A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1732 T. FULLER Gnomologia no. 1250 Death is the grand leveller. 1755 E. YOUNG Centaur ii. Is diversion grown a leveller, like death? 1961 M. DICKENS Heart of London I. 101 ‘All this is going to be a great leveller.’.. ‘It is death which is the great leveller.’ 1973 ‘C. AIRD’ His Burial Too vi. Dr. Dabbe took a last look. .. ‘A classic case, you might say, Sloan, of Death, the Great Leveller.’ "death

DEATH pays all debts
Cf. 1597-8 SHAKESPEARE Henry IV, Pt. 1 III. ii. 157 The end of life cancels all bands [bonds].

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  1611 SHAKESPEARE Tempest III. ii. 126 He that dies pays all debts. 1827 SCOTT Two Drovers in Chronicles of Canongate I. xiv. ‘It must be sorely answered.’.. ‘Never you mind that—Death pays all debts; it will pay that too.’ 1979 K. BONFIGLIONI After You xvi. I have no particular objection to death as such; it pays all bills. 1991 G. KEILLOR WLT: Radio Romance xli. I am not responsible anymore. Death pays all debts. Fix the damn furnace yourself. "death
  

death see also COWARDS die many times before their death; NOTHING is certain but death and taxes; there is a REMEDY for everything except death.
debt see DEATH pays all debts; OUT of debt, out of danger; SPEAK not of my debts unless you mean to pay them.
deceive see FOOL me once, shame on you..
deceptive see APPEARANCES are deceptive.
deed see the BETTER the day, the better the deed; no GOOD deed goes unpunished.
deep see STILL waters run deep.
defence see ATTACK is the best form of defence.
The best DEFENSE is a good offense
The usual US version of ATTACK is the best form of defence. Also as a good offense is the best defense.

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