Famous Proverbs

1] It is the unexpected that always happens

2] Too much hope deceives

3] Patience surpasses learning

4] Without wisdom, wealth is worthless

5] The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot.

6] Weapons breed peace

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

8] A curse will not strike out an eye unless a fist goes with it

9] Nothing is so popular as kindness.

10] One man eats the jackfruit, another gets his hands sticky

11] Calamity is man’s true touchstone

12] It is useless to flog a dead horse

13] Honest men marry soon, wise men not at all

14] Too far east is west

15] He that sleeps sound feels not the toothache

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

17] We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.

18] Never refuse a good offer

19] Many would be cowards, if they had courage enough

20] Open confession is good for the soul

21] Fall not into the fire when you try to avoid smoke

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

23] Don’t burn the candle at both ends

24] A fool may sometimes speak to the purpose

25] True gold is not transformed by fire

26] A man may lose more in an hour than he can get in seven

27] Past experiences are the best guide for future undertakings

28] To forget a wrong is the best revenge

29] Cast not the first stone.

30] God heals, and the physician takes the fee

31] It is good sheltering under an old hedge

32] Prospect is often better than possession

33] Fair face, foul heart

34] When two tigers fight, one is sure to be hurt

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

36] The proud will sooner lose than ask the way

37] Water far away will not extinguish a fire that is nearby; relatives far from you are not as good as neighbours close to you.

38] Anger makes a rich man hated, and a poor man scorned.

39] Pride goes before a fall

40] Numbers overcome the brave

41] What is not even scabies, he makes out to be an ulcer

42] God gave us the seed of every plant, but we must sow it.

43] Might is right

44] See how the wind blows

45] Half a word is enough for a wise man

46] Light grows the burden which is well borne

47] If we have not the world’s wealth, we have the world’s ease

48] Hope is the poor man’s bread

49] He who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning

50] Brave actions never want a trumpet.

51] Away goes the devil when he finds the door shut against him

52] A crust is better than no bread.

53] The righteous man sins before an open chest

54] The heart soon forgets what the eye sees not

55] One man’s means another man’s poison

56] Make not your sauce, before you have caught the fish.

57] There is more than one way to skin a cat.

58] Poor men seek meat for their stomach; rich men stomach for their meat.

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

60] He who demands does not command

61] Kingdoms divided soon fall

62] A old poacher makes the best gamekeeper

63] Will is the cause of woe

64] Whatsoever was the father of a disease, an ill diet was the mother.

65] Tune the harp strings to be neither too loose nor too taut

66] The longest night will have an end

67] God never sends mouths but he sent meat

68] An ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept

69] Nature abhors a vacuum

70] There is a great difference between words and deeds

71] Not good is it to harp on the frayed string

72] Wine is one thing; drunkenness another

73] A man whose conscience is clear, of a knock at midnight has no fear

74] Burn not your house to fright the mouse away

75] Better children weep than old men

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

77] The end makes all equal

78] Acorns were good till bread was found

79] If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again

80] Better wear out shoes than sheers.

81] The highest branch is not the safest roost

82] Man proposes, God disposes

83] It is good to follow the old fox

84] A thousand cranes in the air are not worth one sparrow in the fist.

85] Praise no man till he is dead.

86] Better a husband without love than a jealous husband

87] If you always say ‘No’, you’ll never get married

88] There is plenty of sound in an empty barrel

89] Beggars must not (can’t) be choosers

90] The beaten road is the safest

91] When the dog catches mice, it is meddling in the cat’s business.

92] Friendship cannot stand always on one side

93] The end makes all equal

94] Never too late to late to repent

95] He who serves is not free

96] Choose your neighbour before your house and your companion before the road.

97] He freezes who does not burn

98] The greatest talkers are the least doers

99] One barber shaves another gratis

100] Small gifts make friends, great ones make enemies