English Proverbs

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English Proverbs

Proverbs are the children of experience.

. The genius, wit and spirit of a nation are discovered in its proverbs.

. The proverbs of a nation are the great book out of which it's easy to read its character.

. Proverbs are the wisdom of the ages.

. Proverbs are so called because they are proved.

. A proverb is to speech what is salt to food.

. Proverbs are the lamps of speech.

. Proverbs are the adornment of speech.

. A proverb is the wit of one and the wisdom of many.

. Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long experience.

. A proverb is a type of folk literature expressing in the form of a simple homely

sentence a pungent criticism of life.

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A A bad day never has a good night.

. A bean in liberty is better than a feast in prison.

. A bird is known by its note and a man by his talk.

. A black hen will lay a white egg.

. A blind man will not thank you for a mirror.

. A good heart makes a happy face.

. A candle lights others and consumes itself.

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A cat has nine lives and a woman has nine cats' lives.

. A clean hand needs no washing.

. A constant guest is never welcome.

. A boy begins living when he is born and a girl when she marries.

. A contented mind is a continual feast.

. A courageous foe is better than a cowardly friend.

. A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow.

. Actions speak louder than words.

. A cunning knave needs no broker.

. A danger foreseen is half avoided.

. A deceitful peace is more harmful than open war.

. A deformed body may have a beautiful soul.

. A disease known is half-cured.

. A dog will not cry if you beat him with a bone.

. A donkey is asked to a wedding either to carry water or bring wood.

. A drowning man will catch at a straw.

. Adversity flatters no man.

. A father is a treasure, a brother is a comfort, but a friend is both.

. A fault confessed is half redressed.

. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

. A crowd is not company.

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A fault once denied is twice committed.

. A favor ill placed is a great waste.

. A fool throws a stone into the well and a thousand wise man can't take it out.

. A forced kindness deserves no thanks.

. A friend is best found in adversity.

. A friend that you buy will be bought from you.

. A friend's frown is better than a fool's smile.

. After a storm comes rain, after clouds sunshine.

. After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.

. A full purse never lacks friends.

. Age brings experience, good mind wisdom.

. A gift with a kind face is a double grace.

. A good anvil is not afraid of the hammer.

. A guest wanted comes at meal times.

. A hungry man is an angry man.

. A house in the sun never calls a doctor.

. A hungry stomach has no ears.

. A joke never gains an enemy, but often loses a friend.

. A liar will not be believed even when he speaks the truth.

. A little thing in hand is worth than a great thing in prospect.

. All doors are open to courtesy.

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A good life keeps off wrinkles.

. A good book is a great friend.

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A good example is the best sermon.

. A good friend never offends.

. A good man will requite a gift; an ill man will ask more.

. A good name is better than gold.

. A good surgeon must have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart and lady's hand.

. A good wife and health are a man's best wealth.

. A good workman doesn't quarrel with his tools.

. An internal gives what he has to appearance.

. Appear always as you are.

. Appearances are deceptive.

. A servant is known by his master's absence.

. A sign to the wise and a whistle to the stupid.

. A strange in your house is a witness.

. As you sow, so you reap.

. A scabby sheep infects a whole flock.

. As long as the blanket so far you may stretch.

. All is well that ends well.

. All that glitters is not gold.

. All truth is not told.

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A long tongue has a short hand.

. A man without reason is a beast in season.

. A man is known by the company he keeps.

. A moment's patience is ten year's ease.

. An apple in a day keeps the doctor away.

An empty belly hears nobody.

. An occasion lost can not be renewed.

. An ounce of sense is worth a pound of wit.

. A woman's strength is in her tongue.

. A word to the wise is enough.

. Barking dogs seldom bite.

. Be a good husband and you will get a penny to spend, a penny

to lend and a penny for friend.

. Be always as merry as you can, for no one delights in a sorrowful man.

. Be a friend to yourself and others will be so too.

. Be slow to promise, quick to perform.

. Be ever vigilant, but never suspicious.

. Be just to all but trust not all.

. Be not ungrateful to your old friend.

. Be silent or speak something worth hearing.

. Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.

. Be slow in giving advice, ready to do service.

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Be sure before you marry, a house to tarry.

. Bear with evil and expect good.

. Beat one to frighten another.

. Bearty without bounty avails naught.

. Beggars must not be choosers.

. Begging a courtesy is selling liberty.

. Benefits like flowers, pleasant most when they are fresh.

. Beggars breed and rich men feed.

. )( Better a bad excuse than none at all.

. Better a tooth out than pain forever.

. Better be alone than in bad company.

. Better be envied than pitied.

. Better be poor and live than rich and perish.

. Better do it than wish it done.

. Better face a danger once than be always in fear.

. Better go longing than loathing.

Better the last smile than the first laughter.

. Better an empty house than an ill tenant.

. Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

. Better no rule than cruel rule.

. Better spared than spend.

. .Better starve free than be a fat slave .


Better to do well than to say well.

. Better to slip with the foot than with the tongue.

. Better unborn than unbred.

. Better untaught than ill taught.

. Between the hand and the lip, the morsel may slip.

