Famous Proverbs

1] Master easy, servant slack

2] One reason is as good as fifty

3] Can we ever too much of a good thing?

4] It is a blind goose that comes to the fox’s sermon

5] The darkest hour is that before the dawn

6] Covetousness is always filling a bottomless vessel

7] An occasion lost cannot be redeemed

8] A fool’s bolt is soon shot

9] There are more ways to the wood than one.

10] Idleness is the root of all evil

11] Tell the truth and shame the devil

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

13] If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind

14] Knowledge humbles the great man, astonishes the common man and puffeth up the little man

15] Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched

16] A good beginning makes a good ending.

17] There is nothing new under the sun

18] A guilty conscience needs no accuser

19] The hand that gives, gathers

20] It is a poor (or sad) heart that never rejoices

21] Half an egg is better than empty shell

22] A guilty conscience feels continual fear

23] He who begins many things, finishes but few

24] Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure

25] An old dog barks not in vain

26] No man is his craft’s master the first day

27] There’s a black sheep in every flock

28] She’s her father’s (or mother’s) daughter

29] None so blind as those who will not see

30] A fool and his money are soon parted

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

32] Blood will have blood

33] Better ask the way than go astray

34] He that will not endure to itch must endure to smart

35] There is plenty of sound in an empty barrel

36] Keep your mouth shut and your ears open

37] In the land of hope there is never any winter

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

39] It is no use spoiling the ship for a half penny worth of tar

40] A man’s wealth is his enemy

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

42] A closed mouth catches no files

43] What’s learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb

44] An old man’s sayings are seldom untrue

45] When in doubt, do nothing

46] Grin and bear it

47] There are hills, and there are swamps as well.

48] He loved mutton well that licked where the ewe lay

49] The end makes all equal

50] An ass must be tied where the master will have him

51] Heaven helps those who help themselves

52] Sooner begun, sooner done

53] Who hath a good trade, through all waters may wade

54] It foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor

55] God’s lambs will play.

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

57] Everything must have a beginning

58] To the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. To a thirsty man any drink is sweet.

59] Through indecision, opportunity is often lost.

60] Ill weeds grow apace (or fast)

61] Better ask the way than go astray

62] If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well

63] Burn not your house to fright the mouse away

64] The pitcher goes often to the well that it is broken at last

65] The owl thinks her own young fairest

66] The greatest talkers are the least doers

67] There’s no fence against ill fortune.

68] It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions but hard to find a cure.

69] What has been, may be

70] You cannot have it both ways

71] By his deeds we know a man

72] He travels the fastest who travels alone

73] He that obey cannot command

74] Do as you would be done by

75] Children pick up words as pigeons peas, and utter than again as god shall please

76] Without luck, it is better not to be born

77] Poverty is not a crime

78] Will is no skill

79] It is a good tongue that says no ill, and a better heart that thinks none

80] The greatest step is that out of doors

81] It is a foolish bird that soils (or defiles ) its own nest

82] He would command must serve

83] A wicked man is his own hell

84] Never buy a pig in a poke

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

86] You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs

87] A good marksman may miss

88] Better late than never, but better never late

89] It is not every question that deserves an answer

90] All doors open to courtesy

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

92] He who serves is not free

93] Quickly come, quickly go

94] A jack of all traders is master of none

95] If you pay not a servant his wages, he will pay himself

96] Better are small fish than an empty dish

97] It is an ill sign to see a fox lick a lamb

98] He loves roast meat well that licks the spit.

99] Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest

100] He who teaches learns