Famous Proverbs

1] Confession of our fault is the next thing to innocence

2] To know the husband, observe the face of the wife

3] It is easy to move rivers and mountains, but difficult to change a person’s basic nature

4] A merchant that gains not, loses

5] Does sound come from an unstruck drum?

6] Learning is the eye of the mind

7] Where bad’s the best, bad must be the choice

8] Nature is the true law

9] The fox may grow grey, but never good

10] The perfect good is the exercise of virtue

11] The ass that brays most eats

12] Every may be has a may not be

13] None so blind as those who will not see

14] By doing nothing, we learn to do ill

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

16] Still waters run deep

17] However much the arm may swing out, the armpit is where it sticks

18] Diligence is the mother of good luck

19] Eat an apple going to bed, make the doctor beg his bread.

20] You cannot unscramble eggs

21] Needs must when the devil drives

22] Barking dogs seldom bite

23] One foot is better than two crutches

24] It is an ill dog that deserves not a crust

25] Forewarned is forearmed

26] Patience surpasses learning

27] Love is without reason

28] A good name keeps its luster in the dark

29] A willing helper does not wait until he is asked.

30] The ant had wings to her hurt

31] He who does not rise with the sun does not enjoy the day

32] Work smart; don’t work hard

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

34] Money gives a bold front: it doesn’t talk – it screams

35] Other times, other manners

36] Patience is a plaster for all sores

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

38] Friends agree best at a distance

39] He who leaps high must take a long run

40] He who can wait obtains what he wishes.

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

42] White there’s life there’s hope

43] The good die young.

44] A hundred pounds of sorrow pays not one ounce of debt

45] Better learn late than never

46] Dying is as natural as living

47] Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.

48] Better an apple given than eaten

49] Forbidden fruit is sweetest

50] Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs

51] Don’t wear out (or outstay) your welcome

52] A little body often harbours a great soul

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

54] Goods that are much on show lose their colour

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

56] He who rides on a tiger can never dismount

57] Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

58] A learned man has always riches in himself

59] A burdened conscience will never need a hangman

60] In wine there is truth

61] A fool always rushes to the fore.

62] Who is more busy than he that has least to do?

63] The fire which warms us a distance will burn us when near

64] Patient men with the day.

65] Go while the going is good

66] Cut your coat according to your cloth

67] The king can make a knight, but not a gentleman

68] There’s a black sheep in every flock

69] He knows on which side his bread is buttered

70] A quarrelsome man has no good neighbours

71] God comes with leaden feet, but strikes with iron hands

72] He that sleeps sound feels not the toothache

73] Great oaks from little acorns grow

74] There is a time to speak and a time to be silent

75] It is poor dog that is not worth the whistling

76] Covetousness brings nothing home

77] Don’t cry stinking fish

78] He that will steal an egg, will steal an ox

79] It is a great victory that comes without blood

80] Beware of a silent man and still water

81] Do not triumph before the victory

82] The morning hour has gold in its mouth

83] Better die a beggar than live a beggar

84] A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

85] A heavy purse makes a light heart

86] Great barkers are no biters

87] Good counsel has no price. Nothing is given so freely as advice.

88] Away goes the devil when he finds the door shut against him

89] One must howl with the wolves

90] There’s no great loss without some gain

91] In the land of hope there is never any winter

92] Better never begin than never make an end

93] Poverty is no disgrace but it is a great inconvenience

94] Keep no more cats than will catch mice

95] One is not smelt where all stink

96] A liar is sooner caught than a cripple

97] Our neighbour’s ground yields better corn than ours

98] He loves roast meat well that licks the spit.

99] Good clothes open all doors

100] Better beg than steal.