. Be warned by other harms.

. Beware of a silent dog and still water.

. Beware of a little expenses.

. Beware of no one more than yourself.

. Birds of one feather flock together.

. Blood is thicker than water.

. Blood cannot be water.

. Blushing is virtue's color.

. Boldness in business is the 1

st, 2

nd and 3

rd thing.

. Brave actions never want a trumpet.

. Bread at pleasure, drink by measure.

. Brevity is a great praise of eloquence.

. Bribes will enter without knocking.

. Burn not your house to frighten the mice.

. Business and action strengthen the brain, but too much study weakens it.

. Business is the salt of life.

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By doing nothing we learn to do ill.

. By other's faults wise men correct their own.

. By requiting one friend we invite many

. By the little is known the much.

. By wisdom peace, by peace plenty.

. Calamity is the touchstone of a brave mind.

. Call no man happy till he dies.

. Care and diligence bring the luck.

.Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.

. Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance.

. Censure and scandal are not the same.

. Cent per cent we do pay for every vicious pleasure.

. Chance is as the dice.

. Change of habit cannot alter nature.

. Charity begins at home, but shouldn't end there.

. Charity and pride have different aims, yet both feed the poor.

. Cheating play never thrives.

. Cherish what you have and struggle for better.

. Children and fools have merry lives.

. Children are poor men's riches.

. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

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Climb not too high lest the fall be greatest.

. Clouds the sun builds darken it.

. Clumsy jesting is not joking.

. Come uncalled sit unserved.

. Common sense is the growth of all countries.

. Compliments cost nothing, yet many pay dear for them.

. Confidence is the companion of success.

. Confine your tongue lest it confines you.

. Congruity is the mother of love.

. Consideration is the parent of wisdom.

. Consult your pillow.

. Contempt is the sharpest reproof.

. Content is better than riches.

. Continual cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom.

. Conversation teaches more than meditation.

. Courtesy is the inseparable companion of virtue.

. Craft must have clothes, but true loves to go naked.

. Custom in infancy becomes nature in old age.

. Deliver your words not by number but by weight.

. Diamonds cut diamonds.

. Discourse is silver, silence is golden.

. East or west home is best. .


Early to bed early to rise make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

. Empty vessels make most sound.

. Envy never enriches any man.

. Every one blames his faults on the times.

. Everything comes to who waits.

. Favor for favor.

. Few there are that will endure true friend.

. Few words, many deeds.

. Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.

. First deserve then desire.

. First plan your work then work your plan.

. Fools step where angels fear to tread.

. Forbidden fruit is sweetest.

. For ill do well then fear no hell.

. Garlands are not for every brow.

. Give advice in private and praise in public.

. Give and spend and god will send.

. Glasses and lasses are little ware.

. God comes at last when we think he is farthest.

. God stays long, but strikes at last.

. Good health is above wealth.

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Good language cures great sores.

. Great designs require great consideration.

. Great hopes make great men.

. Great men have more adorers than friends.

. Great minds agree.

. Hatred is blind as well as love.

. He is never alone that is in the company of noble thoughts.

. He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.

. He that will thrive must rise at five, he that has thriven may lie till seven.

. Honesty is the best policy.

. Hunger makes forts surrender.

. I am proud and you are proud and who shall bear the ashes round.

. Idle people have the most labor.

. Idleness always envies industry.

. If a man once fall, all will tread on him.

. If it were not for hope, the heart would break.

. Injuries may be forgiven but not forgotten.

. It is never too late to learn.

. I value honor above life.

. January commits the fault and May bears the blame.

. Jacob was not miserable in his sufferings as he was happy in his patience.

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Judge not men or things at first sight.

. Kindness is the noblest weapon with which to conquer.

. Life is half-spent before we know what it is.

. Like father like son.

. Like fault like punishment.

. Live not to eat but eat to live.

. Maids want nothing but husbands, when they have them; they want everything.

. Man proposes, god disposes.

. Many words hurt more than swords.

. Measure for measure.

. Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.

. Misfortunes never come singly.

. Nature overcomes nurture.

. Necessity is the mother of invention.

. Never speak well or ill of yourself, if well men will not believe you,

if ill they will believe a great deal more than you say.

. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

. No power, no respect.

. No smoke without fire.

. Novelty gives pleasure.

. No one believes a liar even when he tells the truth.

. Oaks may fall when reeds brave the storm.

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Opportunities do not wait.

. Pains is forgotten when gains follows.

. Put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry.

. Quality without quantity is little thought of.

. Rashness is not valor.

. Reason binds man.

. Sadness and gladness succeed each other.

. Safety lies in talking truth.

. Still water runs deep.

. Talk of an angel and you will hear his wings.

. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

. The hand that gives gathers.

. Tit for tat.

. Unfading are the gardens of kindness.

. Use soft words and hard arguments.

. Virtue is a jewel of great price.

. Walls have ears.

. What is learnt young is hard to lose.

. When the cat is away, the mice will play.

. Years know more than books.

. You can't whistle and drink at the same time.

. Zeal without knowledge is fire without light. .

English Proverbs

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