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English Proverbs (2801-2900)

It is merry when knaves meet.

A lie has no legs.

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.

All are not merry that dance.

He that never climbed never fell.

A good horse often needs a good spur.

A little body does often harbor a great soul.

A wise man knows his own.

He that hurts another hurts himself.

Burn not your house to fright away the mice.

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

Dogs that bark at a distance never bite.

He that leaves the highway to cut short commonly goes about.

If you light your fire at both ends, the middle will shift for itself.

One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after.

Hasty people will never make good midwives.

If it were not for the belly, the back might wear gold.

Maidens must be mild and meek,
swift to hear, and slow to speak.

There is no worse pestilence than a familiar enemy.

An ill agreement is better than a good judgment.

In vain does the mill clack, if the miller his hearing lack.

What's a man but his mind?

Blow your own pottage and not mine.

He that mischief hatches, mischief catches.

It is good to have companions in misery.

The memory of happiness makes misery woeful.

A king promises, but observes only what he pleases.

Good watch prevents misfortune.

Lingering love breeds mislike.

An inch in a miss is as good as an ell.

A good marksman may miss.

He's an ill neighbor that is not missed.

No money, no mistress.

Nothing comes unmixed.

The younger brother has the more wit.

When an ass climbs a ladder,
you may find wisdom in women.

Wisdom likes not chance.

A little neglect may breed great mischief.

The longest day must have an end.

The lower millstone grinds as well as the upper.

One lie makes many.

Every reed will not make a pipe.

If you mock the lame you will go so yourself.

All things in moderation are good.

It is good to find modest words to express immodest things.

A smoking chimney in a great house is a good sign.

Better a new friend than an old foe.

A good example is the best sermon.

Time is money.

Thieves are never rogues among themselves.

At length the fox turns monk.

The vineyard requires a vine grower
and the house a master.

A fool asks much, but he is more fool that grants it.

If today will not, tomorrow may.

He that has children, all his morsels are not his own.

An old dog will learn no new tricks.

Seldom mosses the stone.

The foremost dog catches the hare.

They who live longest will see most.

Self-love is a mote in every man's eye.

The best cloth may have a moth in it.

Trade is the mother of money.

Friends may meet but mountains never.

He who will stop every man's mouth
must have a great deal of meal.

A man's praise in his own mouth does stink.

Great bodies move slowly.

Honor bought, temporal simony.

The devil tempts some,
but an idle man tempts the devil.

Ignorance is the mother of impudence.

Sooner named, sooner come.

Spare well and spend well.

It tales two parties to make a quarrel.

Many speak much who cannot speak well.

Gold is but muck.

Sow beans in the mud and they'll grow like wood.

The muses love the morning.

A feast is not made of mushrooms only.

Hope is grief's best music.

Women and music should never be dated.

Good to begin well, better to end well.

Shake the kettle, and it will sing.

Better wit than wealth.

The more you stir, the worse it will stink.

One today is worth two tomorrows.

A good friend is my nearest relation.

Love me, love my dog.

A woman without jealousy is
like a ball without bounce.

We must not look for a golden life in an iron age.

Better a mouse in the pot than no flesh at all.

Every bird is known by its feathers.

When pride is in the saddle, shame is on the crupper.

A lean fee is a fit reward for a lazy clerk.

One must live long to learn much.

If the devil catch a man idle, he'll set him at work.

Little and often fills the purse.

Success is its own reward.

Let not your tongue away with your brains.

Seldom seen, soon forgotten.

A sudden rising has a sudden fall.

Still waters turn no mills.

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