The Proverbs is a collection of
ancient wisdom, still recognized today as practical advice. It contains
the sayings not only of Solomon, but other sages of ancient Israel as well.
The teachings of this book can be applied by everyone from children to young
men and women to the leaders of business empires and nations.
Barnaby bright, Barnaby bright, the longest day and the shortest night.
Proverb
Barren corn makes bitter bread.
Proverb
Bashfulness is an enemy to poverty.
Proverb, (Latin)
Bashfulness is of no use to the needy.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Bashfulness will not avail a beggar.
Proverb, (Latin)
Baskets after the vintage.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Bathe early every day and sickness will avoid you.
Proverb, (Hindustani)
Be a custom good or bad, a peasant will have it continue in force.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Be a friend to thyself, and others will befriend thee.
Proverb
Be a horse ever so well shod, he may slip.
Proverb, (French)
Be a lion at home and a fox abroad.
Proverb, (Persian)
Be angry with a murderer, but keep your compassion for his victim.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be as hard as the world requires you to be, and as soft as the world allows
you to be.
Proverb, (Okinawian)
Be as you would seem to be.
Proverb, (German)
Be ashamed to find yourself idle.
Proverb
Be brave, not ferocious.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be happy while you're living, For you're a long time dead.
Proverb, (Scottish)
Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people.
Proverb, (Welsh)
Be in readiness for favorable winds.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Be it better, be it worse,
Be ruled by him that bears the purse.
Proverb
Be just before you're generous.
Proverb
Be long sick, that you may be soon hale.
Proverb
Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind.
Proverb, (Zen)
Be merry, Shrovetide, for to-morrow thou wilt be ashes.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Be mine; I will be thine.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be my brother, or I will bash your head in.
Proverb, (German)
Be my enemy and go to my mill.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Be neither intimate nor distant with the clergy.
Proverb, (Irish)
Be not a baker if your head is butter.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Be not an esquire where you were a page.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
Proverb, (Confucian)
Be not ashamed of your craft.
Proverb, (German)
Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed at not understanding.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Be not too bold with your betters.
Proverb
Be not too hasty to outbid another.
Proverb
Be not unmindful of obligations conferred.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be old betimes that thou may'st long be so.
Proverb
Be old betimes, if you wish your old age to last.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be old when young, if you would be young when old.
Proverb
Be on a horse when you go in search of a better one.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Be on your guard against a silent dog and still water.
Proverb, (Latin)
Be patient with a bad neighbor: he may move or face misfortune.
Proverb, (Egyptian)
Be resolved and the thing is done.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Be silent, or say something better than silence.
Proverb, (German)
Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.
Proverb, (Scottish)
Be still, and have thy will.
Proverb
Be sure before you marry of a house wherein to tarry.
Proverb, (Italian)
Be sure to send a lazy man for the angel of death.
Proverb, (Jewish)
Be the day weary or be the day long, at last it ringeth to evensong.
Proverb
Be the horse good or bad always wear your spurs.
Proverb, (Italian)
Be the same thing that ye wa'd be ca'd.
Proverb
Be the thing you would be called.
Proverb, (German)
Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant.
Proverb, (Turkish)
Be truly what thou wouldst be thought to be.
Proverb, (French)
Be what you appear to be. [Act up to the reputation which you enjoy.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Be what you would seem to be.
Proverb
Beads about the neck, and the devil in his heart.
Proverb
Bear and bull catch no fox.
Proverb, (German)
Bear no malice.
Proverb, (Latin)
Bear patiently that which thou sufferest by thine own fault.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Bear wealth, poverty will bear itself.
Proverb
Bear with evil, and expect good.
Proverb
Bear with others and you shall be borne with.
Proverb, (Latin)
Bear won't bite bear.
Proverb
Beat the churl and he will be your friend.
Proverb, (Italian)
Beat the dog; wait for its master.
Proverb, (Haitian)
Beat your drum inside the house to spare the neighbors.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Beat your gong and sell your candles.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Beat your own and others will fear you.
Proverb, (Russian)
Beat your wife on the wedding day, and your married life will be happy.
