hear at home, soon files abroad

37] Home is where the heart is

38] Don’t wash your dirty linen in public

39] Heaven helps those who help themselves

40] Extremes meet

41] The young will sow their wild oats

42] Valour would fight, but discretion would run away

43] The wise forget an insult, as the ungrateful a kindness

44] Long tarrying takes all the thanks away

45] Arms bend inwards – not outwards.

46] His bark is worse than his bite

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

48] Welcome is the best dish in the kitchen

49] The proud will sooner lose than ask the way

50] He who peeps through a hole, may see what will vex him

51] All things are easy, that are done willingly

52] Will iron become fine gold, however often refined?

53] A good heart conquers ill fortune

54] Jack is as good as his master

55] Nothing stake, nothing draw.

56] Don’t wear out (or outstay) your welcome

57] The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach

58] Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.

59] Keep not ill men company, lest you increase the number

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

61] What is a workman without his tools?

62] Poor men’s words have little weight

63] A friend is easier lost than found

64] Of thy sorrow be not too sad, of thy joy be not too glad

65] Men do more things through habit than reason

66] He that falls today may rise tomorrow

67] Three helping one another, bear the burthen of six

68] The squeaking wheel gets the grease

69] A good tongue is a good weapon

70] A good drink makes the old young

71] Small gifts make friends, great ones make enemies

72] Boys will be boys

73] Love laughs at locksmiths

74] To speak as the common people, to think as the wise

75] The world is full of fools

76] Names and natures do often agree

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

78] Friendship should not be all on one side

79] Once a use and ever a custom

80] An Englishman’s home is his castle

81] He travels the fastest who travels alone

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

83] Those who live near water know the nature of fish; those who live near hills know the calls of birds

84] Through hardship to the stars

85] Better some of a pudding than none of a pie.

86] He that will not have peace, God gives him war

87] It is not the hood that makes the monk.

88] An ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept

89] Go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark

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

91] Virtue is its own reward

92] God provides for him that trusts

93] Much would have more

94] First try and then trust

95] Who repairs not his gutter, repairs his whole house

96] Ill luck is good for something

97] Delay is the antidote of anger

98] Travel with open eyes and you will become a scholar

99] Gossiping and lying go together

100] Sometimes the best gain is to lose