Pages

Dutch Proverbs (101-200)

One crow does not peck out another's eyes.

The young ravens are beaked like the old.

Ill begun, ill done.

Perseverance brings success.

Better keep peace than make peace.

One crow does not make a winter.

The world likes to be cheated.

A flying crow always catches something.

It is well that wicked cows have short horns.

It's good steering with wind and tide.

The cow does not know the value
of her tail till she has lost it.

All are not cooks who wear long knives.

Milk the cow, but don't pull off the udder.

It's good dancing on another man's floor.

Better reap two days too soon than one too late.

One penny in the pot makes more
noise than when its full.

Counsel before action.

Correction brings fruit.

Covetousness is never satisfied till
its mouth is filled with earth.

Darkness and night are mothers of thought.

No corn without chaff.

Of hasty counsel take good heed,
for haste is very rarely speed.

He that is embarked with the devil must sail with him.

When the devil gets into the church he seats himself on the alter.

The devil sits behind the cross.

Who is tired of happy days, let him take a wife.

Patience surpasses learning.

It is ill sailing against wind and tide.

A wreck on shore is a beacon at sea,

Talk of the devil and you hear his bones rattle.

Where the dike is lowest the water first runs out.

He that despises the little is not worthy of the great.

Every day is not holiday.

He waits long that waits for another man's death.

Sweep before your own door before
you look after your neighbor's.

That's quickly done which is long repented.

When the dog is down, every one is ready to bite him.

It is hard to teach old dogs to bark.

An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains.

Much talk, little work.

Better half an egg than an empty shell.

When two dogs fight for a bone,
the third runs away with it.

After great droughts come great rains.

Many open a door to shut a window.

Good drink drives out bad thoughts.

Wake not a sleeping dog.

He that will have eggs, must bear with cackling.

Two dogs seldom agree over one bone.

Dogs have teeth in all countries.

The third person makes good company.

Poverty is the reward of idleness.

Bad egg, bad chick.

Economy is a great revenue.

The open door invites the thief.

To do nothing teaches to do evil.

Barking dogs don't bite.

There's no making a donkey drink against his will.

Better have a dog for your friend than your enemy.

He who mixes himself with the draft
will be eaten by the swine.

He who goes to bed with dogs will get up with fleas.

Caress your dog, and he'll spoil your clothes.

When the pig has had a bellyful it upsets the trough.

Eagles catch no fleas.

Eagles don't breed doves.

Dead dogs don't bite.

A dog with a bone knows no friend.

Everything has an end excepting God.

The end of all things is death.

The eye of the master makes the horse fat,
and that of the mistress the chambers neat.

Enough is better than too much.

Put not all your eggs into one basket.

For great evils strong remedies.

If you pull one pig by the tail all the rest squeak.

If you touch pitch you will be defiled.

Who has but one eye must take good care of it.

To err is human.

The end of mirth is the beginning of sorrow.

Don't buy a cat in a sack.

Bear patiently that which you suffer by your own fault.

Set your expense according to your trade.

By falling we learn to go safely.

When your enemy retreats, make him a golden bridge.

Who excuses, accuses.

Where there is nothing, the emperor loses his right.

A plough that works, shines, but still water stinks.

The best pilots are ashore.

The eyes are bigger than the belly.

Everything has a wherefore.

An ox and an ass don't yoke well to the same plough.

Who buys wants a hundred eyes,
who sells need have but one.

Who goes fasting to bed will sleep but lightly.

A cat may look at an emperor.

Long fasting is no bread sparing.

The master's eye and foot are the best manure for the field.

Envy cries of spite where honor rides.

Common fame seldom lies.

Don't yoke the plough before the horses.

Every bird sings as it is beaked.

Who doesn't keep faith with God won't keep it with man.

After high floods come low ebbs.

❖❖❖