Famous Proverbs

1] Live and Learn

2] Who greases his way travels easily

3] Two midwives will twist the baby’s head

4] One man eats the jackfruit, another gets his hands sticky

5] The best things carried to excess are wrong

6] Ambition loses many a man

7] The end justifies the means

8] What can you expect from a pig (or hog) but a grunt?

9] Keep conscience clear, then never fear

10] In indecision itself, grief is present.

11] If one sheep leaps over the ditch (or dyke), all the rest will follow

12] Children should be seen and not heard

13] Fair face, foul heart

14] Poverty is no disgrace but it is a great inconvenience

15] Where there’s a will there’s a way

16] Birds once snared fear all bushes

17] Necessity and opportunity may make a coward valiant

18] The first step is the hardest

19] Promises are like pie-crust, made to be broken

20] They say so’ is half a lie

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

22] Silence and thinking can no man offend

23] Don’t try to run before you walk

24] Fools rejoice at promises

25] Anger restrained is wisdom gained

26] Counsel must be followed, not praised.

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

28] Lend never that thing you needed most

29] The best horse needs breaking, and the aptest child needs teaching

30] The pot calls the kettle black

31] Do as I say, not as I do

32] Man cannot live by bread alone

33] Pleasant hours fly past

34] There is many a true word spoken in jest

35] A good wife makes a good husband

36] A good example is the best sermon

37] Even though one’s aunt sells the cakes, one will not buy unless they are cheap.

38] Even a clever wife cannot prepare a meal when there is no food

39] A short cut is often a wrong cut

40] What may be done at any time is done at no time

41] Even Buddha has a limit to what he can tolerate

42] So many countries, so many customs

43] A beggar can never be bankrupt

44] Great hopes make great men

45] Hypocrisy is a homage that vice pay to virtue

46] Beware of a silent man and still water

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

48] Truth lies at the bottom of the well

49] An old man is a bed full of bones

50] Come with the wind, got with the water

51] Have patience with a friend rather than lost him forever.

52] Better learn late than never

53] Truth has a good face but bad clothes

54] Adversity makes strange bedfellows

55] Do leaves sprout on rootless trees?

56] Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

57] Look at the bright side

58] Practice what you preach

59] Extremes meet

60] Idle folks lack no excuses

61] He is a gentleman that has gentle conditions

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

63] Worry is the interest we pay on trouble before it is due

64] Share and share alike

65] He that ventures not fails not.

66] At the game’s end we shall see who gains

67] He that can stay. Obtains

68] Sickness soaks the purse

69] No road is long with good company

70] You can’t take it with you when you die

71] When in Rome, do as the Romans do

72] Learn to walk before you run

73] Without wisdom, wealth is worthless

74] Nothing stake, nothing draw.

75] Of thy sorrow be not too sad, of thy joy be not too glad

76] Little things are great to little men

77] The darkest place is under the candlestick

78] Kind hearts are soonest wronged

79] Only a fool will make the doctor his heir

80] A tiger that roars is not a man-eater

81] Discretion of speech is more than eloquence.

82] Death and life are in the power of the tongue

83] The best go first

84] Repentance is a bitter physic

85] If you pile up enough sand, you make a pagoda

86] Too far east is west

87] Habit is second nature

88] We live by laws, not by examples

89] What is shown by example, men think they may justly do

90] He that will not go over the stile, must be thrust through the gate

91] Ill comes often on the back worse

92] No cross, no crown

93] Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

94] It foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor

95] If the cap fits, wear it

96] First come, first served

97] Crows are all completely black

98] It is a shame to be shameless

99] Fair is not fair, but that which pleases.

100] A joke never gains over an enemy, but often loses a friend