A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Don’t get MAD, get even

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  1975 J. F. KENNEDY in B. Bradlee Conversations with Kennedy 25 Some of the reasons have their roots in that wonderful law of the Boston Irish political jungle: ‘Don’t get mad; get even.’ 1990 Evening Standard 28 Feb. 13 Nancy Reagan made more than $2 million from her ‘don’t get mad, get even’.. memories. 2001 Washington Times 25 May A22 The episode was especially moving inasmuch as forgiveness is not in the Kennedy tradition. JFK was the author of the famous dictum, ‘Don’t get mad, get even.’ "revenge
  

mad see also whom the GODS would destroy, they first make mad.
made see GOD made the country, and man made the town; PROMISES, like piecrust, are made to be broken; RULES are made to be broken; also MAKE.
Mahomet see if the MOUNTAIN will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.
MAKE hay while the sun shines

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  1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. iii. A4 Whan the sunne shynth make hey. 1583 B. MELBANCKE Philotimus 24 Yt is well therefore to make hay while the sunne shines. 1835 J. CARLYLE Letters & Memorials (1883) 1.21 ‘It is good to make hay while the sun shines,’ which means, in the present case.. to catch hold of a friend while she is in the humour. 1924 E. BAGNOLD Serena Blandish vi. The countess’s enthusiasm was cooling. Martin . . said warningly, ‘You must make hay, my child, while the sun shines.’ 1999 ‘H. CRANE’ Miss Seeton’s Finest Hour xii. 100 ‘Our local garage must have made a fortune out of me since this blackout nonsense began. .. Mind you,’ the doctor added in a noncommittal voice, ‘I imagine they think of it more along the lines of making hay while the sun shines..’ "opportunity, taken
  

As you MAKE your bed, so you must lie upon it
Cf. late 15th-cent. Fr. comme on faict son lict, on le treuve, as one makes one’s bed, so one finds it.

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  c 1590 G. HARVEY Marginalia (1913) 88 Lett them.. go to there bed, as themselues shall make it. 1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 340 He that makes his bed ill, lies there. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 16 As you make your bed, so you lye down. According to your Conditions you have your Bargain. 1832 S. WARREN Diary of Late Physician II. vi. As soon as his relatives.. heard.. they told him.. that as he had made his bed, so he must lie upon it. 1921 A. P. HERBERT House by River v. There’s no doubt she was out with one of them.. and went further than she meant, . . but if you make your bed you must lie on it. 1997 Spectator 29 Nov 14 Your mother says serves you right, you’ve made your bed and now you lie on it, I never liked him. "action and consequence
  

make see also you cannot make BRICKS without straw; CLOTHES make the man; make HASTE slowly; if you don’t make MISTAKES you don’t make anything; you cannot make an OMELETTE without breaking eggs; you can’t make a SILK purse out of a sow’s ear.