Proverb, (Japanese)
Beaten with his own rod.
Proverb
Beautiful things are secured with most difficulty.
Proverb, (Latin)
Beauty and folly are often companions.
Proverb, (French, Italian)
Beauty carries its dower in its face.
Proverb, (Danish)
Beauty draws more than oxen.
Proverb
Beauty draws with a single hair.
Proverb
Beauty is a fading flower.
Proverb
Beauty is a good letter of introduction.
Proverb, (German)
Beauty is but a blossom.
Proverb
Beauty is but dross it honesty be lost.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Beauty is but skin-deep.
Proverb
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Proverb
Beauty is only skin deep.
Proverb
Beauty is potent, but money is omnipotent.
Proverb
Beauty is ten, nine of which is dressing.
Proverb, (Azerbaijani)
Beauty will buy no beef.
Proverb
Beauty without bounty avails nought.
Proverb
Beauty without virtue is a curse.
Proverb
Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.
Proverb, (Danish)
Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume.
Proverb, (French)
Because a man has injured your goat, do not go out and kill his bull.
Proverb, (Kenyan)
Because friendship is pleasant, we partake of our friend's entertainment;
not because we have not enough to eat in our own house.
Proverb, (Yoruban)
Because men do not like the cold, Heaven does not cause winter to cease.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.
Proverb, (Egyptian)
Bed is the poor man's opera.
Proverb
Bees do not become hornets.
Proverb, (French)
Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.
Proverb
Bees touch no fading flowers.
Proverb
Before a man learns to hang he is half dead.
Proverb, (Danish)
Before healing others, heal yourself.
Proverb, (Gambian)
Before shooting, one must aim.
Proverb, (African)
Before the time, great courage; when at the point, great fear.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Before you beat a dog, find out who its master is.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Before you can score you must first have a goal.
Proverb, (Greek)
Before you make a friend eat a peck of salt with him.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Before you marry consider what you do.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Before you marry reflect, for it is a knot you cannot untie.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Before you marry, beware, for it is a knot difficult to untie.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Before you marry, have a house to live in, fields to till, and vines to cut.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Before you mount, look to the girth.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Beggars breed and rich men feed.
Proverb
Beggars can never be bankrupts.
Proverb
Beggars fear no rebellion.
Proverb
Beggars mounted ride their horses to death.
Proverb
Beggars must not be choosers.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Begging a courtesy is selling liberty.
Proverb
Begin to weave and God will give the thread.
Proverb, (German)
Begin with an error of an inch and end by being a thousand miles off the
mark.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Beginning and ending shake hands.
Proverb, (German)
Begun is half done.
Proverb, (German)
Behind an able man there are always other able men.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Behind every mountain lies a vale.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Behind one high mountain lies yet a higher one.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Behind the cross stands the devil.
Proverb
Being but a woman, raise not the sword. [Offer not assistance when you can
be of no service.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle.
Proverb
Being warned, let us pursue a better course.
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe a boaster as you would a liar.
Proverb, (Italian)
Believe him who speaks from experience.
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe no man more than yourself when you are spoken of. [Let your own
conscience be a check against the effect of the flattery of others.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe not that all that shines is gold.
Proverb
Believe not that the stream is shallow because its surface is smooth.
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe nothing and be on your guard against everything.
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
Proverb
Believe that you have it, and it is yours.
Proverb, (Latin)
Believe that, and drink some water (to wash it down.)
Proverb, (French)
Believe well and have well.
Proverb
Believe what you see and lay aside what you hear.
Proverb, (Arabic)
Belles are not for the beaux.
Proverb, (French)
Bells call others to church, but go not themselves.
Proverb
Bells call to church but do not enter.
Proverb, (French)
Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.
Proverb, (Italian)
Bend the tree while it is young.
Proverb, (Italian)
Bend the willow while it is young.
Proverb, (Latin, Danish)
Benefits grow old betimes, but injuries are long livers.
Proverb
Benefits please like flowers, when they are fresh.
Proverb
Benefits, like flowers, please most when they are fresh.
Proverb
Best is best cheap.
