Famous Proverbs

1] The leopard cannot change its spots

2] Between two stools you fall to the ground

3] He who rouses a sleeping tiger exposes himself to danger

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

5] A joke’s a very serious thing

6] Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny

7] Often and little eating makes a man fat

8] It is no use spoiling the ship for a half penny worth of tar

9] You are never too old to learn

10] When we sing, everybody hears us; when sigh, nobody hears us

11] We are all Adam’s children

12] Wishes can never fill a sack

13] A creaking gate (or door) hangs long

14] Needs must when the evil drives

15] Every man for himself, and God for us all.

16] Why play the harp to a buffalo?

17] One beats the bush, and another catches the birds

18] A friend is easier lost than found

19] Dreams are lies

20] He who can wait obtains what he wishes.

21] Train the child in the way he should go.

22] Honour is the reward of virtue

23] He that is fallen cannot help him that is down

24] He loved mutton well that licked where the ewe lay

25] Patience is the remedy of the world

26] Money is the root of all evil

27] It will be the same a hundred years hence

28] He who comes first, grinds first.

29] Far fowls have fair feather

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

31] For a web begun, God sends the thread

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

33] All our pomp the earth covers

34] Dog does not eat dog

35] Big fish eat little fish

36] Whom god loves, his house is sweet to him

37] The dog that fetches, will carry.

38] Call a spade a spade

39] East or west, home is best

40] The thief doth fear each bush an offer

41] Much would have more

42] Cast not the first stone.

43] A good paymaster needs no surety

44] You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds

45] It is courage that wins, and not good weapons

46] Every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost

47] Easier said than done

48] A single filament of silk does not make a thread; a single tree does not make a forest

49] Don’t cross the bridge before you get to it

50] Sickness soaks the purse

51] I saw few die of hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand.

52] Praise is always pleasant

53] When we have gold, we are in fear; when we have none we are in danger

54] The owl thinks her own young fairest

55] It is ill striving (or swimming) against the stream (or tide)

56] Two heads are better than one

57] Six feet of earth make all men equal

58] Covetousness brings nothing home

59] If the fingers of one hand quarrel, they cannot pick up food

60] He knows most who speaks least

61] A rich man can do nothing wrong

62] Every path has a puddle

63] Poverty obstructs the road to virtue

64] He is a fool who makes his physician his heir

65] Good riding at two anchors, men have told, for if one breaks the other may hold

66] Behind the smile, a dagger may be hidden

67] Friendship is a plant which must be often watered

68] The king can do no wrong

69] Ill weeds grow apace (or fast)

70] Man does what he can, and God what he will

71] Men are not to be measured in inches

72] One potter envies another

73] Frugality is the mother of virtue

74] A little body often harbours a great soul

75] Though the fox runs, the chicken has wings

76] Money has no smell

77] Pardon one offence and you encourage many

78] Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.

79] Man may have a thousand plans, but god’s plan is best

80] The calmest husbands make the stormiest wives

81] Good counsel never comes amiss

82] He who works before dawn will soon his own master

83] It is a foolish bird that soils (or defiles ) its own nest

84] God provides for him that trusts

85] It takes all sorts to make a world

86] Nothing is certain but the unforeseen

87] Gossiping and lying go together

88] If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

89] Everyone to his taste

90] All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws

91] If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t make anything

92] Hew not too high lest the chips fall in thine eye

93] There is nothing like being on the safe side

94] Children and fools cannot lie.

95] Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.

96] The sign brings customers

97] Like mistress, like maid

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

99] From small beginnings come great things

100] The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man