Famous Proverbs

1] A jest breaks no bones

2] Lose a leg rather than a life

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

4] Many a true word is spoken in jest

5] The tongue ever turns to the aching tooth

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

7] Money makes the man

8] Gold may be bought too dear

9] Catch your bear before you sell its skin

10] A rich man can do nothing wrong

11] Every medal has its reverse

12] As you make your bed, you must lie on it

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

14] All things are difficult before they are easy

15] Courtesy is the inseparable companion of virtue

16] What the fool does in the end, the wise man does at the beginning

17] When the melon is ripe, it will drop by itself

18] A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth

19] Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone

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

21] Have patience with a friend rather than lost him forever.

22] Do as most men do, then most men well speak well of you

23] A word is enough to the wise

24] Care brings grey hair.

25] Learn not and know not

26] It is late to cover the well when the child is drowned.

27] None are so fond of secrets as those who don’t mean to keep them

28] Weeds need no sowing

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

30] Great barkers are no biters

31] Better be safe than sorry

32] Lend, and lose the loan or gain an enemy

33] Friendship is a plant which must be often watered

34] Neglect will kill an injury sooner than revenge

35] New meat begets a new appetite

36] A hundred pounds of sorrow pays not one ounce of debt

37] When you know there are tigers on the hills, don’t go there

38] The envious grow thin at others’ prosperity

39] Half a loaf is better than do bread

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

41] Kingdoms divided soon fall

42] Better a bare foot than none

43] Pouring oil on the fire is not the way to quench it

44] The receiver is as bad as the thief

45] He who seizes the right moment is the right man

46] Poor men go to heaven as soon as rich

47] A wise man cares not for what he cannot have

48] A bully is always a coward

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

50] Money isn’t everything

51] Everything new is fine

52] We soon believe what we desire

53] A pot that belongs to many is ill stirred and worse boiled

54] He that has plenty of goods will have more

55] Never do evil that good may come of it

56] There is truth in wine

57] How ever much you learn, you won’t know how to raise the dead

58] Look after your money and don’t make your neighbour a thief

59] As you brew, so shall you drink.

60] First creep, then walk

61] To the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. To a thirsty man any drink is sweet.

62] Poverty is no sin

63] The joy of the heart makes the face fair.

64] When the word is out it belongs to another

65] It is an ill dog that deserves not a crust

66] Mount Fuji itself is not So beautiful to one who is cold and hungry

67] He conquers who endures

68] No remedy but patience

69] He that is afraid of the devil does not grow rich

70] He that serves well need not be afraid to ask his wages

71] The fox may grow grey, but never good

72] Weapons breed peace

73] Put too much lemon-grass into the curry and you’ll spoil the flavour

74] Every dog has his (its) day

75] To refuse and to give tardily is all the same

76] Better learn late than never

77] Red ink gives what it touches a pink glow; black ink gives what it touches a dirty stain.

78] Variety is the spice of life

79] Give a dog a bad name and hang him

80] He that loses anything and gets wisdom by it is a gainer by the loss

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

82] Great barkers are no biters

83] The hunchback does not see his own hump, but his companion’s

84] Pursuits become habits

85] Give and take is fair play

86] Borrowed garments never fit well

87] The mill cannot grind with water that is past

88] Nature hates all sudden changes

89] Experience is good if not bought too dear

90] He is a gentleman that has gentle conditions

91] Prospect is often better than possession

92] A gift in hand is better than two promises.

93] Handsome is as handsome does

94] The sign brings customers

95] Sadness and happiness succeed each other.

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

97] Young colts will canter.

98] An old ox makes a straight furrow

99] One drop of poison infects the whole tun of wine

100] A wicked man is his own hell