PROVERBS


Between the devil and the deep sea
To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.
Where there's a will there's a way
When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.
A burnt child dreads fire
A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.
First come, first served
The first in line will be attended to first.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
Discretion is the better part of valor

If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.
A hungry man is an angry man
A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.
Empty vessels make the most noise
Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.
A man is as old as he feels
A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.
Great talkers are little doers
Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.
An idle brain is the devil's workshop
One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.
An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit
It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.
Faint heart never won fair lady
To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.
A penny saved is a penny gained
By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
A rolling stone gathers no moss

A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.
As you sow, so you shall reap
One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.
Barking dogs seldom bite
Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.
Better late than never
To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all. 
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.
Birds of a feather flock together
People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.
Call a spade a spade

If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.
Charity begins at home
A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others.
Dead men tell no lies

( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)
A great talker is a great liar
A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.
Every cloud has a silver lining
If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.
All that glitters is not gold
Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.
Eat to live, but do not live to eat
Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.
Every dog has its day
Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.
Every one can find fault, few can do better
It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly.
Any time means no time
When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.
Fair exchange is no robbery
A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated.
Fire is a good servant but a bad master
Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.

Actions speak louder than words
Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of.
Fortune knocks once at every man's door
Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life.
Give the devil his due
Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings.
God helps those who help themselves
God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort.
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
A bad or evil occurrence.
Great minds think alike
Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.
Habit is second nature
An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature.
He laughs best who laughs last
A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end.
Never do things by halves
One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately.
Great haste makes great wasteIf one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later.
It's never too late to mend
It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.
It's no use crying over spilt milk
It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified.
Still waters run deep
One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person.
Jack of all trades and master of none
Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them.
Let bygones by bygones
One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others.
Let not the pot call the kettle black
A person who has a fault should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another person as you may have the same weakness.
Let sleeping dogs lie
One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble.
No news is good news
When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right.
Look before you leap
Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences.
Necessity is the mother of invention
When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it.
Honesty is the best policy
Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.
One man's meat is another man's poison
No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes.
Once bitten twice shy
If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time.
Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter
( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother )
Practice makes perfect
It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it
Prevention is better than cure
It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen.
Rome was not built in a day
Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give another.
Spare the rod and spoil the child
A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly.
Speech is silver, silence is golden
Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take.
It takes two to make a quarrel
Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself.
Strike while the iron is hot
Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible.
There's no smoke without fire
Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them.
Time and tide wait for no one
Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent.
To err is human, to forgive divine
It is only normal for man to make mistakes and do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his wrong is indeed  great and gracious act.
What's done can't be undone
In life there are some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back.
Two heads are better than one
It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment.
When in Rome do as the Romans do
When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs.
When the cat is away the mice will play
When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law
Absence makes the heart grow fonderOne usually desires another more when he or she is far away.

A bad workman always blames his tools
A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself.
A new broom sweeps clean
A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work.
Don't judge a book by its cover
Do not be deceived by appearances.
Blood is thicker than water
Family ties are stronger than any other.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Do not make plans based on something that has not happened.
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill
Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small
Experience is the best teacher
The best way to learn a job is to do it.
The last straw that broke the camel's back
The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin.
Look at the bright side
Be optimistic
Make hay while the sun shines
Seize opportunities
Out of sight, out of mind
You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with.
A leopard cannot change its spots
A person's nature cannot change.
There are two sides to every question

There are always two ways of looking at something



Too many cooks spoil the broth

Too many people doing the same thing at the same time will not be successful



We never miss the water till the well runs dry

You only realize the importance of something when it is gone



To put the cart before the horse

To do something in an incorrect order



Bite off more than one can chew

To try to do something one is unable to do or incapable of doing.



Half a loaf is better than none

It's better to have or receive less than one desires than to have or receive nothing at all.



Have an old head on young shoulders

Youngsters who possess qualities of wisdom one would only expect to find in experienced older people.



Have eyes in the back of one's head

An ability to know what is happening not within the scope of one's vision.



If it's not one thing it's another

The troubles seem to go on and on without end.



The sky is the limit

There is no upper limit to something



A trouble shared is a trouble halved

Your troubles seem half as great when you discuss them with someone else



A watched pot never boils

If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen it seems to take forever



Worship the ground somebody walks on

Very much in love with somebody



Between a rock and a hard place

To be in a difficult situation from which there seems to be no escape



Cleanliness is next to Godliness

To be clean and tidy is just as important as being spiritually good and religious.



