Produced by Delphine Lettau, Lisa Reigel, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber's Notes: Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been
left as in the original. Words in italics in the original are surrounded
by _underscores_. Ellipses match the original.
A few typographical errors have been corrected. A complete list follows
the text.
A
DICTIONARY
OF
ENGLISH PROVERBS
THE FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS SERIES OF BOOKS.
Price 1s. cloth; 1s. 6d. half-bound in leather, red edges.
1. FAMILIAR LATIN QUOTATIONS & PROVERBS.
2. FAMILIAR FRENCH QUOTATIONS & PROVERBS.
3. FAMILIAR ENGLISH QUOTATIONS.
4. A HANDY CLASSICAL DICTIONARY.
5. BIBLE TRUTHS WITH SHAKESPEARIAN PARALLELS. By J. B.
Selkirk.
6. A HANDY BOOK OF SYNONYMS, CONTAINING ABOUT 33,000 ENGLISH
WORDS.
7. THE SECRETARY'S ASSISTANT AND CORRESPONDENT'S GUIDE.
Nineteenth Edition.
8. TOURIST'S FRENCH PRONOUNCING HANDBOOK.
9. REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE. By the Rev. James
Copland, M.A.
10. TALES FROM SHAKSPEARE. By Charles Lamb.
11. A DICTIONARY OF DAILY BLUNDERS CORRECTING THEM.
12. RASSELAS. By Dr. Johnson.
13. ELIZABETH, OR THE EXILES OF SIBERIA.
14. REJECTED ADDRESSES.
15. A DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH PROVERBS.
16. PLUTARCH'S LIVES OF ILLUSTRIOUS MEN.
17. DE QUINCEY'S OPIUM-EATER.
18. THE STORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. By the Rev. A. Carter,
M.A.
19. A DICTIONARY OF MYTHOLOGY.
20. MOORE'S IRISH MELODIES.
21. MOORE'S LALLA ROOKH.
TRIPLICATE VOLUMES.
Coloured edges, 3s. each.
1. HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS & READERS (_English_).
2. REFERENCE HANDBOOK OF QUOTATIONS, _English, French and
Latin_.
3. LAMB'S TALES FROM SHAKSPEARE, RASSELAS, & ELIZABETH.
4. REFERENCE HANDBOOK FOR BIBLE & GENERAL READERS.
5. HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS & READERS (_Classical_); CLASSICAL
DICTIONARY, PLUTARCH, AND MYTHOLOGY.
A
DICTIONARY
OF
English Proverbs
AND
Proverbial Phrases
WITH
A COPIOUS INDEX OF PRINCIPAL WORDS
_SELECTED AND ARRANGED_
BY THE AUTHOR OF
'A DICTIONARY OF DAILY BLUNDERS,'
'A HANDY BOOK OF SYNONYMS,'
ETC. ETC.
LONDON: WHITTAKER & CO.
"The genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered by
their proverbs."--LORD BACON.
PREFACE.
Long before writing and books were in common use, proverbs were the
principal means of imparting instruction. In modern times there is not
so much need to apply these old sayings as a means of educating the
people, but they are still constantly met with in the newspapers and in
general literature, and they are rightly considered as "The texts of
common life."
The late Earl Russell very aptly described a proverb as "The wisdom of
many and the wit of one." We value proverbs chiefly as moral maxims
teaching some practical lesson set forth in concise, pithy sentences,
which are fixed in the memory without effort, and retained without being
burdensome. They have been found useful for guidance in almost every
condition of life; but, on the other hand, it is quite true that many
dangerous precepts have been propounded in proverbs, and some of the
older ones gave such questionable advice, or were couched in such
objectionable language, that they have been very properly omitted from
every collection intended, as this is, for general use. Other old
proverbs have become obsolete, and as their meaning is now obscure, they
have not been included in the Dictionary.
This series of "Handy Books" would hardly be complete without a
collection of English Proverbs. Many books on the subject have been
written, but it is hoped that this collection will, in some respects, be
found to be an improvement on all its predecessors. Like _The Dictionary
of Daily Blunders_, this _Dictionary of English Proverbs_ has been
framed so as to enable the reader to find what he wants without
difficulty. The Dictionary itself is arranged according to the principal
words, and there is also a Copious Index of additional principal words.
Other modern collections profess to give an "Alphabetical Index," but
such an index is of little use when we find that it is framed on the
rule that because a proverb begins with the article _A_, it should
therefore be indexed under that letter. As, "A bald head is soon
shaven." In another similar Index we find the proverb, "'Tis the second
blow makes the fray," inserted under the letter _T_. In one index of
this kind there are no less than twenty-two pages of _A's_ and almost
as many of _The's_. Indeed the whole index is compiled without the
slightest regard to the subject of the proverbs. On this subject
Disraeli, in his essay on the "Philosophy of Proverbs," says "The
arrangement of proverbs has baffled the ingenuity of every one of their
collectors. Ray, after long premeditation, has chosen a system with the
appearance of an alphabetical order, but it turns out that his system is
no system, and his alphabet is no alphabet. After ten years' labour the
good man could only arrange his proverbs by commonplaces." In this
little Dictionary, as we have already stated, the proverbs are arranged
in alphabetical order, according to the leading words, and are
consecutively numbered. But, in order to avoid repetition (as most of
the proverbs contain, at least, two leading words), the _subject words_
are used for the Dictionary, and the other principal words will be found
in the Index, with a numerical reference to the proverb. The great
advantage of this arrangement is, that if only one important word of a
proverb be remembered, that word can be turned to in the Dictionary,
and, if not found there, will certainly be in the Index. Nearly two
thousand of the leading words are thus indexed--enough to make it almost
impossible to miss finding what is wanted. This plan has also the
effect of bringing together the proverbs on kindred subjects, which is
often a matter of importance to writers, and is, moreover, most amusing
to those who only read the book to while away a leisure hour. Ready
reference is further facilitated in the Index by the addition of
associated words. If one word only had been given, the reader might have
had to refer to eleven proverbs before he found the one he required; as,
for example, in the case of _Dog_.
It may be convenient to state that the Dictionary has been compiled
principally from Ray's collection, first published in 1670. The
remainder of the proverbs have been collected from ancient and modern
literature; but some few of them will not be found in any other
published collection.
