Famous Proverbs

1] A joke never gains over an enemy, but often loses a friend

2] See a pin and let it lie, you’ll want a pin before you die

3] The Friar Preached against stealing and had a goose in his sleeve

4] There is no smoke without fire

5] A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.

6] In indecision itself, grief is present.

7] Drive thy business or it will drive thee.

8] He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune

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

10] You cannot sell the cow and sup the milk

11] Discontent is the first step in progress

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

13] Kind hearts are soonest wronged

14] Do not cut down the tree that gives you shade

15] He wants both the flour and the cake that it makes

16] What the fool does in the end, the wise man does at the beginning

17] A good drink makes the old young

18] Boys will be boys

19] Life would be too smooth, if it has no rubs in it.

20] One master in a house is enough

21] In haste is error

22] An ill paymaster never wants excuse

23] Dogs bite twice those who wear ragged clothes.

24] Many eyes upon the king

25] Think of ease, but work on.

26] Better be first in a village than second at Rome

27] He gives twice who gives quickly

28] Keep your mouth shut and your ears open

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

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

31] A man has choice to begin love, but not to end it.

32] Care is no cure

33] Birds of a feather flock together

34] Liars should have good memories

35] Three helping one another, bear the burthen of six.

36] Mustard is a good sauce, but mirth is better

37] Neither bribe, nor lose thy right

38] Brevity is the soul of wit

39] He that once deceives, is ever suspected

40] Love cannot be compelled

41] Better die a beggar than live a beggar

42] Her that is down need fear no fall

43] Even the lion must defend itself against flies

44] What costs little is little esteemed

45] He that compiles against his will, is of his own opinion still

46] It is good sheltering under an old hedge

47] Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches

48] He that has no rest at home is in the world’s hell

49] Nothing seek, nothing find

50] Content is better than riches

51] A living dog is better than a dead lion

52] It is more blessed to give than to receive

53] A sleepy master makes his servant a lout

54] Plain dealing is best

55] Don’t wash your dirty linen in public

56] If you pile up enough sand, you make a pagoda

57] Excessive politeness is often a cloak for insincerity

58] Excessive happiness produces pain

59] Pardon one offence and you encourage many

60] There is no rose without a thorn

61] Beauty opens locked doors

62] United we stand, divided we fall

63] He who gives fair words feds you with and empty spoon

64] Nothing is so popular as kindness.

65] Kind hearts are soonest wronged

66] The best things in life are free

67] A fool says what he knows, and a wise man knows what he says.

68] Goods that are much on show lose their colour

69] To study a great deal is to acquire a priceless treasure

70] All truths are not to be told

71] You never know your luck

72] With seven nurses, the child loses its eye

73] Of the ten fingers, some are long and some are short.

74] Love is without reason

75] Men are not to be measured in inches

76] A loveless life is a living death

77] A man’s wealth is his enemy

78] The tide must be taken when it comes

79] Dogs bark as they are bred.

80] Self do, self have

81] An honest good look covers many faults.

82] All work and no play makes jack a dull boy

83] There is death in the pot.

84] Beauty is in the face; grace is all over.

85] A fool at forty is a fool indeed

86] Nature surpasses art

87] A fox should not be of the jury at a goose’s trial

88] Marriage is a lottery

89] The grapes are sour’, as the fox said when he could not reach them

90] A word is enough to the wise

91] If wishes were horses, beggars would ride (or might ride)

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

93] The devil’s children have the devil’s luck

94] The devil sometimes speaks the truth

95] Nothing crave, nothing have

96] Better late than never, but better never late

97] Only with a new ruler do you realize the value of the old

98] Poor men go to heaven as soon as rich

99] Riches along make no men happy

100] Failure teaches success