Famous Proverbs

1] When it pleases not God, the saint can do little

2] Fortune favours those who use their judgement

3] What’s learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb

4] New meat begets a new appetite

5] They say so’ is half a lie

6] Little pitchers have big ears.

7] One can’t help many, but many can help one

8] Knowledge is power

9] Four eyes see better than two.

10] Ugly women finely dressed, are the uglier for it.

11] So many men, so many opinions

12] Wake not a sleeping lion

13] Fear of death is worse than death itself

14] Be not too bold with your biggers or betters

15] Every tub must stand on its own bottom

16] Burn not your house to rid it of the mouse.

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

18] You win some, you lose some

19] Too far east is west

20] Good luck beats early rising

21] He knows the water best who has waded through it

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

23] A good tongue is a good weapon

24] If fortune turns against you, even jelly breaks your tooth

25] To beat a tiger, one must have a brother’s help.

26] Self do, self have

27] Light grows the burden which is well borne

28] Love sees no fault

29] Rip not up old sores

30] A good face is a letter of recommendation

31] Many a true word is spoken in jest

32] Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.

33] Those that make the best use of their time, have none to spare

34] Example, is better than precept

35] If one sheep leaps o’er the dyke, all the rest will follow

36] Every groom is a king at home

37] That which Nature paints never fades

38] Give a fool (or a thief) enough rope and he will hang himself

39] T’ is safest making peace with sword in hand

40] None but the brave deserves the fair

41] See which way the cat jumps

42] A fool may sometimes speak to the purpose

43] Riches rather enlarge than satisfy appetites

44] God never sends mouths but he sent meat

45] Praises fill not the belly

46] He that sows virtue reaps fame

47] Pleasing ware is half sold

48] Self do, self have

49] One fool praises another

50] Many dishes make many diseases

51] Whether the pitcher strikes the stone, or the stone the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher

52] A good servant should never be in the way and never out of the way

53] Among the blind, the one-eyed man is king

54] How seldom in life is the moon directly overhead

55] He that sleeps sound feels not the toothache

56] An ill paymaster never wants excuse

57] There is no tree but bears some fruit

58] Words have wings, and cannot be recalled

59] No feast lasts forever.

60] God’s help is better than the early rising

61] Years know more than books

62] Rule youth well and age will rule itself

63] Men make houses, women make homes

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

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

66] If you would make an enemy, lend a man money and ask it of him again

67] If you pile up enough sand, you can make a pagoda

68] First impressions are most lasting

69] He seems wise with whom all things thrive

70] They can do least two boast loudest

71] If one sheep leaps over the ditch (or dyke), all the rest will follow

72] No feast lasts forever.

73] A joke’s a very serious thing

74] It is easy to move rivers and mountains, but difficult to change a person’s basic nature

75] Work expands so as to fill the time available

76] Help a lame dog over a stile

77] Crime does not pay

78] A jack of all traders is master of none

79] Example, is better than precept

80] No naked man is sought after to be rifled

81] A lion may be beholden to a mouse

82] Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse

83] Eaten bread is soon forgotten

84] Anger and haste hinder good counsel

85] Best is cheapest

86] Money is the root of all evil

87] There is no smoke without fire

88] If you would know the value of a ducat, try to borrow one

89] Beauty is eloquent even when silent

90] Those who live near water know the nature of fish; those who live near hills know the calls of birds

91] The first time, a novice the second time, an adept

92] Patient waiters are no losers

93] Misfortune arrives on horseback but departs on foot

94] The knowledge of a learned man is limited if he stays at home all the time

95] Good company on the road is the shortest cut

96] Like mother, like daughter

97] Every one thinks his own sack heaviest

98] If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

99] The proof of the pudding lies in the eating

100] He who does not rise with the sun does not enjoy the day