It only remains to remind the reader that this is a collection of
ENGLISH Proverbs only; and we may appropriately conclude our Preface
with a further extract from Disraeli's essay, wherein he very justly
remarks that "The experience of life will throw a perpetual freshness
over these short and simple texts; every day may furnish a new
commentary; and we may grow old and still find novelty in proverbs by
their perpetual application."
_A Dictionary of English Proverbs._
A
1. ABSENCE. Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones.
2. ABSENT. The absent are always at fault.
3. ABSENT. Long absent, soon forgotten.
4. ACHING TEETH. Who hath aching teeth, hath ill tenants.
5. ADVERSITY. Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.
6. ADVERSITY. Adversity tries friends.
7. ADVERSITY. Adversity flattereth no man.
8. ADVICE. Give neither advice nor salt until you are asked for it.
9. ADVICE. What every one asks, what every one gives, but what very few
take--advice.
10. ADVICE. In vain he craves advice who will not follow it.
11. ADVICE. Advice comes too late when a thing is done.
12. AFRAID OF WOUNDS. He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a
battle.
13. AFRAID. More afraid than hurt.
14. AGE. Age before honesty.
15. AGE (OLD). Old age is honourable.
16. AGREE. Two of a trade seldom agree.
17. AGREE. Agree, for law is costly.
18. AGUE.
An ague in the spring,
Is physic for a king.
19. AGUES. Agues come on horseback, but go away on foot.
20. AIR. A man cannot live by the air.
21. ALCHEMY. No alchemy like saving.
22. ALE. Good ale is meat, drink, and cloth.
23. ALE.
He that buys land buys many stones,
He that buys flesh buys many bones,
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
He that buys ale buys nothing else.
24. ALE-HOUSE. Every one has a penny to spend at a new ale-house.
25. ALL'S WELL. All's well that ends well.
26. ALL THINGS.
No living man
All things can.
27. ALMOST. Almost was never hanged.
28. ALMS. Steal the goose, and give the giblets in alms.
29. ANGER. Anger is short-lived in a good man.
30. ANGER. Keep from the anger of a great man.
31. ANGRY MEN. Angry men seldom want woe.
32. ANGRY. He that is angry without a cause must be pleased without
amends.
33. ANOTHER'S BURDEN. None knows the weight of another's burden.
34. APPLES.
Apples, eggs, and nuts,
One may eat after sluts.
35. APRIL. April and May are the keys of the year.
36. APRIL.
When April blows his horn,
It's both good for hay and corn.
37. APRIL. April borrows three days of March, and they are ill.
38. APRIL SHOWERS.
March winds and April showers
Bring forth May flowers.
39. ARGUS. Argus at home, but a mole abroad.
40. ASHAMED. Never be ashamed to eat your meat.
41. ASHES. Every man must eat a peck of ashes before he dies.
42. ASK. Ask but enough, and you may lower as you list.
43. ASK. Ask thy purse what thou shouldst buy.
44. ASKING. Lose nothing for asking.
45. ASS. The ass that brays most, eats least.
46. ASS. Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king's
horses.
47. AUGUST.
August dry and warm,
Harvest doth no harm.
48. AUGUST.
If the twenty-fourth of August be fair and clear,
Then hope for a prosperous autumn that year.
49. AUGUST. A wet August never brings dearth.
50. AUTHOR. Like author, like book.
B
51. BACHELORS. Bachelors grin, but married men laugh till their hearts
ache.
52. BACHELORS' WIVES. Bachelors' wives and maids' children are always
well taught.
53. BAD. Where bad's the best, naught must be the choice.
54. BAD COMPANY. Better be alone than in bad company.
55. BAD DAY. A bad day never hath a good night.
56. BAD MARKET. He that cannot abide a bad market deserves not a good
one.
57. BAGPIPE. Bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble.
58. BAGS. He is most loved that hath most bags.
59. BAIL. Be bail and pay for it.
60. BALANCE. The balance distinguishes not between gold and lead.
61. BALD HEAD. A bald head is soon shaven.
62. BANQUET. There's no great banquet but some fare ill.
63. BARBER'S CHAIR. Like a barber's chair, fit for every buttock.
64. BARBER. One barber shaves not so close but another finds work.
65. BAREFOOTED. Barefooted men should not tread on thorns.
66. BARE FOOT. Better a bare foot than no foot at all.
67. BARGAIN. Make the best of a bad bargain.
68. BARGAIN. A bargain is a bargain.
69. BARGAIN. At a great bargain make a great pause.
70. BARK. What! keep a dog and bark myself?
71. BARKERS. The greatest barkers are not always the sorest biters.
72. BARLEY.
When the sloe-tree is as white as a sheet,
Sow your barley, whether it be dry or wet.
73. BARLEYCORN. Sir John Barleycorn is the strongest knight.
74. BARLEY STRAW. Barley straw's good fodder when the cow gives water.
75. BARREL. You cannot know wine by the barrel.
76. BATCHELOR. Commend a wedded life, but keep thyself a batchelor.
77. BEAN. Every bean has its black.
78. BEANS. Sow beans in the mud, they'll grow like wood.
79. BEANS. Beans should blow before May doth go.
80. BEAR. A man may bear till his back breaks.
81. BEAR. Bear and forbear.
82. BEAR. Bear with evil and expect good.
83. BEAT. 'Tis easy to find a staff to beat a dog.
84. BEATEN. Better to be beaten than be in bad company.
85. BEATEN.
A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree,
The more they're beaten the better they be.
86. BEAUTY. Beauty buys no beef.
87. BEAUTY. Beauty is no inheritance.
88. BEAUTY. Beauty is but skin deep.
89. BED. As you make your bed so you must lie on it.
90. BED. He who lies long in bed his estate feels it.
91. BEES.
A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay,
But a swarm of bees in July is not worth a fly.
92. BEES. Where bees are there is honey.
93. BEFORE. He that hires the horse must ride before.
94. BEGGAR. Better be a beggar than a fool.
95. BEGGAR. A beggar can never be bankrupt.
96. BEGGAR. The beggar is never out of his way.
97. BEGGARS. Beggars must not be choosers.
98. BEGGARS. Beggars on horseback will ride to the devil.
99. BEGGARY. Trash and trumpery is the highway to beggary.
100. BEGGING. Begging is an ill trade on a fast-day.
101. BEGINNING. A good beginning makes a good ending.
102. BEGINNING. Such a beginning, such an end.
103. BEGIN WELL. Good to begin well; better to end well.
104. BEGUN. Well begun is half done.
105. BEHIND. When two ride together one must ride behind.
106. BELIEVE. You would make me believe the moon is made of green
cheese.