Proverb
Best to bend while 'tis a twig.
Proverb
Better a bird in the hand than ten in the air.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better a blind horse than an empty halter.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better a blush in the face than a spot in the heart.
Proverb
Better a clout than a hole out.
Proverb
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate is.
Proverb
Better a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred
therewith.
Proverb
Better a distant good than a near evil.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better a dog fawn on you than bite you.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better a dove on the plate than a woodgrouse in the mating place.
Proverb, (Russian)
Better a fair pair of heels than a halter.
Proverb
Better a finger off than always aching.
Proverb
Better a fortune in a wife than with a wife.
Proverb
Better a friend than money to spend.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better a friend's bite than an enemy's caress.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better a friendly denial than an unwilling compliance.
Proverb, (German)
Better a good cow than a cow of a good kind.
Proverb
Better a good dinner than a fine coat.
Proverb, (French)
Better a lean agreement than a fat lawsuit.
Proverb, (German)
Better a lean agreement than a fat sentence.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better a lean peace than a fat victory.
Proverb, (German)
Better a leg broken than the neck.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better a lie that soothes than a truth that hurts.
Proverb, (Czech)
Better a little fire to warm us, than a great one to burn us.
Proverb
Better a little furniture than an empty house.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better a little in peace and with right, than much with anxiety and strife.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better a living dog than a dead lion.
Proverb, (German)
Better a mischief than an inconvenience.
Proverb
Better a mouse in the pot than no flesh at all.
Proverb
Better a mouse in the pot than no meat at all.
Proverb, (Romanian)
Better a near neighbour than a distant cousin.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better a patch than a hole.
Proverb, (German)
Better a poor horse than an empty stall.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better a red face than a black heart.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better a ruined than a lost land.
Proverb, (Dutch, French)
Better a salt herring on your own table, than a fresh pike on another man's.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better a slip of the foot than of the tongue.
Proverb, (French)
Better a sparrow in the hand than two flying.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better a wee bush than no shelter.
Proverb
Better a wee bush that nae bield.
Proverb
Better afield with the birds than hanging on lords.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better alone than in bad company.
Proverb,
(Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)
Better an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better an egg in peace, than an ox in war.
Proverb
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better an empty house than an ill tenant.
Proverb
Better an honest enemy than a false friend.
Proverb, (German)
Better an open enemy than a false friend.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better an unjust peace than a just war.
Proverb, (German)
Better anticipate than be anticipated.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better ask ten times than go astray once.
Proverb, (Yiddish)
Better ask twice than go wrong once.
Proverb, (German)
Better ask twice than lose your way once.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better aught than nought.
Proverb, (German, Italian)
Better badly mounted than proud on foot.
Proverb, (German)
Better bairds greet than bearded men.
Proverb
Better be a bird of the wood than a bird in the cage.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better be a coward than foolhardy.
Proverb, (French)
Better be alone than in bad company.
Proverb
Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.
Proverb
Better be an old man's darling than a young man's warling.
Proverb
Better be born lucky than rich.
Proverb
Better be carried by an ass than thrown by a horse.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better be convinced by words than by blows.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better be envied than pitied.
Proverb, (Dutch, French, Greek, Italian)
Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one.
Proverb, (Scottish)
Better be killed by robbers than by the kick of an ass.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better be kind at home than burn incense in a far place.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better be mad with all the world than wise alone.
Proverb, (French)
Better be one-eyed than quite blind.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better be out of the world than out of the fashion.
Proverb
Better be poor than wicked.
Proverb
Better be quarreling than lonesome.
Proverb, (Irish)
Better be safe than sorry.
Proverb
Better be silent than speak ill.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better be stung by a nettle than pricked by a rose.
Proverb
Better be sure than sorry.
Proverb
Better be the head of a cat than the tail of a lion.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Proverb, (French)
Better be the head of a lizard than the tail of a dragon.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better be the head of a rat than the tail of a lion.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.
Proverb
Better be too credulous than too skeptical.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better be unmannerly than troublesome.
Proverb
Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better beg than steal.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better belly burst than good victuals spoil.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better bend than break.