Money is the root of all evil

Crimes and wickedness are associated with money.



Two's company, three's a crowd

It is always fun while there are only two people whereas the third person is an unwelcome intrusion.



It takes all sorts to make a world

You should not expect everyone to think and act as you do.



Jump from the frying pan into the fire

To go from a bad position to a worse one.



Go from the sublime to the ridiculous

Move from one situation which is wonderful or perfect to another which is absurd or awful



One swallow doesn't make a summer

One success doesn't guarantee complete success



Truth is stranger than fiction

Real life can be more incredible than anything which can be imagined



You can't have your cake and eat it

You must choose between two things as it is impossible to have both at the same time



A miss is as good as a mile

Something that one already has is better than something that one may not be able to get



As you make your bed so must you lie on it

You must accept the consequences of your act



Cut your coat according to your cloth

Live within your income; don't be too ambitious in your plans




All's fish that comes the net
When something comes our way we should consider how it might be useful or benefit us.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you in the peak of health.
Be on the safe side
To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to others.
Beggars can't be choosers
Someone in need should be grateful for what is given to him -- even if it's not what he wants or expects
The blind leading the blind
A person helping or advising someone knows as little about the subject as the person who is being advised.
The buck stops here
It means final decision or total responsibility for an action
Burn the candle at both ends
Those who are always busy and seem to get little rest
Buy a pig in a poke
Buy something without examining it for faults or checking to see if they are really getting what they believe they have purchased
Catch as catch can
To do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or reach a goal.
Children should be seen and not heard
To stop a child from asking questions, talking, or making unnecessary noise.
Christmas comes but once each year
An excuse to indulge in food and drink and spend money during the Christmas season.
Cry over spilled milk

It's pointless to get upset or feel regret about a loss or mistake that can't be undone



Curiosity killed the cat

To warn people not to show too much interest in affairs that don't concern them.



Cut off your nose to spite your face

When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing foolish things that prove harmful to themselves.



The devil finds work for idle hands

Unless one keeps busy doing useful or constructive things he could be tempted into mischief or evil.



The devil has the best tunes

To do something unworthy because it gives you pleasure



Dog eat dog

In competitive situations where each person has his own interests at heart, it is usually the strong and the determined who succeed.



An exception to the rule

Something does not conform to or agree with a rule



Fling/throw mud at someone

To say evil or bad things about someone and in doing so, to damage his or her reputation.



A fool and his money are soon parted

A person who spends his money foolishly will soon be penniless



Forgive and forget

Excusing or pardoning someone for doing something



Give someone enough rope and he will hang himself

If we allow someone to continue in his bad ways he'll eventually bring about his own downfall or ruin.



Grin and bear it

To put up with discomfort or a bad situation without complaining.



He who pays the piper calls the tune

The person who pays for something has the right to do as he wants.



Hide your light under a bushel

Concealing your talents, skills or abilities



Hitch one's wagon to a star

To Move forward in a way to improve your chances of achieving success.



Home is where the heart is

No matter where you are, 'home' is where you feel most comfortable and content.



If wishes were horses, beggars would ride

If we could get all the things we wanted just by making a wish, everyone would have all he ever wanted.



If you can't lick them, join them

If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his ideas, plans or way of doing things, the best thing is to change your ideas, plans, etc.



In for a penny, in for a pound

If we decide to do something, we should commit ourselves to it boldly and completely.



A job worth doing is a job worth doing well

When you do something you should do it as well as you can.



Keep the wolf from the door

To avoid hunger and poverty



Laugh and the world laughs with you

When someone is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like being with him.



Least said, soonest forgotten

The less we say about it the sooner the incident will be forgotten.



A chicken and egg question

A mysterious question which can't be answered



You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink

We can help, show or encourage someone to do something but we can't make him do what he is unwilling or unable to do




Life is just a bowl of cherries
Life is full of happiness and pleasure
Like a bull in a china shop
A clumsy or tactless person
Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening.
The longest day must have an end
All difficult jobs or situations also have an end.
Losers weepers, finders keepers
If someone loses something, he weeps -- but if someone finds it, he keeps it.
Love me, love my dog
If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all.
Many hands make light work
Many people sharing a job or tasks make easier work of it.
The mountain labors and brings forth a mouse
To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless.
Opportunity only knocks once
Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never happen again.
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
It is even better to be cautious and prevent a misfortune or an accident from happening.
Possession is nine points of the law
In disputes over property ownership, the person in possession of something is sometimes said to have nine-tenths a chance of winning it in a legal argument
Promises are like pie crust
Most promises cannot be kept
Put a quart into a pint pot

Doing something that's impossible



The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike

No matter how good or bad a person, he must still face the everyday problems that confront us all.



The sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children

People will be punished for the wrongs committed by their parents, forefathers, or those who have preceded them.



Someone's bark is worse than his bite

People sometimes bark but in time we learn they're not always as frightening as they seem.



The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

To do something unworthy just because it gives you the pleasure



A stitch in time saves nine

By taking immediate action we can prevent a fault, damage or trouble from getting worse



A straw will show which way the wind blows

A small incident can reveal an important event



Teach an old dog new tricks

It is impossible to change someone's ways or habits, especially if he is old and resists change



That's where the shoe pinches

That's the source or cause of a problem or an annoyance



There are none so blind as those that will not see

People ,who never admit they might be wrong, refuse to listen to the opinions or ideas of anyone



There are none so deaf as those who will not hear

People sometimes hear only what they want to hear



There's more than one way to skin a cat

There is more than one way of getting a job done



The thin end of the wedge

That something can appear to be small and of no particular importance - yet it can turn out to be the beginning of a major problem.



A thing of beauty is a joy forever

It means that though something beautiful may not last, the happy memory of it will live forever.



Time heals old wounds

The passing of time helps us to forget things that have caused us pain or made us unhappy.



The truth will out

Truth about something will eventually be discovered or made known



Turn up like a bad penny

Something or someone disliked just won't go away



Two wrongs do not make a right

If a person does something to harm or offend us, that's wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's wrong too.



Uneasy is the head that wears the crown

Notable or important people are often concerned about losing their positions.



Waste not, want not

If we're careful and waste nothing we'll never go without things we need.



The way to a man's heart is through his stomach

Most men love to eat so feed your husband well and he will always love you.



Wear out one's welcome

One is no longer welcome, usually because he has become a nuisance



When poverty comes in the door, love flies out the window

As soon as a happily married couple begin having financial problems and the bills pile up their love will disappear.



Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl

If we associate with bad companions we, too, will become bad



You pays your money and you takes your chances

A humorous way of saying that we sometimes must trust in luck when buying something.



Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them

If you are rich and successful, you will attract many friends, but if you should suffer hardship or have misfortune ( adversity ), your friends will quickly depart.



A constant guest is never welcome
We are apt to grow to dislike friends who visit us too often
Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance
We should not waste time on trivial aspects of a matter and neglect the essential matter itself.
If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch
Those without knowledge should not try to teach the ignorant.
Kindle not a fire you cannot put out
Do not start something you cannot control or resolve
Do unto others as you would others do unto you
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Foolish people tend to act too hastily and do things that wise people would avoid.
A contented mind is a perpetual feast
Contentment of mind is the cause of lasting happiness.



History tends to repeat itself

What has happened once is liable to happen again.



Cross the stream where it is shallowest

Don't make things difficult for yourself; always find the simplest means of achieving your objective.



It is useless to flog a dead horse

It is no use spending your time and energy on an activity or belief that is already widely rejected or outdated.



Every oak must be an acorn

Everything has to have a small beginning.
A good name is sooner lost than won
It takes a long time to build up a good reputation which can be easily destroyed by misconduct.
Do not cross a bridge till you come to it

Do not worry about something before it has happened



The best fish swim near the bottom

The best things are hard to come by



You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

You cannot change a person's real character



It never rains but it pours

Events, especially misfortunes, always come together and not one at a time.



A house divided against itself cannot stand

Discord breaks up families.



The darkest hour is that before dawn

Even when things seem at their very worst, they may shortly improve.



Variety is the spice of life

Life becomes very monotonous without some break or change in the daily routine.



Do not have too many irons in the fire

If we attempt to do too much at once, we shall not do anything properly



A light purse makes a heavy heart

We cannot be cheerful when we have financial problems.



The pen is mightier than the sword

The written word is more to be feared than physical violence



A nod is as good as a wink

A hint or suggestion can be accepted and acted upon without further elaboration.



Do not ride the high horse

Do not be arrogant



Even Homer sometimes nods

Even the best of us are liable to make mistakes.