107. BELIEVE. Believe well and have well.
108. BELL. Fear not the loss of the bell more than the loss of the
steeple.
109. BEND. Bend the twig while it is young.
110. BENT. As the twig is bent the tree's inclined.
111. BEST. The best is cheapest.
112. BEST. The best lie is the worst.
113. BEST. Make the best of a bad bargain.
114. BEST DOG. Let the best dog leap the stile first.
115. BET. Any fool can bet.
116. BETTER. The better the day, the better the deed.
117. BEWARE. Beware of "Had I wist."
118. BIDDEN. Do as you are bidden and you'll never be to blame.
119. BIRCHEN TWIGS. Birchen twigs break no ribs.
120. BIRD. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
121. BIRD. Every bird must hatch her own egg.
122. BIRD. One beats the bush and another catcheth the bird.
123. BIRDS. Birds of a feather flock together.
124. BIRD. The bird that can sing and will not sing, must be made to
sing.
125. BIRDS (SMALL). Even small birds must have meat.
126. BITE. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth.
127. BITES. He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison.
128. BIT. A bit in the morning is better than nothing all day.
129. BITTER BIRD. Thou art a bitter bird, said the raven to the
starling.
130. BLACK PLUM. A black plum is as sweet as a white.
131. BLAST.
The sharper the blast,
The shorter 'twill last.
132. BLIND. As blind as a bat.
133. BLIND. Who so blind as he that will not see?
134. BLIND MAN. A blind man would be glad to see it.
135. BLIND MAN. Like a treatise on light and colours by a blind man.
136. BLOOD. You cannot get blood out of a stone.
137. BLOT. 'Tis a blot on his escutcheon.
138. BLUSHING. Blushing is virtue's colour.
139. BLUSTERS. He who blusters without reason has most reason to
bluster.
140. BOAST. Great boast, small roast.
141. BOIL SNOW. Whether you boil snow or pound it, you will have but
water from it.
142. BONE. Give a dog a bone in his mouth, and you may kick him and he
can't bite.
143. BONE. I have a bone in my arm.
144. BONE. The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat.
145. BORN. He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.
146. BORROWED GARMENTS. Borrowed garments never fit well.
147. BOUGHT WIT. Bought wit is best.
148. BOUGHT WIT. Bought wit makes folk wise.
149. BOUND. They that are bound must obey.
150. BOW. A bow long bent at last waxeth weak.
151. BOWL. It is easy to bowl down hill.
152. BOYS. Boys will be boys.
153. BRAG. Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.
154. BRAG. Brag's a good dog, but that he hath lost his tail.
155. BRAG. Brag's a good dog if he be well set on; but he dare not bite.
156. BRAGGERS. Great braggers, little doers.
157. BRAIN. The brain that sows not corn, plants thistles.
158. BRAN. Much bran, little meal.
159. BREAD AND BUTTER.
They that have no other meat,
Bread and butter are glad to eat.
160. BREAKFAST. He who would have a hare for breakfast must hunt over
night.
161. BREAKING. The best horse needs breaking, and the best child needs
teaching.
162. BRED. That which is bred in the bone will never be out of the
flesh.
163. BREVITY. Brevity is the soul of wit.
164. BREW. As you brew, so shall you bake.
165. BRIBE. A bribe will enter without knocking.
166. BRIMMER. There is no deceit in a brimmer.
167. BROKEN LEG. A broken leg is not healed by a silk stocking.
168. BURDEN. A burden which one chooses is not felt.
169. BURDEN. The back is made for the burden.
170. BURDEN. No one knows the weight of another's burden.
171. BURDENS. The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest.
172. BURNT CHILD. A burnt child dreads the fire.
173. BUSINESS. Business is the salt of life.
174. BUSINESS. Every man as his business lies.
175. BUSH. A bad bush is better than the open field.
176. BUSY. Who more busy than they that have least to do.
177. BUTCHER. Better pay the butcher than the doctor.
178. BUTTER. Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, lead at
night.
179. BUTTER. Why, butter would not melt in his mouth!
180. BUTTER. What is a pound of butter amongst a kennel of hounds?
181. BUTTER. Once a year butter is in the cow's horn.
182. BUTTERED. He knows on which side his bread is buttered.
183. BUY. Do not buy a pig in a poke.
184. BUYER. Let the buyer look out for himself.
185. BUYS.
Who buys hath need of a hundred eyes.
Who sells hath need of one.
C
186. CAKE. You cannot eat your cake and have it.
187. CALM SEA. In a calm sea every man is a pilot.
188. CALM WEATHER. Calm weather in June sets corn in tune.
189. CAN. A man can do more than he can.
190. CANDLE. Burn not your candle at both ends at once.
191. CANDLEMAS. On Candlemas day you must have half your straw and half
your hay.
192. CANDLEMAS.
If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
If on Candlemas day it be shower and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.
193. CANDLEMAS.
When Candlemas day is come and gone,
The snow lies on a hot stone.
194. CANDLEMAS DAY.
The hind had as lief see his wife on the bier,
As Candlemas day should be pleasant and clear.
195. CANDLEMAS DAY. On Candlemas day throw candle and candle-stick away.
196. CAP. If the cap fit, wear it.
197. CAPTAIN. Be captain of your own ship.
198. CARCASE. Where the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
together.
199. CARDS. Many can pack the cards that cannot play.
200. CARE. Care's no cure.
201. CARE. Care will kill a cat.
202. CARE. Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of
themselves.
203. CARE NOT. "Care not," would have.
204. CARRY. Don't run away with more than you can carry.
205. CARRYING COALS. Like carrying coals to Newcastle.
206. CASTLES. Tis easy to build castles in the air.
207. CASH. Rolling in cash he can't use, like a cat in a corn-bin.
208. CASTLE. An Englishman's house is his castle.
209. CAT.
When the cat's away,
The mice will play.
210. CAT. A cat may look at a king.
211. CAT. The cat is hungry when a crust contents her.
212. CAT. The cat sees not the mouse ever.
213. CATS. I'll keep no more cats than will catch mice.
214. CAT. A cat has nine lives, yet care will kill a cat.
215. CAT. When the cat winketh, little wots the mouse what the cat
thinketh.