Proverb,
(French, German, Italian, Portuguese)
Better blow hard than burn yourself.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better bow than break.
Proverb
Better buy than borrow.
Proverb
Better coarse cloth than naked thighs.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better come at the latter end of a feast than the beginning of a fray.
Proverb
Better come late to church than never.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better cross an angry man than a fasting man.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better cut the shoe than pinch the foot.
Proverb
Better deserve honour and not have it, than have it and not deserve it.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better die a beggar than a live beggar.
Proverb
Better die ten years early than live ten years poor.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better do a kindness near home than go far to burn incense.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better do it than wish it done.
Proverb
Better early than late.
Proverb
Better envy than pity.
Proverb, (German)
Better fifty enemies outside the house than one within.
Proverb, (Irish)
Better free in a foreign land than a serf at home.
Proverb, (German)
Better gain in mud than lose in gold.
Proverb, (Italian, Portuguese)
Better give a shilling than lend a half a crown.
Proverb
Better give nothing than stolen alms.
Proverb, (German)
Better give than not to have to give.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better give the wool than the sheep.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better go about than be drowned.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better go about than fall into a ditch.
Proverb
Better go about than fall into the ditch.
Proverb
Better go away longing than loathing.
Proverb
Better go round than be drowned.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better go than send.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
Proverb
Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidery.
Proverb
Better go without medicine than call in an unskilled physician.
Proverb, (Japanese)
Better half a loaf than none at all.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better half an egg than empty shells.
Proverb, (Dutch, German)
Better have a bad ass than be your own ass.
Proverb, (Portuguese, Spanish)
Better have a dog for your friend than your enemy.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better have an egg to-day than a hen to-morrow.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better have an old man to humour than a young rake to break your heart.
Proverb
Better have friends in the market-place than money in your coffer.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better have one bee than a host of flies.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better have one plough going than two cradles.
Proverb
Better have to give than have to beg.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better in an old carriage than in a new ship.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better is a leap over the ditch than the entreaties of good men.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better is an enemy to good.
Proverb, (German)
Better is an enemy to well.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better is better.
Proverb, (German)
Better is my neighbour's hen than mine.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better is one "Take this," than two "I-will-give-you."
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better is rule than rent.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better is the branch that bends, than the branch that breaks.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better is the evil known than the good which is yet to know.
Proverb
Better is the smoke of my own house than the fire of another's.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace.
Proverb
Better keep now than seek anon.
Proverb
Better keep peace than make peace.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better keep, than have to beg.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better kiss a knave than be troubled with him.
Proverb
Better lady in a cottage than serving-woman in a castle.
Proverb, (Darkovan)
Better leave than lack.
Proverb
Better lose a jest than a friend.
Proverb
Better lose a supper than have a hundred physicians.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better lose that lose more.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better lose the anchor than the whole ship.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better lose the saddle than the horse.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better lose the wool than the sheep.
Proverb, (French)
Better lose your labour than your time in idleness.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better make a short circuit than to wet your hose.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better mine than ours.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better my hog dirty home than no hog at all.
Proverb
Better no law, than law not enforced.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better on the heath with an old cart that at sea in a new ship.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better once in heaven than ten times at the gate.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better once than never.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better one "Take this," than two "I will give you."
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better one cow in peace than seven in trouble.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better one eye-witness than ten hearsay witnesses.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better one good thing that is than two good things that were.
Proverb, (Irish)
Better one house filled than two spilled.
Proverb
Better one house spoiled than two.
Proverb
Better one living word than a hundred dead ones.
Proverb, (German)
Better one's house too little one day than too big all the year after.
Proverb
Better one-eyed than stone blind.
Proverb, (German, Spanish)
Better pay the butcher than the doctor.
Proverb
Better play at small game than stand out.
Proverb
Better poor on land that rich at sea.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better poor with honour than rich with shame.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better reap two day too soon than one too late.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better reap two days early than one day late.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better repair the gutter than the whole house.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better return half way than lose yourself.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better ride a good horse for a year, than an ass all your life.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.
Proverb
Better rule in hell, than serve in heaven.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better say Here it is than Here it was.
