Famous Proverbs

1] Drinking water neither makes a man sick, nor in debt, nor his wife a widow

2] He that would know what shall be, must consider what has been

3] Give a fool (or a thief) enough rope and he will hang himself

4] Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth

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

6] Prevention is better than cure

7] To refuse and to give tardily is all the same

8] Every dog is valiant at his won door

9] He that compiles against his will, is of his own opinion still

10] A liar is sooner caught than a cripple

11] Poverty does not hurt him who has not been rich before

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

13] Goods that are much on show lose their colour

14] A good paymaster needs no surety

15] He has to do what is foul, never comes away clean

16] Throw out a sprat to catch a mackerel

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

18] Spend and be free, but make no waste

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

20] The anvil lasts longer than the hammer

21] Example is better than precept

22] Mettle is dangerous in a blind horse

23] Pardoning the bad is injuring the good

24] Kind hearts are soonest wronged

25] Dog does not eat dog

26] Everyone leaps over the dyke where it is lowest

27] Ready money is a ready remedy

28] A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.

29] If you don’t have good weapons, it is better for you to submit

30] Whatever is made by the hand of man, by the hand of man by overturned

31] Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

32] The purse of the patient protracts the disease

33] Learning is a treasure which accompanies its owner everywhere.

34] Fair is he that comes, but fairer is he that brings.

35] He that lives wickedly can hardly die honestly

36] A healthy man is a successful man

37] Life is short and time is swift

38] Never do evil that good may come of it

39] The rich knows not who is his friend

40] A good conscience is a sure card

41] Gluttony kills more than the sword

42] Ready money is a ready remedy

43] An old cart well used may outlast a new one abused

44] Good hand, good hire

45] He that would have eggs must endure the cackling of hens

46] A good beginning makes a good ending.

47] How who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.

48] An Englishman’s home is his castle

49] The thing which is rare is dear

50] He that stumbles twice over one stone, deserves to break his shin

51] Money is the only monarch

52] Nothing is easy to the unwilling

53] Time flies

54] The poor sit on the front benches in Paradise

55] Why does one man’s yawning make another yawn?

56] Once a knave, always a knave

57] Slender cannot make a good man bad; when the water recedes, the stone is still there.

58] All good things must come to an end

59] A wise man is never less alone than when he is alone

60] Patience is a flower that grows not in everyone’s garden

61] There would be no great ones if there were no little ones

62] Petty laws breed great crimes

63] Past cure, past care

64] The tide must be taken when it comes

65] It is the first step that is troublesome

66] It is easy to do what one’s own self wills

67] It is a shame to be shameless

68] We should publish our joys and conceal our griefs

69] It’s hard to get one’s own sword back when it’s in someone else’s scabbard

70] Variety takes away satiety

71] If things were to be done twice, all would be wise.

72] The weakest goes to the wall

73] He that has no money needs no purse

74] When the dog catches mice, it is meddling in the cat’s business.

75] The young will sow their wild oats

76] He that repairs not a part, builds all

77] A good wife makes a good husband

78] Even dust, when piled up, may form a hill

79] The lion had need of the mouse

80] Long looked for, comes at last

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

82] Make the best of a bad job

83] Love and business teach eloquence

84] The noblest vengeance is to forgive

85] Out of sight, out of mind

86] He that is born a fool is never cured

87] It’s hard to get one’s own sword back when it’s in someone else’s scabbard

88] Don’t burn the candle at both ends

89] Life begins only in success

90] Master easy, servant slack

91] He that praises himself, spatters himself

92] The good intention excuses the bad action

93] Drops that gather one by one finally become a sea

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

95] Fortune favours those who use their judgement

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

97] Good clothes open all doors

98] Take time by the forelock

99] A great city, a great solitude

100] One can’t help many, but many can help one