216. CAT. Though the cat winks awhile, yet sure she is not blind.
217. CAT. A cat loves fish, but she's loth to wet her feet.
218. CATCH. Catch that catch may.
219. CAUSE. It's a bad cause that none dare speak in.
220. CAUTION. Those are wise who learn caution from their own
experience; but those are wiser who learn it from the experience of
others.
221. CERTAIN. There is nothing certain in this life but death and taxes!
222. CERTAINTY. Never quit certainty for hope.
223. CHAFF. I'm too old a bird to be caught by chaff.
224. CHALK. As like as chalk and cheese.
225. CHAMBER. The chamber of sickness is the chapel of devotion.
226. CHANCE. Look to the main chance.
227. CHANCE.
He that leaves certainty and sticks to chance,
When fools pipe he may dance.
228. CHANCETH. It chanceth in an hour that comes not in seven years.
229. CHANGE. Change of pasture makes fat calves.
230. CHARITABLE. The charitable give out at the door, and God puts in at
the window.
231. CHARITY. Charity begins at home.
232. CHASTISETH. He that chastiseth one, amendeth many.
233. CHEESE.
Cheese it is a peevish elf,
It digests all things but itself.
234. CHEESE. After cheese comes nothing.
235. CHEESE.
If you would have a good cheese, and have'n old,
You must turn'n seven times before he is cold.
236. CHERRY. A cherry year, a merry year.
237. CHICKENS. Count not your chickens before they are hatched.
238. CHIDING. Woe to the house where there is no chiding.
239. CHILD. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old
he will not depart from it.
240. CHILD. A child may have too much of his mother's blessing.
241. CHILD'S PIG. Child's pig, but father's bacon.
242. CHILDREN. Children and fools speak the truth.
243. CHILDREN. Children and fools have merry lives.
244. CHILDREN. Children and chickens must be always picking.
245. CHILDREN. Children are poor men's riches.
246. CHILDREN. Children should hear, see, and say nothing.
247. CHILDREN. When children stand quiet they have done some harm.
248. CHILDREN. Children are certain cares, but very uncertain comforts.
249. CHILDREN. Children suck the mother when they are young, and the
father when they are old.
250. CHINK. So we have the chink, we'll bear the stink.
251. CHIP. A chip of the old block.
252. CHRISTMAS. Christmas comes but once a year.
253. CHRISTMAS. Green Christmas, white Easter.
254. CHRISTMAS. They talk of Christmas so long that it comes.
255. CHRISTMAS DAY.
If Christmas Day on a Monday be,
A great winter that year you will see.
256. CHURCH. Where God hath His church the devil will have his chapel.
257. CHURCH. The nearer the church the farther from God.
258. CHURCHES. Pater-noster built churches, and Our Father pulls them
down.
259. CIVIL WORDS. Civil words cost nothing, and go a long way.
260. CLAW. Claw me, and I will claw you.
261. CLEAR. As clear as mud.
262. CLERK. 'Tis the clerk makes the justice.
263. CLIMB. Climb not too high, lest the fall be the greater.
264. CLIMBED. Who never climbed, never fell.
265. CLIMBERS. Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
266. CLOAK. Have not the cloak to make when it begins to rain.
267. CLOAK. Though the sun shines, leave not your cloak at home.
268. CLOCK. The clock goes as it pleases the clerk.
269. CLOSE MOUTH. A close mouth catcheth no flies.
270. CLOTHES. It is good keeping his clothes who is going to swim.
271. CLOUD. Every cloud hath a silver lining.
272. CLOUDS. Clouds that the sun builds up darken him.
273. CLOUDS.
When the clouds are on the hills,
They'll come down by the mills.
274. CLOUDS. After clouds comes clear weather.
275. CLOUDY. Cloudy mornings turn to clear evenings.
276. CLOVER. He is in clover.
277. CLOWN. Even a clown clings to his cloak when it rains.
278. COAT. Cut your coat according to your cloth.
279. COAT. It's not the gay coat that makes the gentleman.
280. COBBLE.
They that can cobble and clout,
Shall have work when others go without.
281. COBBLER. Let not the cobbler go beyond his last.
282. COBBLER'S WIFE. Who goes worse shod than the cobbler's wife?
283. COCK.
If the cock moult before the hen,
We shall have weather thick and thin;
But if the hen moult before the cock,
We shall have weather hard as a block.
284. COCK. The cock crows and the hen goes.
285. COCK. Every cock is proud on his own dunghill.
286. COIN. Where coin's not common, commons must be scant.
287. COIN. Much coin much care.
288. COLD APRIL. A cold April a barn will fill.
289. COLD MAY.
A cold May and a windy
Makes a full barn and a findy.
290. COLDEST FLINT. In the coldest flint there is hot fire.
291. COLOURS. It's an ill battle where the devil carries the colours.
292. COLT. When you ride a young colt see your saddle be well girt.
293. COMPANY. Two's company and three's none.
294. COMPANY. Tell me what company you keep, and I will tell you who you
are.
295. COMPANY. It's good to have company in trouble.
296. COMPANY.
Company in distress,
Makes trouble less.
297. COMPANION. A merry companion on the road is as good as a nag.
298. COMPANION. There's no companion like a penny.
299. COMPARISONS. Comparisons are odious.
300. COMPLAIN. They complain wrongfully of the sea, who twice suffer
shipwreck.
301. COMPLEXION. Cold of complexion, good of condition.
302. CONCEALS. A woman conceals what she knows not.
303. CONFESSION. A generous confession disarms slander.
304. CONFESSION. Confession of a fault makes half amends for it.
305. CONFESSION. Open confession is good for the soul.
306. CONQUEST. It is no small conquest to overcome yourself.
307. CONSCIENCE. A clear conscience is a sure card.
308. CONSTANT DROPPING. Constant dropping wears the stone.
309. CONSUMED. When all is consumed repentance comes too late.
310. CONTENT. Content is the true philosopher's stone.
311. CONTENTED. A contented mind is a continual feast.
312. CONTENTED. He that hath nothing is not contented.
313. CONTENTED. He may well be contented who needs neither borrow nor
flatter.
