Proverbs1 Flashcards
Persons, places or things become dearer to us when they are absent.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
People are more impressed when we sincerely live what we teach.
Actions speak louder than words
The motto of the Three Musketeers written by Alexandre Dumas.
All for one and one for all
All paths lead to the center of things.
All roads lead to Rome. Literally true during the Roman empire where all roads radiated from Rome.
Things that appear to have value on the surface may be worthless.
All that glitters is not gold
A person who never takes time off from work becomes boring and bored.
All work and no play make Jack a dull boy
People in love and soldiers in war are not bound by fair play. Typically used when two people vie for the love of a third person.
All’s fair in love and war
Problems that occur along the way don’t matter as long as the outcome is happy.
All’s well that ends well. The title for one of William Shakespeare’s plays.
When in an emergency, people will accept help from any source, even enemies.
Any port in a storm
Eating healthy food keeps us from needing extreme medicine.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Some unpleasant occurrences bring better things.
April showers bring may flowers
To be effective, an army relies on good and plentiful food. Attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.
An army marches on its stomach
People are quick to talk about the misfortune of others.
Bad news travels fast
Our mistakes return to haunt us. Nasty people have a way of reappearing.
A bad penny always turns up
This person makes many threats but doesn’t follow through with them.
His bark is worse than his bite
Physical beauty is only superficial and not as important as a person’s intellectual, emotional and spiritual qualities.
Beauty is only skin deep
Our success or failure depends on how we use the tools given to us, not the tools themselves.
The bad workman always blames his tools. A good workman takes care of his tools.
People who depend on the generosity of others are in no position to dictate what is given.
Beggars can’t be choosers
No matter how much friends care for each other, they cannot be together always.
The best friends must part
The best things in life are free
Money can’t buy the most important things in life
No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong.
The best laid-plans of mice and men often go awry. A line from “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men/ Gang aft a-gley.” Gang aft a-gley means “go oft astray” in Scottish Vernacular.
It is better to do something after it was supposed to have been done than not at all.
Better late than never
It is better to act cautiously beforehand than to suffer afterwards.
Better safe than sorry
Do not trust enemies who bring presents- they could be playing a trick.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Adapted from the words of Laocoon in the story of the Trojan Horse.
The more powerful and successful people are, the more they suffer when they experience defeat and disaster.
The bigger they come, the harder they fall
People are attracted to others who are like them.
Birds of a feather flock together
Our loyalty to our family is strong no matter how we may feel about them.
Blood is thicker than water
Children can be expected to act in a childish way. Often applied to men who act childish.
Boys will be boys
Intelligent speech and writing should aim at using few words.
Brevity is the soul of wit. Comes from the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
The person ultimately responsible in an organization.
The buck stops here. Other people can pass the buck, but I can’t pass the buck to anyone else. Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that read “the buck stops here.”
We must take care of our responsibilities before enjoying ourselves.
Business before pleasure
Latin for “Seize the day.” Take advantage of present opportunities. A sentiment found in Classical and English literature.
Carpe Diem
The consequences of earlier actions are now being felt.
The chickens have come home to roost
Clean living is a good virtue.
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Even a near miss is still a miss.
Close, but no Cigar. Probably originated with carnival contests where a cigar was the prize for hitting targets.
Cold hands indicate affection, possibly because the emotions affect blood circulation.
Cold hands, warm heart
True love always encounters difficulties.
The course of true love never did run smooth. Comes from the play A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare.
Being inquisitive about other people’s affairs may get you into trouble.
Curiosity killed the cat. Apparently first appeared in an O. Henry story.
Latin for there’s no disputing about taste
De gustibus non est disputandum (day goos-ti-boos nohn est dis-poo-than-dem). Quoted in Dostoevsky’s The Brother’s Karamazov. From Latin, means “In matters of taste, there can be no disputes.”
Things that are inherently good can be used for evil purposes.
The devil can site scripture for his purpose. Comes from the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
Even the biggest projects depend on the smallest components.
The devil is in the details. The opposite proverb would be God is in the details, often attributed to the architect Le Corbusier.
Caution is preferable to rash bravery.
Discretion is the better part of valor. Said by Falstaff in King Henry the Fourth, part one, by William Shakespeare.
Do not waste good things on people who won’t appreciate them.
Don’t cast your pearls before swine. Adapted from the saying by Christ.
Treat other people with the concern and kindness you would like them to show towards you.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Often called the golden rule.
A dog is more faithful than other animals and most men.
A dog is a man’s best friend.
Don’t assume you’ll get the things you want until you have them.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
It doesn’t do any good to be unhappy about something that’s already happened or can’t be helped.
Don’t cry over spilt milk.
Don’t engage in an act of revenge that will hurt you more than others.
Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.
Don’t react to a situation too early.
Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes. An order allegedly made by William Prescott at the battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary war.
Don’t surrender: a favorite motto of the United States Navy.
Don’t give up the ship. Dying words of commander James Lawrence during the war of 1812.
