Famous Proverbs

1] A man can do no more than he can

2] Had I fish’ was never good with garlic

3] The rain of tears is necessary to the harvest of learning

4] Nothing is given so freely as advice

5] No one is rich enough to do without his neighbours

6] Vast chasms can be filled, but the heart of man never

7] The first day a guest, the second day a guest, the third day a calamity

8] Opportunity makes the thief

9] He that does most at once, does least

10] Hard cases make bad law

11] The ant had wings to her hurt

12] Second thoughts are best

13] Time and tide wait for no man

14] Send a donkey to Paris, he’ll return no wiser than he went

15] A clear conscience fears not false accusations

16] An old man is a bed full of bones

17] It is as natural to die as to be born

18] It is misery enough to have once been happy

19] You cannot make a crab walk straight

20] A swine over-fat, is the cause of his own bane

21] Every man must carry his own cross

22] Dreams are lies

23] A man’s mother is his other God

24] The highest tree has the greatest fall

25] Don’t stitch your seam before you’ve tacked it.

26] All men are mortal

27] Rich folk have many friends

28] Give him (or knaves) an inch and he (they) will take a yard (or mile)

29] Soon hot, soon cold

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

31] Tomorrow is another day

32] Know your own faults before blaming others for theirs.

33] Much travel is needed to ripen a man’s rawness

34] You can be head a man but you can’t shut his mouth

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

36] Pleasant hours fly past

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

38] Nothing so bad in which there is not something of good

39] It is too late to husband when all is spent

40] When wrath speaks, wisdom veils her face.

41] Health is not value till sickness comes

42] A good Conscience is the best divinity

43] A good name keeps its luster in the dark

44] If you run after two hares, you will catch neither

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

46] God gives the grain, but we must make the furrow

47] Because he would not eat it, the food got maggoty

48] Better an apple given than eaten

49] Many doctors, death accomplished

50] A good lawyer must be a great liar

51] He is a fool who makes his physician his heir

52] No naked man is sought after to be rifled

53] Those near the temple deride the gods

54] Better to be safe than sorry.

55] A man must plough with such oxen as he has

56] Art improves Nature

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

58] Spread the table, and contention will cease

59] Neither praise nor dispraise thyself; thy actions serve the turn

60] You cannot get ivory from a dog’s mouth

61] Pitchers have ears

62] One good turn deserves another

63] Easter so longed for is gone in a day

64] The end justifies the means

65] Take not a musket to kill a butterfly

66] Wife and Children are bills of charges

67] It is ill striving (or swimming) against the stream (or tide)

68] Does sound come from an unstruck drum?

69] Fine feathers make fine birds.

70] Never hit a man when he’s down

71] Men do more things through habit than reason

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

73] Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him

74] A man’s in his own mouth stinks

75] Fair is he that comes, but fairer is he that brings.

76] Truth conquers all things

77] First thrive then wive

78] Every advantage has its disadvantage

79] Pardon one offence and you encourage many

80] Give a servant a rod, and he’ll beat his master

81] Eat an apple going to bed, make the doctor beg his bread.

82] Everyone puts his fault on the times.

83] It is not the burden but the overburden that kills the beast

84] It is not gay coat that makes the gentleman

85] Who greases his way travels easily

86] A straight stick is crooked in water

87] It is easier to pour away water than to gather it.

88] When wrath speaks, wisdom veils her face.

89] When you are an anvil, hold still; when you are an anvil, hold still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.

90] The bread never falls but on its buttered side

91] As you bake, so shall you eat.

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

93] Praises fill not the belly

94] Leave well alone

95] Spend and be free, but make no waste

96] God sends cold after Clothes

97] No flying without wings.

98] Stolen sweets are sweeter

99] Life is short and time is swift

100] Better children weep than old men