314. CONTENTED. People are sometimes better contented full than fasting.
315. CONTENTMENT. The greatest wealth is contentment with a little.
316. CORN.
Look at your corn in May,
You'll come weeping away;
Look at the same in June
You'll come home in another tune.
317. CORN. Corn is cleansed with the wind, and the soul with chastening.
318. COTTAGE. I'll not change a cottage in possession for a kingdom in
reversion.
319. COUNSEL. Counsel is never out of date.
320. COUNSELS. Counsels in wine seldom prosper.
321. COUNSEL. In wiving and thriving men should take counsel of all the
world.
322. COUNSEL. Three may keep counsel, if two be away.
323. COUNSELLED. He that will not be counselled cannot be helped.
324. COUNT. Count not your chickens before they be hatched.
325. COUNTRY. In every country the sun riseth in the morning.
326. COUNTRY. You must go into the country to hear what news at London.
327. COUPLE. Every couple is not a pair.
328. COURT. A friend at court is better than a penny in the purse.
329. COURT. Far from court, far from care.
330. COURTS. Courts have no almanacks.
331. COURTESY. Less of your courtesy, and more of your purse.
332. COURTESY. Courtesy on one side never lasts long.
333. COURTSHIP. Men dream in courtship but in wedlock wake.
334. COUSIN. Call me cousin; but cozen me not.
335. COVERLET. Stretch your legs according to your coverlet.
336. COVERS. He covers me with his wings, and bites me with his bill.
337. COVET. Covet nothing over much.
338. COVETOUSNESS. Covetousness brings nothing home.
339. COW. Many a good cow hath had a bad calf.
340. COW. Look to the cow, and the sow, and the wheat mow, and all will
be well enow.
341. COWARDS. Cowards are always cruel.
342. COWARDICE. Cowardice is afraid to be known or seen.
343. CRABS. The greatest crabs are not always the best meat.
344. CRACK. He must crack the nut that would eat the kernel.
345. CRAFT. Craft bringeth nothing home.
346. CRAFTS. Of all crafts, to be an honest man is the master-craft.
347. CRAFTY. Crafty evasions save not the truth.
348. CRAZY SHIP. To a crazy ship all winds are contrary.
349. CREAKING GATE. A creaking gate hangs longest on its hinges.
350. CREAKS. The worst wheel of a cart creaks most.
351. CREDIT. Credit lost is a Venice glass broken.
352. CREDITORS. Creditors have better memories than debtors.
353. CREEP. First creep and then go.
354. CRITICS. Critics are like brushers of other men's clothes.
355. CROOKED. A crooked tree will have a crooked shadow.
356. CROOKED. Crooked logs make straight fires.
357. CROSS. No cross, no crown.
358. CROSS. Every cross has its inscription.
359. CROSSES. Crosses are ladders for getting to heaven.
360. CROSSES. Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven.
361. CROW. The crow thinks her own bird fairest.
362. CROW. A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.
363. CROWS. It never goes well when the hen crows.
364. CRUELTY. Cruelty is a tyrant always attended by fear.
365. CRUELTY. Cruelty is a devil's delight.
366. CRUMBS. Where are the crumbs there are the chickens.
367. CRY. Don't cry out before you're hurt.
368. CRY. Great cry and little wool.
369. CUCKOO.
When the cuckoo comes to the bare thorn,
Sell your cow and buy your corn,
But when she comes to a full bit,
Sell your corn, and buy your sheep.
370. CURED. What cannot be cured must be endured.
371. CURSES. Curses are like chickens, they come home to roost.
372. CUSTOM. Custom is second nature.
373. CUSTOM. Once a use and ever a custom.
374. CUSTOM. Custom makes anything easy.
375. CUSTOM (BAD). A bad custom is like a good cake, better broken than
kept.
376. CUT. Cut and come again.
377. CUT. No cut like unkindness.
378. CUT. I had not cut my wise teeth.
379. CUTS. Desperate cuts must have desperate cures.
D
380. DANCE. No longer pipe, no longer dance.
381. DANCES. He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
382. DANCING. They love dancing well that dance among thorns.
383. DANGER. The danger's past, and God's forgotten.
384. DAINTY DOGS. Dainty dogs may have to eat dirty puddings.
385. DARK. It is as good to be in the dark as without light.
386. DARK MAN. A dark man's a jewel in a fair woman's eye.
387. DARK. He that gropes in the dark finds that he would not.
388. DAUGHTER.
My son is my son till he marries a wife,
But my daughter's my daughter all the days of her life.
389. DAUGHTER.
He that would the daughter win,
Must with the mother first begin.
390. DAYLIGHT. Daylight will peep through a small hole.
391. DEAD. As dead as a door-nail.
392. DEAD MAN'S SHOES. He that waits for a dead man's shoes may go long
enough barefoot.
393. DEAF. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.
394. DEAF MAN. Tell that tale to a deaf man.
395. DEARTH. It's a wicked thing to make a dearth one's garner.
396. DEATH. Death keeps no calendar.
397. DEATH. Death is deaf and hears no denial.
398. DEATH. Nothing is surer than death.
399. DEATH. After death the doctor.
400. DEBT. Debt is the worst kind of poverty.
401. DEBT. Out of debt, out of danger.
402. DEEPEST WATER. In the deepest water is the best fishing.
403. DEEDS. Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves.
404. DEEDS. A life spent worthily should be measured by deeds--not
years.
405. DELAYS. Delays are dangerous.
406. DEPTH. Never venture out of your depth until you can swim.
407. DESERT. Desert and reward seldom keep company.
408. DESERVE. First deserve and then desire.
409. DESIRES. Desires are nourished by delays.
410. DESPISES. What one man despises, another craves.
411. DESTINY. Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
412. DEVIL. Talk of the devil and he'll be sure to appear.
413. DEVIL. He that hath shipped the devil must make the best of him.
414. DEVIL. Give the devil his due.
415. DEVIL. Make not the devil blacker than he is.
416. DEVIL. He needs must go that the devil drives.
417. DEVIL. One must sometimes hold a candle to the devil.
418. DEVIL. The devil is not always at one door.
419. DEVIL.
The Devil Was Sick, the Devil a Monk Would Be;
The Devil Grew Well, the Devil a Monk Was He.
420. DEW. St. Bartholomew brings the cold dew.
421. DIE. Never say die.
422. DIE. Young men may die, old men must.
423. DILIGENCE. Diligence is a good patrimony.
424. DILIGENCE. Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
425. DINNER. After dinner sit awhile, after supper walk a mile.
426. DINNER. He who would enjoy his friend's dinner should not look into
the kitchen.
