A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

LISTENERS never hear any good of themselves
Eavesdroppers is now very usual for listeners.

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  1647 Mercurius Elencticus 26 Jan.-2 Feb. 76 The old Proverb is, Hearkners never heare good of them selves. 1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 75 Listners ne’er hear good of themselves. 1839 DICKENS Nicholas Nickleby xlii. ‘If it is fated that listeners are never to hear any good of themselves,’ said Mrs. Browdie, ‘I can’t help it, and I am very sorry for it.’ 1881 J. C. HARRIS Uncle Remus X. Brer Fox wuz stannin’ at de back do’ wid one year at de cat-hole lissenin’. Eave-drappers don’t hear no good er deyse’f, en de way Brer Fox was ‘bused dat day wuz a caution. 1907 E. NESBIT Enchanted Castle v. He . . opened the door suddenly, and there . . was Eliza. . . ‘You know what listeners never hear,’ said Jimmy severely. 1977 A. NEWMAN Evil Streak IV. 178 They say listeners never hear any good of themselves but there is no excuse for.. ingratitude. 1992 A. LAMBERT Rather English Marriage (1993) xvii. 289 ‘Eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves,’ Grace would have said, and she’d have been right. ■ eavesdroppers
  

There is no LITTLE enemy
Cf. c 1386 CHAUCER Tale of Melibee 1. 1322 Ne be nat necligent to kepe thy persone, nat oonly fro thy gretteste enemys, but fro thy leeste enemy. Senek seith: ‘A man that is well avysed, he dredeth his leste enemy.’

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  1659 J. HOWELL Proverbs 8 There’s no enemy little, viz. we must not undervalue any foe. 1733 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (Sept.) There is no little enemy. 1887 J. LUBBOCK Pleasures of Life I. V. To be friendly with every one is another matter; we must remember that there is no little enemy. 2006 Florida Times-Union 22 Apr. M-18 Students also sent her their favorite quotes.. Student Saye Kotee chose the quote ‘there is no little enemy.’ ■ enemies; malice