Famous Proverbs

1] When children stand quiet, they have done some ill.

2] Much law but little justice

3] Acorns were good till bread was found

4] Fortune favours the brave (or bold).

5] The more cost, the more honour

6] Send a fool to France and he’ll come back a fool

7] It is a sorry flock where the ewe bears the bell

8] Weapons breed peace

9] Poor men go to heaven as soon as rich

10] Better be a fool than a knave

11] An occasion lost cannot be redeemed

12] A bully never grows up.

13] When meat is in anger is out

14] It is the first step that is troublesome

15] As you bake, so shall you eat.

16] Wrong never comes right

17] No man so good but another may be as good as he

18] Early sow, early mow

19] Better go about than fall in to the ditch

20] To take revenge is often to sacrifice oneself

21] Fortune favours the brave (or bold).

22] The tree that god plants, no wind hurts it

23] He that tells his wife news, is but newly wed

24] His bark is worse than his bite

25] A good lather is half the shave

26] Books and friends should be few but good

27] The love of money is the root of all evil

28] Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust

29] Company in misery makes it light

30] Hard cases make bad law

31] Frugality is the mother of virtue

32] Blessings brighten as they take their flight

33] Experience without learning is better than learning without experience

34] A little too late, is much too late

35] Fools rejoice at promises

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

37] Live and let live

38] If cattle are scattered, the tiger seizes them.

39] Health without money is half an ague

40] A rich man can do nothing wrong

41] He is not fit to command others, that cannot command himself

42] An apple a day keeps the doctor away

43] A word is enough to the wise

44] The darkest hour is that before the dawn

45] One needs a full stomach to keep the precepts

46] Curses, like chickens, come home to roost

47] Kingdoms divided soon fall

48] Friendship should not be all on one side

49] Possibilities are infinite

50] What’s learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb

51] Grief pent up will break the heart

52] A fair face may hide a foul heart.

53] A jack of all traders is master of none

54] Love conquers all

55] Misfortunes never come singly

56] Exceptional bravery is often hidden under a cloak of timidity

57] You cannot make bricks without straw

58] No man is indispensable

59] Ill luck is good for something

60] One foot is better than two crutches

61] Will iron become fine gold, however often refined?

62] The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it

63] Ask no question and you’ll be told no lies

64] Little pitchers have big (or long) ears

65] Think of ease, but work on.

66] Numbers overcome the brave

67] The eye sees only what it has the power of seeing

68] A fault once denied is twice committed

69] Tie a chicken with an elephant rope, and it will slip off; tie an elephant with a chicken-tether, and it will break away.

70] Death devours lambs as well as sheep

71] A great city, a great solitude

72] Through indecision, opportunity is often lost.

73] Diamond cuts diamond

74] Call no man happy till he is dead

75] Though it rains gold and silver there, it’s a foreign land; though it rains daggers and spears here, it’s our own country

76] Hear twice before you speak once

77] It is easier to praise poverty than to bear it.

78] He who comes late must eat what is left

79] Let people laugh, as long as I am warm

80] The strength of the chain is in the weakest link.

81] A spear you can see can easily be avoided; a hidden arrows is difficult to guard against.

82] We shall beat our swords into ploughshares

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

84] No feast lasts forever.

85] Great minds think alike

86] Never was a cat or dog drowned, that could but see the shore

87] An ass must be tied where the master will have him

88] A banana tree won’t bear fruit twice.

89] The tongue talks at the heads cost

90] A man of knowledge increaseth strength

91] Fair without, false within

92] Every beginning is hard

93] A great calligrapher isn’t choosy about his brushes.

94] No one ought to judge in his own cause

95] Too much hope deceives

96] Ask no question and you’ll be told no lies

97] Enquire not what boils in another’s pot. ¶ Listeners seldom hear good of themselves

98] You may have too much of a good thing

99] The bird is known by his note, the man by his words

100] Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.