There is no place like home

Even a simple home is the best place in the world for the people who live in it.



A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet

It is not what a thing is called that matters, but what it is.



Every flow must have its ebb

Life has its ups and downs, neither good fortune nor ill fortune lasts forever.



A cat may look at a king

Anyone has the right to look at or speak to anyone else without having to worry about status, position, upbringing etc.



A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

The success of a group or team depends on the full commitment of every member



A closed mouth catches no flies

It is better not to say anything than to say something that might get you into trouble



A drowning man will clutch at a straw

A desperate person will do anything to save himself



A friend to all is a friend to none

A person who makes himself close to everyone probably cannot be trusted by any one



A good beginning makes a good ending

Something that starts off right will probably succeed all the way and end on the right note



A good name is better than riches

A good reputation is precious, difficult to earn and cannot be bought



A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Knowing only a little about something can cause you to distort the truth or overestimate, misunderstand something



A loaded wagon makes no noise
People who are very rich do not feel the need to speak about their wealthy as they do not feel threatened in any way
A man is known by the company he keeps
You can tell about a person by observing who he spends time with

A man is ruled by his passions
Your character, personality, attitude etc can be overtaken by your emotions if they are strong enough

A man's home is his castle
You feel most secure, free and in control in your own home

A pot of milk is ruined by a drop of poison
Something bad no matter how small can ruin all your plans, successes etc.

A small leak will sink a great ship
Small problems are worth the time to fix as they can eventually cause great damage

A wise man changes his mind sometimes, a fool never
It is wise to reconsider your plans, ideas, actions in the light of new information rather than to blindly stick to an earlier decision



A word spoken is past recalling

What has been said cannot be taken back, so think before you speak



A word to the wise is enough

You need not be long-winded when speaking to intelligent people or those who understand you well



Advice most needed is least heeded

People tend to ignore or overlook the help or advice they nee the most



After a storm, comes a calm

Every problem eventually comes to an end, so cheer up

All for one and one for all
People who are committed to working together for a positive outcome

All good things come to an end

Every event, no matter how enjoyable, must end at some point



All the world loves a lover

Everyone loves to see people in love



All things come to him who waits

You will get what you want if you are willing to wait for it patiently



All's fair in love and war

Where powerful emotions are concerned, there can be no firm rules of behavior



All's well that ends well

A happy ending to a difficult situation can help you forget or disregard the earlier trouble



An army marches on its stomach

You need to eat for energy to complete your tasks



An empty bag will not stand upright

Quality comes with effort



Appearances are deceptive

What looks good may not really be so



April showers bring May flowers

Unpleasant events can sometimes lead to better things



As soon as a man is born, he begins to die

Death is the destiny of every man



Ask no questions and hear no lies

Do not force a person into telling you a lie by forcing him to talk about something he does not want to talk about



Avoid evil and it will avoid thee

Stay out of trouble, and trouble will not follow you



Bad news travels fast

People seem to hear bad news very fast



Bad is never good until worse happens

A bad situation you have been complaining about will suddenly seem a blessing when something worse happens



Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it

What you wish for may not really be what is good for you



Beauty is only skin-deep

Looks are not the most important thing about a person



Behind every successful man is a woman

A man's strongest and most loyal supporters are usually his mother and/or his wife



Better a mouse in the pot than no meat at all

To have something, no matter how little or poor in quality, is better than to have nothing at all



Do as I saw, and not as I do

Do something as you have seen it done although it may be different from your own way of doing it



Doctors make the worst patients

It is difficult advising people on matters they are supposed to be experts on because they believe they know better



Don't go near the water until you learn how to swim

Do not try to do something before you have learnt how to do it or before you are ready for it



Don't mend what isn't broken

Do not change things that are working fine as they are



Don't shut the barn door after the horse is gone

prepare for emergencies and eventualities before they happen



Don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs

Do not be presumptuous and teach an experienced person how things should be done


Better be safe than sorry
It is wise to take precautions rather than be upset that you did not prepare for an eventuality after something has happened
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know
the problems you are facing at present may not be as bad as those in the place you are planning to move to

Better to be alone than in bad company
It is better to be by yourself than to be with people who are a bad influence

Better to die with honor than live with shame
It is more honorable to do the right thing even if you will be punished or have to die for it than to live as a coward or a liar

Bitter pills may have blessed effects
Something may be unpleasant or painful, but it can help you in the long run

