Famous Proverbs

1] Curses, like chickens, come home to roost

2] Make hay while the sun shines

3] You cannot teach an old dog new tricks

4] Big fish eat little fish

5] Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.

6] Who is worse shod than the shoemaker’s wife?

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

8] The best go first

9] A fault once denied is twice committed

10] When a dwarf ascends a staircase, he gets higher every step

11] A good conscience is a constant feast

12] Grasp all, lose all

13] Sooner begun, sooner done

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

15] Praise is always pleasant

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

17] In peace, prepare for war

18] Silence is golden

19] Wise is the man who never exposes himself to unnecessary danger

20] Little and often fills the purse

21] To err is human; to forgive, divine

22] A word is enough to the wise

23] Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory

24] Ask, and it shall be given to you.

25] Every dog is a lion at home

26] Local ginger is never as hot as imported ginger

27] Ill luck is good for something

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

29] Be not too bold with your biggers or betters

30] Though the left hand conquers the right, no advantage is gained

31] The good is often the enemy of the best

32] Everything would fain live

33] Not even Hercules could contend against two

34] He who does not kill hogs, ill not get black puddings

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

36] An ape’s an ape, a varlet’s a varlet, though they be clad in silk or scarlet

37] More haste, less speed

38] To be discontented is to be like a snake trying to swallow an elephant

39] Praise is a spur to the good, a thorn to the evil

40] It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

41] Give us the tools, and we will finish the job

42] The orange that is too hard squeezed yields a bitter juice

43] When all men say you are an ass, it is time to bray

44] A fault confessed is half redressed

45] Man punishes the action but God the intention

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

47] He who spends before he thrives will beg before he thinks

48] A joke’s a very serious thing

49] Findings are keepings

50] The child is father of the man

51] Never buy a pig in a poke

52] Cease to hope and you will cease to fear.

53] He who sits chatting about nothing loses his candle

54] The good die young.

55] There is no tree but bears some fruit

56] The lone sheep is in danger of the wolf

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

58] Curiosity killed the cat.

59] All things require skills but an appetite

60] Necessity knows no law

61] The eye that sees all things else sees not itself

62] He gives twice who gives quickly

63] Great consolation may grow out of the smallest saying

64] A bad padlock invites a picklock

65] The sun shines upon all alike.

66] The first step is the hardest

67] Many irons in the fire, some must cool

68] Like mother, like daughter

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

70] There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.

71] He that seeks trouble never misses

72] The cobbler’s children are always the worst shod

73] In fair weather prepare for foul

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

75] Fortune knocks once at every man’s door

76] Innocence is no protection

77] Mettle is dangerous in a blind horse

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

79] Never make threats you cannot carry out.

80] There is no place like home

81] More than enough is too much

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

83] The tide never goes out so far but it always comes in again

84] Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them

85] Erring is not heating

86] Precepts may lead but examples draw

87] A light purse makes a heavy heart

88] A jest breaks no bones

89] Repeat a piece of good advice three times and even a dog will be bored.

90] Once you have been bitten by a snake, even a piece of cord will frighten you.

91] The world is full of fools

92] When luck comes, who doesn’t; when luck doesn’t come, who does?

93] Better to have one eye than be blind altogether

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

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

96] A man of courage never wants weapons

97] Honest is the best policy

98] Conscience does make cowards of us all

99] Small gifts make friends, great ones make enemies

100] It is a shame to be shameless