Famous Proverbs

1] He that lends, gives

2] With constancy of purpose, you can file a steel rod in to the needle you need

3] A bribe will enter without knocking

4] Wink at small faults

5] Know when to spend and when to spare, and you need not be busy, you’ll never be bare

6] Cleanliness is next to godliness

7] First think, and then speak

8] Hope for the best and prepare for the worst

9] The tongue stings

10] Shame in a kindred cannot be avoided

11] You cannot have your cake and eat it

12] Stolen goods never thrive

13] He thinks not well that thinks not again

14] The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

15] Crowns have cares

16] Gold is tried in the fire

17] A small pepper is hotter than a large one

18] Long looked for, comes at last

19] With patience and time, the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown

20] Knowledge without practice makes but half an artist

21] There are two sides to every question

22] Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

23] Little by little and bit by bit.

24] Kingdoms divided soon fall

25] An old fox is not easily snared

26] Every cloud has a silver lining

27] Honesty is the best policy

28] He that has plenty of goods will have more

29] Hard words break no bones

30] Barking dogs seldom bite

31] Time flees without a delay

32] There is no royal road to learning

33] He that has a good memory, gives few alms

34] First catch your hare

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

36] Live and Learn

37] The mean is the best

38] God heals, and the physician takes the fee

39] He learned timely to beg that could not say ‘Nay’

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

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

42] Water is a boon in the desert, but the drowning man curses it.

43] A kind heart loseth nought at last.

44] Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the kings horses.

45] Trust not the many-minded populace

46] Other times, other manners

47] When the horse has reached the brink of the precipice, it is too late to pull the reins.

48] In indecision itself, grief is present.

49] He that may not do as he would, must do as he may

50] It is more pain to do nothing than something

51] No man ever becomes thoroughly bad all at once

52] Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you

53] Love me, love the crows on my roof

54] It is easier to capture a tiger in the hills than to ask for favours from a man

55] A good anvil does not fear the hammer

56] A prophet is without honour in his own country

57] It’s a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

58] Suffering does not manifest itself

59] It is not the burden but the overburden that kills the beast

60] Soon learnt, soon forgotten

61] Even a worm will turn

62] Do leaves sprout on rootless trees?

63] One sword keeps another in the sheath

64] Every man to his trade.

65] Little things please little minds

66] The young will sow their wild oats

67] Deeds are fruits; words are but leaves

68] Mirth is the sugar of life

69] Take things as they come

70] The devil sometimes speaks the truth

71] Good fame is better than a good face

72] Expectation is better than realisation

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

74] If the wise erred not, it would go hard with fools.

75] If you walk in the sun, you will know the blessedness of being in the shade

76] You can’t tell a book by its cover

77] Wisdom is neither inheritance nor legacy

78] He who pays the piper calls the tune

79] Heaven takes care of children, sailor and drunken men

80] He knows most who speaks least

81] When the cat is away, the mice will play

82] Familiarity breeds contempt

83] Ambition loses many a man

84] It chances in an hour, that appears not in seven years

85] Youth and age will never agree

86] A quarrelsome man has no good neighbours

87] It is hard to wive and thrive both in a year

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

89] Enough is enough

90] He who demands does not command

91] The devil finds work for idle hands to do

92] Thatch your roof before the rain begins

93] He that makes himself a sheep, shall be eaten by the wolf

94] Everything tempts the man who fears temptation. If you can’t be good, be careful.

95] The money you refuse will never do you good

96] Opportunity makes the thief

97] The darkest hour is that before the dawn

98] Nothing costs so much as what is given us

99] Vast chasms can be filled, but the heart of man never

100] Novelty always appears handsome