Books and friends should be few but good
You do not need to have too many friends or read too many books in order to live a balanced, fulfilled and complete life as long as the friends and books you do have are full of substance

Boys will be boys
Often applied to men who act childishly



Brain is better than brawn

Intelligence is more valuable than physical strength



Bread always falls buttered-side down

Of two possibilities, it often seems that the more negative one will occur



Brevity is the soul of wit

When you want to sound clever, it is better to be brief rather than long-winded



Business before pleasure

It is better to finish your work before you have a good time

By timely mending save much spending
Fix a problem as soon as you discover it to save money, expense, worry, etc having to deal with it later when it has become a bigger problem

Chance favors the prepared mind

You should always be prepared to act so that when opportunities present themselves, you are ready to seize them



Cheapest is dearest

Some items may save you money because they are cheap, but their quality may be poor, and this may cost you a lot of money in repairs and getting replacements later



Clothes make the man

The way you dress tells people something about you, and can influence their opinion of you



Comparisons are odious

It is bad to compare people to one another



Confessed faults are half-mended

When you own up to a fault, mistake or wrongdoing, you are halfway to changing into a better person



Courtesy costs nothing

Politeness should be a way of life for everyone



Cowards die many deaths

A coward is afraid of everything, and therefore, faces every problem or challenge with great fear



Crime does not pay

However much you may earn or make as a criminal, a life of crime does not pay because the law will catch up with you eventually



Curses are like chickens, they come home to roost

Curses you place on others may find their fulfilment in you, so it is best not to curse anyone



Danger and delight grow on the same stalk

Some pleasures will lead you to danger



Death is the great leveler

Death, which comes to everyone without discrimination, makes everyone equal



Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves

Taking action is far better than just talking about problems or negative situations



Desperate times call for desperate measures

Sometimes, a situation is so urgent or unexpected that you have to resort to doing things you normally would not



Different strokes for different talks

You need different plans or strategies in managing different people as people are different in personality and temperament



Diligence is the mother of good fortune

Working hard will bring you riches and success



Distance lends enchantment to the view

When you are free of a problem or far away from troublesome people, you begin to feel that things were not so bad after all



Divide and rule

A method of ruling or managing people where you separate them into different groups to make sure they do not join forces against you



East or West, home is best

You feel safest, most comfortable and most at peace in your own home



Even a broken/stopped clock is right twice a day

No one is ever wrong all the time



Even a dog can distinguish between being stumbled over and being kicked

Do not let people bully you, but be alert to when you are being taken advantage of



Every ass loves to hear himself bray

Conceited people love to boast about their achievements



Every bird loves to listen to himself sing

People who know they are good at something tend to boast about their ability



Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard

Every family has their secrets



Every man has his faults

No one is perfect





Every man has his price
If you offer someone enough money, he will be willing to do anything for you

Every man is his own worst enemy
A lot of people tend to hurt their own chance at success because of negative-mindedness, fear, ignorance, unresolved issues

Every man must carry his own cross
Everyone has to carry his burden or responsibilities in life

Every picture tells a story
Every situation has an explanation

Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die
Everyone wants to enjoy success, but few are willing to work hard or take the risks involved in achieving it

Example is better than precept
It is better to show by example than to advise, order or tell people to be upright

Experience is the mother of wisdom
You become wiser as you gain more experience in life



Facts are stubborn things

You cannot change the facts of a case



Failure teaches success

People can learn from their failures and mistakes



Faith will move mountains

Miracles will happen when you believe that they will



Familiarity breeds contempt

People tend to lose respect for people they are close to or in close company with all the time

Fear is stronger than love
Fear is often a stronger emotion or motivation than even love

Fear of death is worse than death itself

Fear is often a crippling emotion because it is so powerful



Fine feathers make fine birds

You can pretend to be rich, famous etc. by dressing the part



Fine words butter no parsnips

Just talking about something is not going to get the job done



First deserve, then desire

Before you begin to hope about possessing something, make sure you are qualified for it



First things first

Do the more urgent and important things first



First think, and then speak

Think about what you are going to say before you speak



Flattery brings friends, truth enemies

People like to hear good things said about them although they may not be the truth



Fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me

You should be alert to people trying to get the better of you



Fretting cares make grey hairs

Worrying is a negative activity that can age you prematurely



Garbage in, garbage out

If the information or input you provide is wrong, the end result will also be below par or flawed



Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime

It is better to teach people how to be independent by teaching them how to do things for themselves than to do everything for them



Give and take is fair play

You should be willing to give in partly to others if you want them to give in partly to you



Give credit where credit is due

Appreciate someone for the good work he ahs done



Give him an inch and he'll want a yard

Some people always take advantage of favor that is shown them



Good fences make good neighbors

Respect people's privacy and their territory



Good wine needs no bush

Products of good quality do not need a lot of advertising, as their quality alone shows their worth



Goodness is better than beauty

Inner beauty is more valuable than outer beauty



Grasp all, lose all

If you are too greedy and try to grab everything you see, you might lose that and everything you have too



Green leaves and brown leaves fall from the same tree

Everyone has a common beginning, and therefore, no one is above another



Happy wife, happy life

If you have a happy or good life partner, you will be happy and contented



Hard words break no bones

Ignore insults as they cannot physically harm you, and will only harm you emotionally if you let them



Haste makes waste

Things that are done in a hurry are usually done sloppily, and may contain careless mistakes



He is rich who owes nothing

A person who owes no one a debt is free of worry, and therefore, rich, in a sense



He is the best general who makes the fewest mistakes

A good leader rarely makes mistakes



He knows most who speaks last
The one who waits to listen to what others have to say before speaking has a better understanding of a situation

He that goes a-borrowing, goes a -sorrowing
Do not make borrowing a habit as you will suffer for it in the end

He that is master of himself, will soon be master of masters
Self-discipline will help you achieve greatness

He that knows nothing, doubts nothing
An ignorant person usually raises no questions because he is not aware that problems exist

He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses
If you do evil, do not expect good to come to you

He who dares, wins
You can only win or succeed if you are willing to take risks

He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail
lack of preparation will cause you to lose or fail



He who hesitates is lost

You will lose opportunities if you are indecisive and not fast enough to grab them



He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know

It is an ironic situation when someone who should speak up does not while the person who should not, does



He who likes borrowing dislikes paying

People who tend to borrow often are usually slow in settling debts



He who lives too fast, goes to his grave too soon

If you do not allow yourself to rest once in a while when you lead a fast-paced life, you will suffer from stress, burnt out and illness

He who sleeps forgets his hunger
sleeping is a good way to forget you are hungry, especially when there is no food for you and you have no money to buy any

He who serves two masters must lie to one

You cannot effectively or fully serve two people as your attention, loyalty, commitment etc. will be split between the two



He who stands for nothing will fall for everything

A person with no principles or opinions of his own will tend to go along with anything anyone tells him, and can, therefore, be easily cheated



He who sups with the devil has need of a long spoon

If you keep company with or work for dangerous or evil people, you will need to be very careful



He who will steal an egg will steal an ox

A person who steals small things is likely to steal big things too



Health is better than wealth

It is better to be healthy than rich, as without a healthy body you can do nothing, and cannot enjoy your wealth



History repeats itself

People tend to repeat mistakes made by others over the generations, not learning from them



Honey catches more flies than vinegar

Use the right incentives to motivate people to do something



Hope for the best, expect the worst

Never lose hope, but be prepared with an alternative if things do not go as planned



Hope is life

To live is to always be hopeful



Hope is the last thing that we lose

People are by nature hopeful, and must always be so because when we lose hope, we lose the will to live



Hope springs eternal

Hope is something that never dies, and people should never lose hope



Hunger is the best spice

When you are really hungry, everything tastes good, and you eat up everything placed in front of you



If at first you don't succeed, try, try again

Never stop trying to succeed at something



If the shoe fits, wear it

If something said about you is true, you should accept it.



If wishes were horses, beggars would ride

It is easy to wish for things, but wishes do not often come true



If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly

Cheap goods are usually not the best in terms of quality



If you buy quality, you only cry once

Items of good quality may be expensive, but they will last you a long time



If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen

If you cannot handle something, give it up



If you don't buy a ticket, you can't win the raffle

If you do not take the risk, you cannot expect success



If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all

Avoid being negative



If you keep your mouth shut, you won't put your foot in it

Keep quiet, and you will say nothing wrong



If you want a thing done right, do it yourself

Do not rely on others to complete your work for you



If you were born to be shot, you'll never be hanged

You cannot escape your fate



If you're in a hole, stop digging

Do not create more trouble for yourself when you are already facing some








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