A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

dirt see also we must EAT a peck of dirt before we die.
DIRTY water will quench fire
Mainly used to mean that a man’s lust can be satisfied by any woman, however loose or
ugly.

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  1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. V. B2 As this prouerbe saieth, for quench-yng hot desire, Foul water as soone as fayre, wyl quenche hot fire. 1796 COBBETT Political Censor Sept. 62 That I have made use.. of the British Corporal for a good purpose, I have little doubt—Dirty water will quench fire. 1945 O. ONIONS Ragged Robin vi. It’s flocks and straw for us. .. Well, dirty water’s good enough to quench a fire with. 1995 A. G. TAYLOR Simeon’s Bride xxvi. 173 She had the thick ugly feet of a streetwalker. .. How could anyone go with her?’ Dewi shrugged. ‘They do say dirty water puts out fire just as well.’ ■necessity; ways and means
  

dirty see also it’s an ILL bird that fouls its own nest; don’t THROW out your dirty water until you get in fresh; one does not WASH one’s dirty linen in public.
disappointed see BLESSED is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
DISCRETION is the better part of valour
Cf. EURIPIDES Suppliants 1. 510 ^r-^t?' -Л'¹-¹ rt?нрп/й'й'-'.ч?. and bravery consists in
foresight; c 1477 CAXTON Jason (EETS) 23 Than as wyse and discrete he withdrewe him sayng that more is worth a good retrayte than a folisshe abydinge.

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  1597-8 SHAKESPEARE Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iv. 121 The better part of valour is iscretion; in the which better part, I have saved my life. 1885 C. LOWE Prince Bismarck I. v. Napoleon.. had vowed that he would free Italy ‘from the Alps to the Adriatic’, but..
  

he acted on the maxim thatdiscretion is the better part of valour. 2002 Washington Times 12 Jan. F10 (Fox Trot comic strip) ‘Who knew you weren’t supposed to club him or kick him or lob fireballs, just because he’s huge and fierce and can squash you at will!’ ‘You’ve heard the saying, “Discretion is the better part of valor”? Think of this as a valuable life lesson.’ "discretion; prudence