Proverb
Better sell than live poorly.
Proverb
Better sit idle than work for naught.
Proverb
Better sit idle than work for nothing.
Proverb
Better sit still than rise up and fall.
Proverb
Better slip with the foot than with the tongue.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better small fish than an empty dish.
Proverb
Better some of a pudding than none of a pie.
Proverb
Better something on the arm than all in the stomach.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better something than nothing at all.
Proverb, (German)
Better spare at brim than at bottom.
Proverb
Better spare at the brim that at the bottom.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better speak to the master than the man.
Proverb
Better squinting than blind.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better straw, than nothing.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Better stretch your hand than your neck.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better suffer a known evil than change for uncertain good.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better suffer for truth, than prosper by falsehood.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better take time.
Proverb, (Latin)
Better the child cry than the old man.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better the child cry, than the mother sigh.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better the cottage where one is merry than the palace where one weeps.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Proverb
Better the foot slip than the tongue.
Proverb
Better the world should know you as a sinner than God know you as a
hypocrite.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better there should be too much than too little.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better they should say, "There he ran away," than "There he died."
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better to ask than go astray.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better to ask twice than to lose your way once.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better to be a free bird than a captive king.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better to be envied than pitied.
Proverb, (French)
Better to bend than break.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Better to deny at once, than to promise long.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better to do a kindness near home than go far away to burn incense.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Better to fall from the window than the roof.
Proverb, (Italian)
Better to go to bed supperless than run in debt.
Proverb, (German)
Better to have a friend on the road than gold or silver in your purse.
Proverb, (French)
Better to have something yourself, than to beg of your sister.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Proverb
Better to lose a minute in your life than your life in a minute.
Proverb, (Uruguayan)
Better to marry a neighbor than a stranger.
Proverb
Better to see the face than to hear the name.
Proverb, (Zen)
Better to sit all night than to go to bed with a dragon.
Proverb
Better to struggle with a sick jackass than carry the wood by yourself.
Proverb
Better to stumble once than be always tottering.
Proverb, (French)
Better to wear out than rust out.
Proverb
Better twice measured than once wrong.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better twice remembered than once forgotten.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better untaught than ill taught.
Proverb
Better walk before a hen than behind an ox.
Proverb, (French)
Better walk on wooden legs, than be carried on a wooden bier.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better walk unshackled in a green meadow, than be bound to a thorn-brush.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better weak beer than an empty cask.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better wear out shoes than sheets.
Proverb, (English)
Better wed over the dungheap than over the moor.
Proverb
Better wed over the mixen than over the moor.
Proverb
Better when birds sing than where irons ring.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Better whole than patched in gold.
Proverb, (Danish)
Better, There he goes, than There he hangs.
Proverb, (German)
Between a woman's "Yes" and "No" there is no room for the point of a needle.
Proverb, (German)
Between evil tongues and evil ears, there is nothing to choose.
Proverb, (Danish)
Between neighbours' gardens a hedge is not amiss.
Proverb, (German)
Between promising and giving a man should marry his daughter.
Proverb, (French)
Between saying and doing there is a great distance.
Proverb, (Danish)
Between saying and doing there is a long road.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.
Proverb, (Italian)
Between smith and smith no money passes.
Proverb, (Portuguese, Spanish)
Between the hand and the lip the morsel may slip.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Between the hand and the lip the soup may be spilt.
Proverb, (German)
Between the hand and the mouth the soup is lost.
Proverb, (Portuguese, Spanish)
Between the hand and the mouth the soup is often spilt.
Proverb, (French)
Between the hand and the mouth the soup is spilt.
Proverb, (Italian)
Between two cowards, he has the advantage who first detects the other.
Proverb, (Italian)
Between two friends a notary and two witnesses.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Between two sharpers, the sharpest.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Between two stools one falls to the ground.
Proverb, (Latin)
Between two stools the breech comes to the ground.
Proverb, (Dutch, French)
Between two stools you come to the ground.
Proverb
Between wording and working is a long road.
Proverb, (German)
Between wrangling and disputing truth is lost.
