Famous Proverbs

1] One man’s means another man’s poison

2] Use the means, and God will give the blessings

3] Tender-handed stroke a nettle, and it stings you for your pain: grasp it like a man of mettle, and it soft as silk remains

4] When meat is in anger is out

5] Friendship cannot stand always on one side

6] Better some of a pudding than none of a pie.

7] Better wear out shoes than sheers.

8] A soft answer turns away wrath

9] When I lent, I was a friend; and when I asked, I was unkind

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

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

12] What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts

13] Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your hedge

14] It is not every question that deserves an answer

15] Since god has not bent the top of the palm tree, he has given a long neck to the giraffe

16] He that blows best, bears away the horn

17] He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet.

18] Thrift is a great revenue

19] Every why has a wherefore

20] The course of true love never did run smooth

21] He that ventures not fails not.

22] He who last, laughs longest.

23] When the weather is cold, there is not such thing as dirty clothing

24] Praise is always pleasant

25] The ant had wings to her hurt

26] Honesty is ill to thrive by

27] Do right and fear no man

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

29] Experience must be bought

30] When we sing, everybody hears us; when sigh, nobody hears us

31] Every lot is to be overcome by endurance

32] It is a great victory that comes without blood

33] There is no rose without a thorn

34] No pain, no cure

35] Everyone leaps over the dyke where it is lowest

36] Ill luck is good for something

37] A word before is worth two behind

38] A good name is sooner lost than won

39] Diseases are the price of ill pleasures

40] Spit to the heavens, and spittle falls on your own nose

41] Fortune favours the brave (or bold).

42] The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands

43] Neither bribe, nor lose thy right

44] There’s a black sheep in every flock

45] All heiresses are beautiful.

46] Pride goes before a fall

47] Cast not the first stone.

48] God provides for him that trusts

49] Covetousness breaks the sack

50] Few words are best

51] When the butcher has already killed your pig, it is useless to discuss with him the price

52] Money has no smell

53] See how the wind blows

54] Adversity comes with instruction in its hand

55] If anything can go wrong, it will

56] He who carries the burden knows the weight of it.

57] The least boy always carries the greatest fiddle

58] Do as the friar says, not as he does

59] Give yourself a pinch, and you will know how a pinch must hurt others

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

61] Where there is no trust there is no love

62] A good example is the best sermon

63] Even the weariest river winds somewhere safe to sea

64] Standing pools gather fifth

65] Manners and money make a gentleman

66] All things that great men do are well done

67] Cruelty is more cruel, if we defer the pain

68] First things first

69] When you are an anvil, hold still; when you are an anvil, hold still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.

70] The mob tramples on the coward

71] First think, and then speak

72] He that dwells next door to a cripple, will learn to halt

73] Great minds think alike

74] More than enough is too much

75] Courtesy (Or Civility, or Politeness) costs nothing

76] Moderation in all things

77] It is no use spoiling the ship for a half penny worth of tar

78] Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood

79] He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is mad

80] Arms bend inwards – not outwards.

81] Fields have eyes and woods have ears

82] Better sit still than rise and fall

83] Everyone to his taste

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

85] Silence never makes mistakes

86] Self-preservation is the first law of nature

87] The longest way round is the shortest way home

88] A joke’s a very serious thing

89] Eaten bread is soon forgotten

90] There is no garden without its weeds

91] Nothing venture (or ventured), nothing gain (or gained)

92] A man without a wife is but half a man

93] Better at home than a mile from it

94] Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

95] What may be done at any time is done at no time

96] He that is fallen cannot help him that is down

97] Hear twice before you speak once

98] The end makes all equal

99] Every dog has his day

100] Hard cases make bad law