Famous Proverbs

1] He that lives wickedly can hardly die honestly

2] Dress up a stick and it does not appear to be a stick

3] No pain, no cure

4] Two heads are better than one

5] Penny wise, pound foolish

6] The longest way round is the shortest way home

7] Far from eye, far from heart

8] Don’t wash your dirty linen in public

9] Mirth is the sugar of life

10] Friendship should not be all on one side

11] Fear the Greeks (or Beware of Greeks) bearing gifts

12] Like father, like son

13] The cobbler’s children are always the worst shod

14] He that serves well need not be afraid to ask his wages

15] It is easier to pull down than to build

16] A word spoken is past recalling

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

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

19] The child says nothing but what it hears by the fire

20] He that has an ill name is half hanged

21] No wrong without a remedy

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

23] Wise men do not argue with idiots

24] Adversity comes with instruction in its hand

25] Nearest the heart comes out first

26] None so busy as those who do nothing.

27] A learned man has always riches in himself

28] Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today

29] All men are mortal

30] Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him

31] Wise men propose, and fools determine

32] A hedge between keeps friendship green

33] When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then a gentleman?

34] By his deeds we know a man

35] One sheep follows another

36] Too many cooks spoil the broth

37] A burthen of one’s own choice is not felt

38] Who receives a gift, sells his liberty

39] Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust

40] A strong town is not won in an hour

41] You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs

42] A kind heart loseth nought at last.

43] The absent saint gets no candle

44] The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny

45] You cannot teach an old dog new tricks

46] Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it

47] Adversity is the touchstone of friendship

48] Coming events cast their shadows before

49] The strength of the chain is in the weakest link.

50] Advice when most needed is least heeded

51] Better to ask the way than go astray.

52] He who makes no mistakes makes nothing

53] They say so’ is half a lie

54] Every law has a loophole

55] Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse

56] If anything can go wrong, it will

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

58] Nearest the heart comes out first

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

60] Fools grow without watering.

61] To refuse and to give tardily is all the same

62] Delays are not denials

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

64] Extremes meet

65] The first blow is half the battle

66] Better a lean peace than a fat victory

67] Fool rush in where angels fear to trend

68] One speak of rat droppings will spoil a whole pan of rice

69] Praises fill not the belly

70] Even reckoning makes long friends

71] Dreams are lies

72] You may force a man to shut his eyes but you can’t make him sleep

73] True doctrines require no miracles

74] Keep something for a rainy day

75] Hope deferred makes the heart sick

76] Great consolation may grow out of the smallest saying

77] Live and let live

78] You never know what you can do till you try

79] God’ s mill grids slow but sure

80] Comfort is not known if poverty does not come before it

81] Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

82] Bare walls make giddy housewives

83] The rotten apple injures its neighbours.

84] Love will go through stone walls

85] The peony, though large, is useless; the date blossom, though small, yields fruit

86] A thing you don’t want is dear at any price.

87] The wisest of the wise may err.

88] He that would know what shall be, must consider what has been

89] Creditors have better memories than debtors

90] Ready money is a ready remedy

91] Like master, like man

92] It is a shame to be shameless

93] First catch your hare

94] A fool may give a wise counsel. A fool’s bolt may sometimes hit the mark.

95] First impressions are most lasting

96] An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest

97] Poor men’s words have little weight

98] What is shown by example, men think they may justly do

99] Let every pedlar carry his own burden

100] Muck and money go together