Proverb, (German)
Betwixt two stools the doup fas down.
Proverb
Beware beginnings.
Proverb
Beware of "Had I but known."
Proverb, (Italian)
Beware of a bad woman, and put no trust in a good one.
Proverb, (Portuguese, Spanish)
Beware of a door that has many keys.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Beware of a man of one book.
Proverb, (English)
Beware of a man that does not talk, and of a dog that does not bark.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Beware of a man's shadow and a bee's sting.
Proverb, (Burmese)
Beware of a pledge that eats.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Beware of a poor alchemist.
Proverb, (Italian)
Beware of a reconciled enemy.
Proverb, (French)
Beware of a reconciled friend as of the devil.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Beware of a silent dog and still water.
Proverb, (Latin)
Beware of a white Spaniard and a black Englishman.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Beware of after-claps.
Proverb
Beware of an oak, it draws the stroke; avoid an ash, it counts the flash;
creep under the thorn, it can save you from harm.
Proverb
Beware of breed.
Proverb
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Proverb
Beware of Had I wist.
Proverb
Beware of laughing hosts and weeping priests.
Proverb, (German)
Beware of men who flourish hereditary honors.
Proverb
Beware of one who flatters unduly; he will also censure unjustly.
Proverb, (Arabian)
Beware of one who has nothing to lose.
Proverb, (Italian)
Beware of people who dislike cats.
Proverb, (Irish)
Beware of still water, a still dog, and a still enemy.
Proverb, (Yiddish)
Beware of the dog himself, his shadow does not bite.
Proverb, (Danish)
Beware of the dog that does not bark.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Beware of the dog.
[Lat., Cave canem.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Beware of the forepart of a woman, the hind part of a mule, and all sides of
a priest.
Proverb
Beware of the man of two faces.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Beware of the silent dog and still water.
[Lat., Cave tibi cane muto, aqua silente.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Beware of the vinegar of sweet wine.
Proverb, (Italian)
Beware of vinegar made of sweet wine.
Proverb
Beware the person with nothing to lose.
Proverb, (Italian)
Beware, froth is not beer.
Proverb, (Danish)
Beyond the mountain is another mountain.
Proverb, (Haitian)
Beyond the sky there is more sky; beyond one person there are others as
well.
Proverb, (Chinese)
Biding makes thriving.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Big boast, small roast.
Proverb, (English)
Big churches, little saints.
Proverb, (German)
Big fish devour the little ones.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Big fish eat little fish.
Proverb
Big fish spring out of the kettle.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them, and little fleas
have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.
Proverb
Big flies break the spider's web.
Proverb, (Italian)
Big head, little wit.
Proverb, (French, German)
Big mouthfuls often choke.
Proverb, (Italian)
Big thunder, little rain.
Proverb, (English)
Big words seldom go with good deeds.
Proverb, (Danish)
Birchen twigs break no ribs.
Proverb
Bird never flew so high but it had to come to the ground for food.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Birds fly not into our mouths ready roasted.
Proverb, (Latin)
Birds in their little nests agree.
Proverb
Birds of a feather flock together.
Proverb, (Dutch, German)
Birds of a feather sit close together.
Proverb
Birds of prey do not flock together.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Birds of prey do not sing.
Proverb, (German)
Birth is much, but breeding is more.
Proverb
Bite me not, my name is little grizzle; had I a little tail I should be a
little lion.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Bite not the dog that bites.
Proverb, (Danish)
Bite the biter.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Biting and scratching is Scots folk's wooing.
Proverb, (British)
Bitter pills are gilded.
Proverb, (German)
Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.
Proverb
Black cows give white milk.
Proverb, (German)
Black hens lays white eggs.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Black will take no other hue.
Proverb
Blacksmith's children are not afraid of sparks.
Proverb, (Danish)
Blame is the lazy man's wages.
Proverb, (Danish)
Blame it on the rain.
Proverb
Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your
faults.
Proverb, (Indian)
Blaw the wind ne'er so fast, it will lower at last.
Proverb
Bleed him, purge him, and if he dies, bury him.
