Famous Proverbs

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

2] Extremes are dangerous

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

4] All things are easy, that are done willingly

5] It is ill jesting with edged tools

6] Point not at other’s spots with a foul finger

7] If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind

8] Almost’ never killed a fly.

9] He that forecasts all perils will never sail the sea

10] The road to hell is paved with good action

11] He that has a full purse never wanted a friend

12] The fox may grow grey, but never good

13] Never too late to repent

14] Misfortune does not always come to injure

15] An angry man is not fit to pray

16] The thief doth fear each bush an offer

17] Great fortune brings with it great misfortune

18] A clear conscience fears not false accusations

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

20] You can’t clap with one hand

21] There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle

22] It at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again

23] Don’t put the cart before the horse

24] Who is more busy than he that has least to do?

25] Sickness soaks the purse

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

27] All are not saints that go to church

28] In peace, prepare for war

29] Men do more things through habit than reason

30] Better fill a man’s belly than his eye

31] Things are only worth one makes them worth

32] Crowns have cares

33] It is hard to wive and thrive both in a year

34] Men are not angles

35] One barber shaves another gratis

36] They bow to you when borrowing; you bow to them when collecting

37] A good example is the best sermon

38] He that will not endure to itch must endure to smart

39] Long absent, soon forgotten

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

41] The poorer one is, the more devils one meets

42] It is more pain to do nothing than something

43] Even the lion must defend itself against flies

44] A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country and in his home

45] Do not wear out your welcome

46] Win a good reputation, and sleep at your ease

47] Love will go through stone walls

48] Send a fool to France and he’ll come back a fool

49] When the weather is cold, there is not such thing as dirty clothing

50] All meat No dish pleases all palates alike pleases not all mouths

51] Bind the sack before it be full

52] Why play the harp to a buffalo?

53] Things are only worth one makes them worth

54] Other times, other manners

55] Where every man is master, the world goes to wrack

56] He that stumbles twice over one stone, deserves to break his shin

57] A drowning man will clutch at a straw

58] He that comes first to the hill, may sit where he will.

59] Little wealth, little care

60] Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

61] His bark is worse than his bite

62] He that has a tongue in his head may find his way anywhere

63] It is a sorry flock where the ewe bears the bell

64] Revenge never repairs an injury

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

66] When in Rome, do as the Romans do

67] A strong town is not won in an hour

68] Put not the bucket too often in the well

69] Out of the frying-pan into the fire

70] Though the left hand conquers the right, no advantage is gained

71] Life begins only in success

72] That which Nature paints never fades

73] The rich knows not who is his friend

74] Valour delights in the test

75] Content is more than a kingdom

76] An old dog barks not in vain

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

78] A little learning is dangerous thing

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

80] A contented mind is a perpetual feast

81] Better to ask the way than go astray.

82] Better never begin than never make an end

83] You eat, I dreams, the custard of the day

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

85] A joke’s a very serious thing

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

87] They can do least two boast loudest

88] The end makes all equal

89] Too far east is west

90] Every light has its shadow

91] Men are known by the company they keep.

92] A man of many trades, begs his bread on Sunday

93] Love sees no fault

94] All is fair in love and war

95] Though the food is plain, stomach may be filled; though the cloth is coarse, one may be clad to a ripe old age

96] The peacock has fair features, but foul feet.

97] To study a great deal is to acquire a priceless treasure

98] At the end of the game, the king and pawn go in to the same bag.

99] Ill weeds grow apace (or fast)

100] There is many a fair thing full false