Famous Proverbs

1] Have but few friends, though many acquaintances

2] Of three main roads, take the middle one

3] Fair is he that comes, but fairer is he that brings.

4] A little impatience will spoil great plans

5] Like question, like answer.

6] A mill cannot grind with water that is past

7] Experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it is surely the best

8] An old ox makes a straight furrow

9] A liar is sooner caught than a cripple

10] Don’t hallo (or shout, or whistle) until you are out of the wood

11] Might is right

12] It is n time to stoop when the head is off.

13] A thing of beauty is a joy forever

14] Seldom seen, soon forgotten

15] Delay is the antidote of anger

16] A word is enough to the wise

17] A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword

18] All covet all lose.

19] Pouring oil on the fire is not the way to quench it

20] There are hills, and there are swamps as well.

21] Lavishness is not generosity

22] Patience surpasses learning

23] Where your will is ready, your feet are light

24] Advice when most needed is least heeded

25] Wine and wenches empty men’s purses

26] Familiarity breeds contempt

27] If youth knew what age would crave. It would both get and save

28] Every dog is a lion at home

29] A traveller may lie with authority

30] The last drop makes the cup run over

31] Virtue is praised by all, but practiced by few

32] Wine is one thing; drunkenness another

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

34] Beggars must not (can’t) be choosers

35] Kindle not a fire that you cannot extinguish

36] God makes the back for the burden

37] Fields have eyes and woods have ears

38] Whatsoever was the father of a disease, an ill diet was the mother.

39] Common fame is seldom to blame

40] They also serve who only stand and wait

41] The dog that is idle barks at his fleas, but he that is hunting feels them not.

42] Even water has its ebb and flow

43] He who spends before he thrives will beg before he thinks

44] An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden

45] Don’t play with edged tools

46] He that is born a fool is never cured

47] Might knows no right

48] Honesty is ill to thrive by

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

50] The folly of one man is the fortune of another

51] A tiger that roars is not a man-eater

52] No road is long with good company

53] A good marksman may miss

54] Facts are stubborn things

55] An old dog barks not in vain

56] The first blow is half the battle

57] The escaped mouse ever feels the taste of the bait.

58] Work has a bitter root but sweet fruit.

59] No man is the worse for knowing the worst of himself

60] Friends are thieves of time

61] He is rich that has few wants

62] Hitch your wagon to a star

63] Keep some till further more come

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

65] God arms the harmless

66] A bully is always a coward

67] Give a clown your finger, and he will take your hand

68] The rich man thinks of the future, the poor man thinks of today

69] An ill wound is cured, not an ill name

70] A thief passes for a gentle man when stealing has made him rich

71] The whole boat is putrid because of a single carp

72] Death alone can kill hope

73] Wise men learn by other men’s harm, fools, by their own

74] Love cannot be compelled

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

76] Good goods are not cheap; cheap goods are not good

77] Good ware makes quick market

78] When you drink water from the stream, don’t forget that the source of it is the spring

79] Fools rejoice at promises

80] You cannot catch old birds with chaff

81] A penny saved is a penny gained

82] Pleasant hours fly past

83] No playing with a straw before an old cat.

84] Plain dealing is best

85] Home is home though it be never so homely

86] There grows no herb t heal a coward heart

87] He is rich that has few wants

88] There would be no great ones if there were no little ones

89] Half an egg is better than empty shell

90] Nearest the heart comes out first

91] A barber learns to shave by shaving fools

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

93] Curses, like chickens, come home to roost

94] Even Homer sometimes nods

95] Mix work with pleasure and you will never go mad.

96] The fox may grow grey, but never good

97] God (or Providence) is always on the side of big battalions

98] He that is born a fool is never cured

99] Wait’ is a hard word to the hungry.

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