Proverb, (Portuguese, Spanish)
Blessed are the dead that the rain rains on.
Proverb
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
Proverb
Blessed is the misfortune that comes alone.
Proverb, (Italian)
Blessings are not valued till they are gone.
Proverb
Blessings brighten as they take their flight.
Proverb
Blessings on him that said, Face about.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Blest is the bride the sun shines on.
Proverb, (English)
Blind is the bookless man.
Proverb
Blind men can judge no colours.
Proverb
Blind men should not judge of colours.
Proverb
Blood boils without fire.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Blood cannot be washed out with blood.
Proverb, (Afghan)
Blood is thicker than water.
Proverb
Blood will have blood.
Proverb
Blood will tell.
Proverb
Bloom where you are planted.
Proverb
Blossoms are not fruits.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Blow first, and sip afterwards.
Proverb
Blow the wind never so fast,
It will lower at the last.
Proverb
Blow, smith, and you'll get money.
Proverb, (Spanish)
Blows are not given upon conditions.
Proverb, (Italian)
Blue are the hills that are far away.
Proverb
Blushing is virtue's colour.
Proverb
Boil not the pap before the child is born.
Proverb
Boil stones in butter, and you may sip the broth.
Proverb
Bold in design, but timid in execution.
Proverb, (Latin)
Bold resolution is the favourite of providence.
Proverb
Boldly ventured is half won.
Proverb, (Latin, German)
Boldness in business is the first, second, and third thing.
Proverb
Bolt a door with a boiled carrot!
Proverb
Bones for those who come late.
[Lat., Sero venientibus ossa.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Bones snatched from the mouth of a hungry dog.
Proverb, (Latin)
Borderers are either thieves or murderers.
Proverb, (Italian)
Born on Monday, fair in the face;
Born of Tuesday, full of God's grace;
Born on Wednesday, sour and sad;
Born on Thursday, merry and glad;
Born on Friday, worthily given;
Born on Saturday, work hard for your living;
Born on Sunday, you will never know want.
Proverb
Born on the wrong side of the blanket.
Proverb
Borrowed garments never sit well.
Proverb
Borrowing brings care.
Proverb, (Dutch)
Borrowing does well only once.
Proverb, (German)
Borrows must not be choosers.
Proverb, (French)
Both are the better for their mutual friendship.
Proverb, (Latin)
Both legs in the stocks or only one, 'tis all the same.
Proverb, (German)
Both together do best of all.
Proverb
Bought wisdom is best.
Proverb
Bought wit is best, but may cost too much.
Proverb
Bought wit is best.
Proverb
Boys avoid the bees that stung 'em.
Proverb
Boys will be boys.
Proverb, (American)
Boys will be men.
Proverb
Brackish water is sweet in a drought.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is better.
Proverb
Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast's a better.
Proverb, (Latin)
Branches may be trained; not the trunk.
Proverb, (Latin)
Brave men lived before Agamemnon.
Proverb
Bread in one hand, a stone in the other.
Proverb, (German)
Bread is better than the song of birds.
Proverb, (Danish)
Break one link and the whole chain falls apart.
Proverb
Breed up a crow and he'll pick out your eyes.
Proverb
Brevity is pleasing.
Proverb, (Latin)
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Proverb
Bribes will enter without knocking.
Proverb
Bridges were made for wise men to walk over and fools to ride over.
Proverb
Bright enough in the dark, dull in time of day. [Learned in what is of no
use, ignorant of everything at all available.]
Proverb, (Latin)
Bring a cow to the hall and she'll run to the byre.
Proverb
Bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble.
Proverb
Bring up a raven, and he will peck out your eyes.
Proverb, (French, German)
Broad thongs may be cut from other men's leather.
Proverb, (Italian)
Broken friendship may be soldered but can never be made sound.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Build but one nest in one tree.
Proverb, (Latin)
Build golden bridges for the flying foe.
Proverb, (German)
Building castles in the air.
Proverb
Business before pleasure.
Proverb
Business is business.
Proverb
Bustle is not industry.
Proverb
But for all that the honest man has not got his purse.
Proverb, (French)
But may not truth in laughing guise be dressed?
