Famous Proverbs

1] After the extreme of cold comes spring

2] The strong man and the waterfall channel their own path

3] The first step is the only difficulty

4] Where there are reeds, there is water

5] Where there is no might, right loses itself

6] First impressions are half the battle

7] Love can find a way

8] It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor

9] One barber shaves another gratis

10] Whatever man has done, man can do

11] You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

12] Good goods are not cheap; cheap goods are not good

13] Black will take no other hue

14] Make the best of a bad job

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

16] He that comes of a hen, must scrape

17] Judge not of men and things at first sight

18] Kinsman helps kinsman, and woe to him that has none

19] Don’t bite the hand that feeds you

20] A straw will show which way the wind blows.

21] Sailors get their money like horses, and spend it like asses

22] The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny

23] The camel never sees its own hump, but that of its brother is always before its eyes

24] One man sows and another reaps

25] Pat any man and dust will fly

26] If fools went not to market, bad wares would not be sold.

27] Had I fish’ was never good with garlic

28] What’s in a name?

29] It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good

30] You cannot put an old head on young shoulders.

31] All doors open to courtesy

32] If you pile up enough sand, you can make a pagoda

33] An arrow shot upright falls on the shooter’s head

34] It’s dogged that does it

35] Little pitchers have big (or long) ears

36] Choose thy company before thy drink

37] Be careful to whom you give

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

39] Give me fire and I’ll give you light

40] Drive thy business or it will drive thee.

41] Calamity is the touchstone of a brave mind

42] Dead men don’t bite

43] Nothing ventured, nothing gained

44] He that is fallen cannot help him that is down

45] It takes all sorts to make a world

46] A nod is as good as wink to a blind horse

47] It is equally an error to trust all men or no man

48] Why play the harp to a buffalo?

49] Custom reconciles us to everything

50] Like breeds like

51] At a good bargain thinks twice

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

53] Our worst misfortunes are those which never befall us

54] Everything comes to him who waits

55] Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

56] Courtesy on one side never lasts long

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

58] Great talkers are never great doers

59] Hear twice before you speak once

60] It signifies nothing to play well if you lose.

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

62] Men are not to be measured in inches

63] Practice makes perfect

64] He who says what he likes shall hear what he does not like

65] Sometimes the best gain is to lose

66] What is new cannot be true

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

68] It needs more skill than I can tell to play the second fiddle well

69] Fear of death is worse than death itself

70] Death is the grand leveler

71] A bully never grows up.

72] Wait’ is a hard word to the hungry.

73] Arms bend inwards – not outwards.

74] You cannot skimp on the fodder and have an energetic horse.

75] Catch your bear before you sell its skin

76] Cheap is dear in the long run.

77] He laughs ill that laughs himself to death

78] The heart soon forgets what the eye sees not

79] Necessity turns a lion into a fox

80] A cat may look at a king

81] Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves

82] To advise someone not to gamble is to win money for him

83] The proud will sooner lose than ask the way

84] Cruelty is more cruel, if we defer the pain

85] By doing nothing, we learn to do ill

86] A jest breaks no bones

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

88] Use the means, and God will give the blessings

89] Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise

90] If God does not give us what we want, He gives us what we need

91] A mill cannot grind with water that is past

92] Coming events cast their shadows before

93] Seldom seen, soon forgotten

94] Rats desert (or forsake) a sinking ship

95] He that once deceives, is ever suspected

96] One can’t go to bed when a visit or stays late

97] When angry, count a hundred

98] It is as hard to please a knave as knight

99] Words are but wind, but seeing’s believing

100] Easier said than done