Famous Proverbs

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

2] Life means strife

3] Adversity makes strange bedfellows

4] He who comes late must eat what is left

5] Respect is greater from a distance

6] Health and gaiety foster beauty.

7] Don’t empty (or throw) the baby out with the bath water

8] Kind hearts are more than coronets

9] It is the lot of a king to do well but to be ill-spoken of

10] The sun is never the worse for shining on a dunghill

11] The best fish swim near the bottom

12] Beauty fades like a flower.

13] History repeats itself

14] Fair face, foul heart

15] Time flies

16] The pleasures of the mighty are the tears of the poor

17] Neglect will kill an injury sooner than revenge

18] The darkest hour is that before the dawn

19] He that falls today may rise tomorrow

20] In a gambling house, there are no fathers and sons.

21] Sickness shows us what we are

22] No wrong without a remedy

23] All good things must come to an end

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

25] Save your breath to cool the porridge

26] Her that is down need fear no fall

27] It is good to follow the old fox

28] Corruption of the best becomes the worst

29] A good marksman may miss

30] Beauty is potent but money is omnipotent

31] A healthy man is a successful man

32] The peony, though large, is useless; the date blossom, though small, yields fruit

33] Good wine needs no bush

34] Evil to him who evil thinks.

35] Like question, like answer.

36] There is no rose without a thorn

37] No choice amongst stinking fish

38] Ninety per cent of inspiration is perspiration

39] Nature does nothing in vain

40] A crust is better than no bread.

41] Only with a new ruler do you realize the value of the old

42] Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know

43] One learns to know oneself best behind one’s back

44] Busiest men find the most time

45] Long life has long misery

46] Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest

47] Eggs and oaths are easily broken

48] The best wine comes from an old vessel

49] Every advantage has its disadvantage

50] Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves.

51] Extremity of right is wrong

52] It is n time to stoop when the head is off.

53] Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

54] A fool’s bolt is soon shot

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

56] First things first

57] The hero appears only when the tiger is dead

58] A clear conscience fears not false accusations

59] The longest (or farthest) way round is the nearest (or shortest) way home.

60] No man is content with his lot

61] He preaches well (or best) that lives well (or best).

62] We must not look for a golden life in an iron age

63] God rejoices when one beggar scratches another

64] He that desires but little has no deed of much

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

66] One beats the bush, and another catches the birds

67] Two things do prolong they life: a quiet heart and a loving wife

68] A fool’s bolt may sometimes hit the mark

69] Open a book and you profit by what you read

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

71] Wise men silent, fools talk

72] A man may learn wit every day.

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

74] Example is better than precept

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

76] A wise man will learn something even from the words of a fool

77] All cats are grey in the dark

78] If you pay not a servant his wages, he will pay himself

79] The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest

80] The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken

81] Hope for the best and prepare for the worst

82] Too long burden makes weary bones

83] Come with the wind, got with the water

84] Love your friend with his fault

85] A word spoken is past recalling

86] Honour is the reward of virtue

87] It is well to live that one may learn

88] Honesty is ill to thrive by

89] A closed mouth catches no files

90] Mirth is the sugar of life

91] Many a little makes a mickle

92] A new broom sweeps clean, but the old brush knows all the corners

93] All men are mortal

94] When wine sinks, words swim

95] He that dwells next door to a cripple, will learn to halt

96] Not lock will hold against the power of gold

97] Be still and have thy will

98] One kindness is the price of another

99] Just give me one end of the line and I’ll get to the other

100] Don’t cry for the moon