Proverb
But now I was a rich man, three things have left me bare; dice, wine, and
women, these three have made me poor.
Proverb, (Latin)
Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, and lead at night.
Proverb
Butter is mad twice a year.
Proverb
Butter is made when very hard or very soft.
Proverb
Butter spoils no meat, and moderation injures no cause.
Proverb, (Danish)
Buy him at his own price and sell him at yours and you'll make no bargain.
Proverb
Buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest.
Proverb
Buy the bed of a great debtor.
Proverb, (Italian)
Buy when it is market time.
Proverb, (German)
Buy your greyhound, don't rear him.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
Buy your neighbour's ox, and woo your neighbour's daughter.
Proverb, (German)
Buyers want a hundred eyes, sellers none.
Proverb
Buyers want a hundred eyes, sellers only one.
Proverb, (German)
Buying is cheaper than asking.
Proverb, (German)
By a brave endurance of unavoidable evils, we conquer them.
Proverb, (Latin)
By a sweet tongue and kindness, you can drag an elephant with a hair.
Proverb, (Persian)
By asking for the impossible, obtain the best possible.
Proverb, (Italian)
By beating love decays.
Proverb, (French)
By biting and scratching cats and dogs come together.
Proverb
By candle-light a goat looks like a lady.
Proverb, (French)
By committing foolish acts, one learns wisdom.
Proverb, (Singhalese)
By dint of going wrong all will come right.
Proverb, (French)
By doing nothing men learn to do evil.
Proverb, (Latin)
By falling we earn to go safely.
Proverb, (Dutch)
By falling we learn to go safely.
Proverb
By getting angry, you show you are wrong.
Proverb, (Malagasy)
By gnawing skin a dog learns to eat leather.
Proverb, (Danish)
By going gains the mill, and not by standing still.
Proverb, (Portuguese)
By good means or bad.
Proverb, (Latin)
By good nature and kindness even fierce spirits become tractable.
Proverb, (Latin)
By his claw the lion.
[Lat., Ex ungue leonem.]
Proverb, (Latin)
By hook or crook.
Proverb
By ignorance we mistake, and by mistakes we learn.
Proverb
By labour fire is got out of a stone.
Proverb, (Dutch)
By lamplight every country wench seems handsome.
Proverb, (Italian)
By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.
Proverb, (Latin)
By many indignities we come to dignities.
Proverb
By much laughter you detect the fool.
Proverb, (Latin)
By night all cats are black.
Proverb, (Italian)
By night all cats are grey.
Proverb, (Dutch, French, German)
By perseverance the Greeks reached Troy.
Proverb, (Latin)
By pleasing, while we instruct.
Proverb, (Latin)
By repeated blows even the oak is felled.
Proverb, (Latin)
By slow degrees the bird builds his nest.
Proverb, (Dutch)
By speedy, not by slow measures.
Proverb, (Latin)
By submitting to an old insult you invite a new one.
Proverb, (Latin)
By suppers more have been killed than Galen ever cured.
Proverb, (Latin)
By telling our woes we often assuage them.
Proverb, (French)
By the familiarity of the master the servant is spoilt.
Proverb, (Latin)
By the hands of many a great work is made light.
Proverb, (Latin)
By the living we bury the dead.
Proverb, (Dutch)
By the street of "By-and-By" one arrives at the house of "Never."
Proverb, (Spanish)
By the thread we unwind the skein.
Proverb, (Spanish)
By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.
Proverb, (Ghanaian)
By the yard, life is hard. By the inch, it's a cinch.
Proverb, (American)
By their marks the bales are known.
Proverb, (Italian)
By Tre, Pol, and Pen,
You shall know the Cornish men.
Proverb
By trying often, the monkey learns to jump from the tree.
Proverb, (Cameroonian)
By what servant is his master better loved than by his dog?
Proverb, (Latin)
By working in the smithy one becomes a smith.
Proverb, (French)
By writing we learn to write.
Proverb
By writing you learn to write.
Proverb, (Latin)
Bygone troubles are good to tell.
Proverb, (Yiddish)