427. DISTRESS. Two in distress make sorrows less.
428. DISCOURSE. Sweet discourse makes short days and nights.
429. DISCREET. Discreet women have neither eyes nor ears.
430. DISCRETION. An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit.
431. DISEASE. Disease is oft the tax of pleasure.
432. DISEASE. To know the disease is half the cure.
433. DISH. The first dish pleaseth all.
434. DO. Do as you would be done by.
435. DO. We must do as we may, if we cannot do as we would.
436. DOCK. In dock, out nettle.
437. DOCTOR. A doctor and a clown know more than a doctor alone.
438. DOCTOR. An old doctor, a young lawyer.
439. DOG. Every dog has his day.
440. DOG. A good dog deserves a good bone.
441. DOG. It's a bad dog that deserves not a crust.
442. DOGS BARK. Dogs bark before they bite.
443. DONE. If you wish a thing done, go; if not, send.
444. DOOMSDAY. A thousand pounds and a pottle of hay is all one thing at
doomsday.
445. DOOR. When one door shuts another opens.
446. DO WELL. Do well, and have well.
447. DOWN. He that's down, down with him.
448. DRAW. You may draw him which way you will, with a twine thread.
449. DROWNING MAN. A drowning man will catch at a straw.
450. DRINK. Drink water like an ox, wine like a king of Spain.
451. DRINK. He who drinks when he is not dry, will be dry when he has no
drink.
452. DRIVE. Drive not a second nail till the first is clenched.
453. DROPS. Many drops make a shower.
454. DROUGHT.
If the ash before the oak comes out,
There has been, or there will be drought.
455. DROWNED. Pour not water on a drowned mouse.
456. DRUNK. Ever drunk, ever dry.
457. DRUNKEN. A drunken night makes a cloudy morning.
458. DRUNKEN FOLK. Drunken folk often speak truth.
459. DRUNKENNESS. What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals.
460. DRY BREAD. Dry bread at home is better than roast beef abroad.
461. DRY COUGH. A dry cough is the trumpeter of death.
462. DRY MAY.
A dry May and a dripping June,
Does surely bring all things in tune.
E
463. EARLY.
Early to bed, and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
464. EARLY. Early sow, early mow.
465. EARLY BIRD. 'Tis the early bird catches the worm.
466. EARS. Little pitchers have long ears.
467. EARS. Walls have ears.
468. EARS. Wider ears and a shorter tongue.
469. EASE. A pennyworth of ease is worth a penny.
470. EASE. Think of ease, but work on.
471. EASILY DONE. That which is easily done is soon believed.
472. EAT. Live not to eat, but eat to live.
473. EAT. Eat a bit before you drink.
474. EAT.
Eat at pleasure,
Drink by measure.
475. EATING. Eating and drinking takes away one's appetite.
476. EDGED TOOLS. It is ill meddling with edged tools.
477. EEL. You cannot hide an eel in a sack.
478. EGGS. Don't put all your eggs into one basket.
479. EGG-SHELL. 'Tis hard to sail o'er the sea in an egg-shell.
480. ELBOW. Rub your sore eye with your elbow.
481. ELBOW GREASE. Give it plenty of elbow grease.
482. EMPTY HOUSE. Better an empty house than a bad tenant.
483. EMPTY PURSE. An empty purse fills the face with wrinkles.
484. EMPTY PURSE. That's but an empty purse that's full of other men's
money.
485. EMPTY VESSELS. Empty vessels make the greatest sound.
486. END. Everything hath an end, and a pudding hath two.
487. ENDURETH. He that endureth is not overcome.
488. ENGLAND. England is the Paradise of women.
489. ENGLISHMAN. An Englishman's house is his castle.
490. ENOUGH. Enough is as good as a feast.
491. ENOUGH. Enough and to spare is too much.
492. ENOUGH. There's never enough where nothing's left.
493. ENVIED. Better be envied than pitied.
494. ENVY. Envy never enriched any man.
495. EPITAPH. He lies like an epitaph.
496. ERR. To err is human; to forgive divine.
497. ERRAND. Send a wise man on an errand and say nothing to him.
498. ESCAPES. 'Tis a hard battle where none escapes.
499. ESTATE. He that throws away his estate with his hands, goes
afterwards to pick it upon his feet.
500. ESTEEMS. He that knows himself best, esteems himself least.
501. EVENING.
An evening red and a morning grey,
Is a sign of a fair day.
502. EVERYBODY. He had need rise betimes that would please everybody.
503. EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS. Everybody's business is nobody's business.
504. EVERY MAN. Every man for himself, and God for us all.
505. EVERY TUB. Let every tub stand on its own bottom.
506. EVIL. Evil communications corrupt good manners.
507. EVIL. If you must have an evil, choose a little one.
508. EVIL. That which is evil is soon learnt.
509. EVIL.
Evil is wrought by want of thought,
As well as want of heart.
510. EVIL NAME. The evil wound is cured, but not the evil name.
511. EVIL GOTTEN. Evil gotten, evil spent.
512. EVIL GRAIN. Of evil grain no good seed can come.
513. EVILS. Of two evils choose the lesser.
514. EXAMPLE. Example teaches more than precept.
515. EXCHANGE. Exchange is no robbery.
516. EXCUSE. A bad excuse is better than none at all.
517. EXPENSES. Proportion your expenses to what you have, not to what
you expect.
518. EXPERIENCE. Experience is a dear school, but it is the only one we
are apt to learn in.
519. EXPERIENCE. Experience is the mistress of fools.
520. EXTREMES. Extremes seldom last long.
521. EXTREMES. Extremes meet.
522. EYE. Better one eye than quite blind.
523. EYE. What the eye sees not, the heart rues not.
524. EYE. You should never touch your eye but with your elbow.
525. EYE. What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve for.
526. EYE-WITNESS. One eye-witness is better than ten hearsays.
F
527. FACE. Her face was her fortune.
528. FACT. A single fact is worth a ship-load of argument.
529. FAINT HEART. Faint heart never won a fair lady.
530. FAINT PRAISE. Faint praise is disparagement.
531. FAIR AND FOOLISH.
Fair and foolish, black and proud,
Long and lazy, little and loud.
