A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

horseback see set a BEGGAR on horseback, and he’ll ride to the Devil.
HORSES for courses
Originally an expression in horse-racing: different horses are suited to different race courses. Now widely used in other contexts.

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  1891 A. E. T. WATSON Turf vii. A familiar phrase on the turf is ‘horses for courses’. .. The Brighton Course is very like Epsom, and horses that win at one meeting often win at the other. 1929 Daily Express 7 Nov. 18 Followers of the ‘horses for courses’ theory will be interested in the acceptance of Saracen, Norwest and Sir Joshua. 1985 ‘J. GASH’ Pearlhanger xxiii. It seemed to me I’d need a massacre, and immediately thought of Big John Sheehan. Horses for courses. 2001 Times 7 Nov. 16 Likewise it is horses for courses in Parliament. Mr Blair has a huge majority. There is no point in ‘nursing a constituency’ which offers no threat. "efficiency and inefficiency
  

hot see a LITTLE pot is soon hot; STRIKE while the iron is hot.
hound see you cannot RUN with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
One HOUR’s sleep before midnight is worth two after

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  1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 882 One houres sleepe before midnight is worth three after. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 37 One hours sleep before midnight’s worth two hours after. 1829 COBBETT Advice to Young Men I. xxxviii. It is said by the country-people that one hour’s sleep before midnight is worth more than two are worth after midnight; and this I believe to be a fact. 1937 A. THIRKELL Summer Half iii. Now, Mr. Winter, remember my boys when you come up! Every hour’s sleep before twelve is worth two afterwards, you know. 2002 Times 16 Feb. 26 Some maintain that ‘An hour before midnight is worth two after it’, which is utter nonsense because, as everyone knows: Early to bed, early to rise, Makes a man surly, and gives him red eyes. "health
  

hour see also the DARKEST hour is just before the dawn; SIX hours’ sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool.