Famous Proverbs

1] The more wicked, the more lucky

2] There’s no such thing as free as a free lunch

3] The child is father of the man

4] Have but few friends, though many acquaintances

5] The first time, a novice the second time, an adept

6] The bigger they are, the harder they fall

7] Nothing is certain but the unforeseen

8] When bitterness reaches its extreme, sweetness will follow

9] Forewarned is forearmed

10] He that will not be counseled, cannot be helped

11] A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

12] Do leaves sprout on rootless trees?

13] Don’t go near the water until you learn how to swim

14] Never hit a man when he’s down

15] Every commodity has its discommodity

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

17] Look on the bright side

18] The best throw of the dice is to throw them away

19] He that shows his purse, longs to be rid of it

20] He that demands misses not, unless his demands be foolish

21] An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth

22] The age of miracles is past

23] Don’t ride the high horse

24] Don’t empty (or throw) the baby out with the bath water

25] The death of the wolves is the safety of the sheep

26] The weeds overgrow the corn.

27] Half a loaf is better than do bread

28] Variety is the spice of life

29] It costs more to do ill than to do well

30] None so blind as those who will not see

31] A bully is always a coward

32] The lone sheep is in danger of the wolf

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

34] The joy of the heart makes the face fair.

35] A blind man who sees is better than a seeing man who is blind

36] Advice is something the wise don’t need and fools won’t take

37] We don’t get something for nothing

38] No man better knows what good is than he who has endured evil

39] Good counsel never comes amiss

40] Don’t make yourself a mouse, or the cat will eat you

41] Children and fools cannot lie.

42] He that comes first to the hill, may sit where he will.

43] The purse of the patient protracts the disease

44] It is lawful to learn even from an enemy

45] Submitting to one wrong brings on another.

46] Do not limp before the lame

47] Well begun is half done.

48] Sooner will men hold fore in the mouth than keep a secret

49] Pleasing ware is half sold

50] They bow to you when borrowing; you bow to them when collecting

51] Dream of a funeral and you hear of a marriage

52] Soon gotten, soon spent

53] He is not laughed at the laughs at himself first

54] Marriage is a lottery

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

56] Nothing so bad as not to be good for something

57] Ambition loses many a man

58] Nature hates all sudden changes

59] Does sound come from an unstruck drum?

60] There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it

61] Many would be cowards, if they had courage enough

62] Divide and rule

63] Choose neither women nor linen by candlelight.

64] He should have (or He needs) a long spoon who sups with the devil

65] All’s grist that comes to the mill.

66] The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

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

68] He that eats well should do his duty well

69] Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard

70] Fortune favours the brave (or bold).

71] Deeds are fruits; words are but leaves

72] If you always say ‘No’, you’ll never get married

73] Travel makes a wise man better, but a fool worse

74] Example is better than precept

75] Talk of the devil, and he is bound to appear

76] Standing pools gather fifth

77] Give him (or knaves) an inch and he (they) will take a yard (or mile)

78] Kingdoms divided soon fall

79] He who never was sick dies the first fit

80] Judge not of men and things at first sight

81] Hope often deludes the foolish man

82] Never grieve for what you cannot help

83] Forethought is easy, repentance hard

84] Poor men seek meat for their stomach; rich men stomach for their meat.

85] As you make your bed, you must lie on it

86] Work won’t kill but worry will.

87] Words are but wind

88] To fright a bird is not the way to catch her

89] Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches

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

91] There is safety in numbers

92] Young colts will canter.

93] The devil dances in an empty pocket

94] Let not thy tongue run away with thy brains

95] All truths are not to be told

96] He who seizes the right moment is the right man

97] Better fill a man’s belly than his eye

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

99] If you would be well served, serve yourself

100] Even a worm will turn