532. FAIR AND SOFTLY. Fair and softly go far in a day.
533. FAIR FACES. Fair faces need no paint.
534. FAIR FACE. A fair face may hide a foul heart.
535. FAIR FEATHERS. Fair feathers make fair fowls.
536. FAITH. Love asks faith, and faith asks firmness.
537. FALL. One may sooner fall than rise.
538. FALL. If a man once fall, all will tread on him.
539. FALLS. When the tree falls every man runs with his hatchet.
540. FALLING. Keeping from falling is better than helping up.
541. FALSE REPORT. A false report rides post.
542. FAMILIARITY. Familiarity breeds contempt.
543. FAMINE.
After a famine in the stall,
Comes a famine in the hall.
544. FAMINE. Under water famine, under snow bread.
545. FAMINE. A famine in England begins at the horse-manger.
546. FANCY. Fancy passes beauty.
547. FANCY. Fancy goes a long way.
548. FANCY. Fancy may bolt bran and think it flour.
549. FARE WORSE. You may go farther and fare worse.
550. FASHION. As good to be out of the world as out of the fashion.
551. FAST BIND. Fast bind, fast find.
552. FAT HOG. Every one basteth the fat hog, while the lean one burneth.
553. FAULT. Every one puts his fault on the times.
554. FAULT. A fault once denied is twice committed.
555. FAULT-FINDERS. Fault-finders should be fault-menders.
556. FAULTS. Every one's faults are not written on their foreheads.
557. FAULTS. Every man hath his faults.
558. FAULTS. God send me a friend that may tell me my faults; if not, an
enemy, he will be sure to.
559. FAULTY. The faulty stands on his guard.
560. FEAST. A feast is not made of mushrooms only.
561. FEAST-MAKING. Merry is the feast-making until we come to the
reckoning.
562. FEASTS. Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.
563. FEATHERS. Fine feathers make fine birds.
564. FEATHER. Feather by feather the goose is plucked.
565. FEBRUARY. February makes a bridge, and March breaks it.
566. FEBRUARY.
February fill dike, be it black or be it white;
But if it be white, it's the better to like.
567. FEED SPARINGLY. Feed sparingly, and defy the physician.
568. FEET.
Stretch not your feet
Beyond the sheet.
569. FELLOWSHIP. Love and lordship like no fellowship.
570. FETTERS. No man loves his fetters, though of gold.
571. FEW FRIENDS. Have but few friends, though many acquaintances.
572. FEW WORDS.
Where hearts are true
Few words will do.
573. FIDDLER. The fifer don't pay a fiddler.
574. FIDDLER.
Let not the fiddler play the fife,
Nor fifer play the fiddle.
575. FIDDLER'S FARE. Fiddler's fare; meat, drink, and money.
576. FIELDS. Fields have eyes, and woods have ears.
577. FINGER. He wants to have a finger in every pie.
578. FIRST BLOW. The first blow is half the battle.
579. FIRST COME. First come, first served.
580. FIRE AND WATER. Fire and water are good servants but bad masters.
581. FIRE. Well may he smell of fire whose gown burneth.
582. FISH. He that would catch fish must not mind getting wet.
583. FISH. 'Tis good fish if it were but caught.
584. FISH. The best fish are near the bottom.
585. FISH. I have other fish to fry.
586. FISH. Make not fish of one, and flesh of another.
587. FISH. Fish are not to be caught by a birdcall.
588. FISH (GOOD). There's as good fish in the sea as were ever caught.
589. FISHES' MOUTH.
When the wind's in the south,
It blows the bait into the fishes' mouth.
590. FISHETH ON. He fisheth on that catcheth one.
591. FISHING. It's good fishing in troubled waters.
592. FITS. Every shoe fits not every foot.
593. FIVE.
He's up at five,
And he will thrive.
594. FLAX. Get thy spindle and thy distaff ready, and God will send thee
flax.
595. FLAY. No man can flay a stone.
596. FLEECETH. Where every hand fleeceth, the sheep go naked.
597. FLOOD. A May flood never did good.
598. FLOWERS. Flowers are the pledge of fruit.
599. FLOURISH. It is one thing to flourish and another to fight.
600. FLYING. No flying without wings.
601. FOLLIES. Happy is he who knows his follies in his youth.
602. FOOL. No one is a fool always; every one sometimes.
603. FOOL. A fool may ask more questions in half an hour than a wise man
can answer in seven years.
604. FOOL. A fool may give a wise man counsel.
605. FOOL. One fool makes many.
606. FOOL. Every man is either a fool or a physician after thirty years
of age.
607. FOOL (OLD). An old fool is the worst of fools.
608. FOOL. Better it is to meet a bear bereaved of her whelps, than a
fool in his folly.
609. FOOL. A fool is fulsome.
610. FOOL THINKS. As the fool thinks, so the bell chinks.
611. FOOLS. Fools set stools for wise folk to stumble at.
612. FOOL'S BOLT. A fool's bolt is soon shot.
613. FOOLS BUILD. Fools build houses, and wise men buy them.
614. FORBEARANCE. Forbearance is no acquittance.
615. FORBIDDEN FRUIT. Forbidden fruit is sweet.
616. FORCED FRUITS. Forced fruits fail in flavour.
617. FORECAST. Forecast is better than work hard.
618. FOREGO.
Forego, forget, forgive,
Then happy you shall live.
619. FOREMOST DOG. The foremost dog catches the hare.
620. FOREWARNED. Forewarned is forearmed.
621. FORGET. To forget a wrong is the best revenge.
622. FORGIVE. Forgive and forget.
623. FORGOTTEN. Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
624. FORTUNE. Fortune favours the brave.
625. FORTUNE. Every man is the architect of his fortune.
626. FORTUNE. Change of fortune is the lot of life.
627. FORTUNE. Better a fortune in her than on her.
628. FORTUNE. When fortune smiles take the advantage.
629. FORTUNE KNOCKS. Fortune knocks once at least at every man's gate.
630. FOUL HANDS. Foul hands befoul all they touch.
631. FOUR FARTHINGS. Four farthings and a thimble make a tailor's pocket
jingle.
632. FOX. The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him.
633. FOX. A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial.
634. FOX. When the fox preaches, beware of your geese.
635. FOXES. Foxes, when they cannot reach the grapes, say they are not
ripe.
