Famous Proverbs

1] A word is enough to the wise

2] We can live without our friends, but not without our neighbours

3] No cross, no crown

4] Take heed is a fair thing

5] When the horse has reached the brink of the precipice, it is too late to pull the reins.

6] Things past cannot be recalled

7] There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it

8] If you gently touch a nettle, it’ll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a man of mettle, and it soft as silk remains.

9] Good fame is better than a good face

10] A straight stick is crooked in water

11] Extremity of right is wrong

12] Good advice is often annoying, bad advice never.

13] He seems wise with whom all things thrive

14] We shall beat our swords into ploughshares

15] He that cannot ask, cannot live

16] Don’t stitch your seam before you’ve tacked it.

17] He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is mad

18] The dancing girl who could not dance, said that the hall was not big enough.

19] A wounded reputation is seldom cured

20] Jack is as good as his master

21] A penny saved is a penny gained

22] Idle folks have the least leisure

23] Friends agree best at a distance

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

25] Children and fools cannot lie.

26] A good word for a bad one is worth much and costs little

27] The good die young.

28] Pride dines on vanity, sups on contempt

29] Either mend or end

30] God arms the harmless

31] He that wants health wants all

32] Diligence is the mother of good luck

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

34] Love your friend with his fault

35] Happy is the country (or nation) that has no history

36] There’s a black sheep in every flock

37] Don’t hide your light under a bushel

38] It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life

39] The more cost, the more honour

40] Good is good but better carries it

41] Harp not for ever on the same string

42] Long tarrying takes all the thanks away

43] Do as the friar says, not as he does

44] Pleasure has a sting in its tail

45] Fair without, false within

46] Practice is the science that gives confidence

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

48] If fools went not to market, bad wares would not be sold.

49] Never judge from appearances

50] It foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor

51] Curiosity killed the cat.

52] Men are known by the company they keep.

53] There is safety in numbers

54] Tempt not a desperate man

55] Nothing so bad as not to be good for something

56] Quickly come, quickly go

57] Suffering does not manifest itself

58] As you sow, so shall you reap

59] Ill comes often on the back worse

60] Health is better than wealth

61] Naturally the same beans from the same bin.

62] The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot.

63] The best fish swim near the bottom

64] A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder

65] You cannot unscramble eggs

66] Even the tiger will appear if you talk about him

67] He that fights and runs away may live to fight another day

68] It takes a wise man to be a fool

69] He that borrows must pay again with shame or loss

70] From hearing, comes wisdom; from speaking, repentance

71] He that comes of a hen, must scrape

72] There is nothing permanent except change

73] War, hunting and love are as full of trouble as pleasure

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

75] The early bird catches the worm

76] Words have wings, and cannot be recalled

77] A constant guest is never welcome

78] Blood will have blood

79] Steer not after every mariner’s direction

80] Desert and reward seldom keep company

81] When a man is happy, he does not hear the clock strike

82] Children learn to creep ere they can go

83] He that would catch fish must venture his bait

84] Don’t pour out the dirty water before you have cleaned

85] Through hardship to the stars

86] Do unto others as you would they should do unto you.

87] Don’t play with edged tools

88] The first day a guest, the second day a guest, the third day a calamity

89] What’s the good of thatching someone else’s roof?

90] Ask a silly question and you’ll get a silly answer.

91] Might overcome right.

92] Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth

93] A good wife and health is a man’s best wealth

94] Neither bribe, nor lose thy right

95] Diligence is the mother of good fortune

96] Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves

97] Don’t judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.

98] Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

99] An account is an account, and a brother a brother.

100] You cannot make a crab walk straight