Famous Proverbs

1] Soon learnt, soon forgotten

2] Once a use and ever a custom

3] Speech is silver, silence is golden

4] We don’t get something for nothing

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

6] Counsel must be followed, not praised.

7] Tell a lie and stick to it.

8] Creditors have better memories than debtors

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

10] If the father is spotted, the son will be speckled

11] Covetousness is the root of all evil

12] He that sings on Friday, will weep on Sunday

13] Behind the smile, a dagger may be hidden

14] An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden

15] A good servant should never be in the way and never out of the way

16] Forethought is easy, repentance hard

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

18] Practice is the science that gives confidence

19] He who wills the end, Wills the means

20] Sorrow will pay no debt

21] He that has a fellow-ruler, has an over-ruler. ¶ There is no good accord, where every man would be a lord

22] A little help is worth a deal of pity

23] Whether the pitcher strikes the stone, or the stone the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher

24] Misfortune makes foes of friends

25] A fool and his money are soon parted

26] A good dog deserves a good bone

27] Evil often triumphs but never conquers.

28] Long tarrying takes all the thanks away

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

30] Everything would fain live

31] Fortune favours those who use their judgement

32] There is plenty of sound in an empty barrel

33] Handsome is as handsome does

34] The last drop makes the cup run over

35] Don’t pour out the dirty water before you have cleaned

36] A man with no hands is given a ring.

37] It is useless to flog a dead horse

38] The thread breaks where it is weakest

39] Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.

40] Sour, sweet, bitter and pungent flavours must all be tasted

41] Waste is not grandeur

42] Give a dog a bad name and hang him

43] A thing you don’t want is dear at any price.

44] Trusting often makes fidelity

45] It is better to have done something great than to have never been successful

46] Old foxes want no tutors

47] There is a black sheep in every flock

48] It is profound ignorance that inspires the dogmatic tone

49] Hunger makes hard bean sweet

50] He who owes is in all the wrong

51] Silence gives (or means) consent

52] As you sow, so shall you reap

53] He cannot speak well that cannot hold his tongue

54] Let bygones be bygones

55] The hole calls the thief

56] Through obedience learn to command.

57] Do leaves sprout on rootless trees?

58] It takes two to make a quarrel

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

60] Each day brings its own bread

61] The first step is the only difficulty

62] Wine uncloaks the words of the heart

63] When we have gold, we are in fear; when we have none we are in danger

64] Submitting to one wrong brings on another.

65] When meat is in anger is out

66] Be just before you are generous

67] The devil finds work for idle hands to do

68] A black hen lays a white egg

69] Never spend your money before you have it

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

71] First thrive then wive

72] A man’s discontent is his worst evil

73] Gnaw the bone which is fallen to thy lot

74] Though the food is plain, stomach may be filled; though the cloth is coarse, one may be clad to a ripe old age

75] Fools grow without watering.

76] Hazard not your wealth on a poor man’s advice

77] One thief will not rob another

78] A strong town is not won in an hour

79] Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance

80] A man has choice to begin love, but not to end it.

81] Custom takes the taste from the most savoury dishes

82] He freezes who does not burn

83] It is a poor kin that has neither whore nor thief in it

84] You cannot teach an old dog new tricks

85] High places have their precipices

86] The word is far him who has patience

87] The devil knows many things because he is old

88] The tongue ever turns to the aching tooth

89] The soldier who retreated fifty paces laughed at the one who had fallen back a hundred paces

90] Don’t make a mountain out of molehill

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

92] Precept begins, examples accomplish

93] Learn to see in another’s misfortune, the ills which you should avoid.

94] One drop of poison infects the whole tun of wine

95] Welcome is the best dish in the kitchen

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

97] Great gain makes easy work

98] Much law but little justice

99] A great city, a great solitude

100] Better a louse in the pot than no flesh at all