636. FOX RUNS. Though the fox runs the chicken hath wings.
637. FRET.
Two things you won't fret o'er,
If you're a wise man--
The thing you can't help,
And the thing that you can.
638. FRIDAY. He that sings on Friday shall weep on Sunday.
639. FRIDAY.
As the Friday, so the Sunday,
As the Sunday, so the week.
640. FRIDAY'S SAIL. Friday's sail, sure to fail.
641. FRIEND. A friend is not so soon gotten as lost.
642. FRIEND. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
643. FRIEND. He loseth nothing who keeps God for his friend.
644. FRIEND. Make not thy friend too cheap to thee, nor thyself to thy
friend.
645. FRIENDS.
In time of prosperity friends will be plenty,
In time of adversity, not one among twenty.
646. FRIENDS. Save me from my friends.
647. FRIENDS. All are not friends that speak us fair.
648. FRIENDSHIP. Love and lordship never like friendship.
649. FROST. What God will, no frost can kill.
650. FROSTS. So many frosts in March, so many in May.
651. FRUIT.
If you would fruit have,
You must bring the leaf to the grave.
652. FRUIT. Such as the tree is, such is the fruit.
653. FRUIT. If you would enjoy the fruit, pluck not the flower.
654. FRUGALITY. Frugality makes an easy chair for old age.
655. FRUGALITY. Frugality is an estate.
656. FRYING-PAN. Out of the frying-pan into the fire.
657. FUEL. Take away fuel, take away flame.
658. FULL PURSE. A full purse makes the mouth to speak.
659. FULL PURSE. A full purse never lacketh friends.
660. FURZE.
Under the furze is hunger and cold.
Under the broom is silver and gold.
G
661. GAINS. No gains without pains.
662. GALLED HORSE. Touch a galled horse, and he will wince.
663. GAPETH.
He that gapeth until he be fed
Well may he gape until he be dead.
664. GARDEN. Many things grow in the garden that were never planted
there.
665. GARDENING.
This rule in gardening never forget,
To sow dry and set wet.
666. GARLAND. One flower makes no garland.
667. GEMS. Gems must not be valued by what they are set in.
668. GENTILITY. Gentility without ability is worse than plain beggary.
669. GENTLE STROKES. Gentle strokes make the sweetest harmony.
670. GET.
Get what you can, and what you get, hold,
'Tis the stone which will turn your lead into gold.
671. GIFT HORSE. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
672. GIFT. A gift with a kind countenance is a double gift.
673. GIVE. To give and keep there is need of wit.
674. GIVETH. He giveth twice who gives in a trice.
675. GIVING.
Giving to the poor
Increaseth your store.
676. GLADNESS. A man of gladness seldom falls into madness.
677. GLASS. What your glass tells you will not be told by counsel.
678. GLASS.
Who loves his glass without a G,
Take away L and that is he.
679. GLASS HOUSES. Those who live in glass houses should not throw
stones.
680. GLASSES. The more women look in their glasses, the less they look
to their houses.
681. GLITTERS. All that glitters is not gold.
682. GNATS. Men strain at gnats, and swallow camels!
683. GO. If you want a thing done, go; if not, send.
684. GO ABOUT. Better go about than fall into the ditch.
685. GOD. God sends meat, and the devil sends cooks.
686. GOD. One God, no more; but friends good store.
687. GODFATHERS. When the child is christened, you may have godfathers
enough.
688. GOD WILLS. When God wills, all winds bring rain.
689. GOLD. A man may buy gold too dear.
690. GOLD. Gold alone makes not prosperity.
691. GOLD. As good as gold.
692. GOLD. Gold goes in at any gate, except Heaven's.
693. GOLD.
No lock will hold
'Gainst the power of gold.
694. GOLDEN. We must not look for a golden life in an iron age.
695. GOLD DUST. Gold dust blinds all eyes.
696. GOOD. Do all the good you talk of; but talk not of all the good you
do.
697. GOOD. Good and quickly seldom meet.
698. GOOD. No man knows better what good is than he that has an endured
evil.
699. GOOD. Though good be good yet better carries it.
700. GOOD CHEER. When good cheer is lacking our friends will be packing.
701. GOOD WORD. A good word is as soon said as an ill one.
702. GOOD COUNSEL. Good counsel never comes too late.
703. GOOD FRIEND. He's a good friend that speaks well of us behind our
backs.
704. GOOD HARVESTS. Good harvests make men prodigal, bad ones provident.
705. GOOD MAXIM. A good maxim is never out of season.
706. GOOD MONEY. It is no use throwing good money after bad.
707. GOOD NAME.
The wife that expects to have a good name
Is always at home as if she were lame,
And the maid that is honest her chiefest delight
Is still to be doing from morning to night.
708. GOODS. A man may lose his goods for want of demanding them.
709. GOOD THINGS. God reacheth us good things with our own hands.
710. GOOD THING. One can never have too much of a good thing.
711. GOOD TURNS. One never loseth by doing good turns.
712. GOOD TURN. One good turn deserves another.
713. GOOD WORDS.
Good words without deeds
Are rushes and reeds.
714. GOWN. The gown is hers who wears it, and the world is his who
enjoys it.
715. GRASP. Grasp no more than thy hand will hold.
716. GRAIN. Never split timber against the grain.
717. GRASP. Grasp all, lose all.
718. GRASS. March grass never did good.
719. GRASS.
If the grass grow in Janiveer,
It grows the worse for't all the year.
720. GRASS. While the grass grows the steed starves.
721. GRASS. Grass grows not upon the highway.
722. GRAVES. We shall lie all alike in our graves.
723. GREAT DOWRY. A great dowry is a bed full of troubles.
724. GREAT MARKS. Great marks are soonest hit.
725. GREAT ONES. There would be no great ones if there were no little.
726. GREAT SHIP. A great ship needs deep waters.
727. GREEN WOOD. Green wood makes a hot fire.
728. GREEN WOUND. A green wound is soon healed.
729. GREEN WINTER. A green winter makes a fat churchyard.
730. GREY HAIRS. Gray hairs are death's blossoms.
731. GRIEF. Grief pent up will burst the heart.
732. GRIND. The mill cannot grind with the water that is past.
733. GUEST. An unbidden guest must bring his own stool with him.
734. GUEST. 'Tis an ill guest that never drinks to his host.
735. GUILTY CONSCIENCE. A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
H