Famous Proverbs

1] What is money to a cat?

2] Water far away will not extinguish a fire that is nearby; relatives far from you are not as good as neighbours close to you.

3] Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

4] A fool believes everything

5] He who pays the piper calls the tune

6] A constant guest is never welcome

7] As you make your bed, you must lie on it

8] Never try to prove what nobody doubts

9] It is misery enough to have once been happy

10] He that would catch fish must venture his bait

11] Good fences make good neighbours

12] Keep something for a rainy day

13] Misfortune tells us what fortune is

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

15] In a church, in an inn, and in a coffin, all men are equal

16] Old habits die hard

17] Hunger makes hard bean sweet

18] Talk much end err much

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

20] It is too late to grieve when the chance is past

21] Love knows hidden paths

22] Penny wise, pound foolish

23] A long tongue is a sign of a short hand

24] You know what you can do till you try.

25] If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well

26] A barber learns to shave by shaving fools

27] He that would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom

28] It is a poor (or sad) heart that never rejoices

29] It is useless to flog a dead horse

30] There is honour among thieves

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

32] Easier said than done

33] There’s no such thing as free as a free lunch

34] There’s no fence against ill fortune.

35] Excessive politeness is often a cloak for insincerity

36] Brevity is the soul of wit

37] Practice what you preach

38] Fortune does not stand waiting at any man’s door

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

40] A bad excuse is better than none at all

41] A man of knowledge increaseth strength

42] Fair face, foul heart

43] The dog is a lion in his own house

44] Even the grubs in the rocks manage to survive

45] The envious man shall never want woe

46] You cannot teach an old dog new tricks

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

48] It chances in an hour, that appears not in seven years

49] If Jack’s in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty

50] He that shows his purse, longs to be rid of it

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

52] Don’t burn the candle at both ends

53] Do not halloo till you are out of the wood

54] Blue are the far away hills

55] What you don’t know can’t hurt you

56] Lend never that thing you needed most

57] Give a lie a twenty-four-hour start, and you can never overtake it.

58] He who does no good, does evil enough

59] Forbidden fruit is sweetest

60] Keep some till further more come

61] If you play with fire you get burnt

62] Honesty is ill to thrive by

63] Dangerous foreseen are soonest prevented

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

65] Sour, sweet, bitter and pungent flavours must all be tasted

66] You cannot skimp on the fodder and have an energetic horse.

67] Everything would fain live

68] Unpaid debts are unforgiven sins

69] Nothing crave, nothing have

70] When fortune smiles, embrace her.

71] One man’s loss is another’s gain

72] Novelty always appears handsome

73] Wiles help weak folk

74] Without diligence, no prize

75] Burn not your house to fright the mouse away

76] Crime does not pay

77] Do not wear out your welcome

78] Nature hates all sudden changes

79] Tell the truth and shame the devil

80] Never catch a falling knife or a falling friend

81] Does sound come from an unstruck drum?

82] Creditors have better memories than debtors

83] Everyone is a kin to the rich man

84] Kill two birds with one stone

85] A horse that will not carry a saddle must have no oats.

86] The best wine comes from an old vessel

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

88] Poverty is not a crime

89] Hard words break no bones

90] An ill payer (or paymaster) never wants an excuse

91] There are more ways to the wood than one.

92] The purse of the patient protracts the disease

93] Good words are worth much and cost little

94] He that repairs not a part, builds all

95] Familiarity breeds contempt

96] Who is worse shod than the shoemaker’s wife?

97] A man’s wealth is his enemy

98] Sweet are the uses of adversity

99] Love and business teach eloquence

100] He who does nothing but sits and eats, will wear away a mountain of wealth