A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The BETTER the day, the better the deed
Frequently used to justify working on a Sunday or religious festival. Cf. early 14th-cent. Fr. a bon jour bone euvre, for a good day, a good deed.

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  1607 MIDDLETON Michaelmas Term III. i. Why, do you work a’ Sundays, tailor? The better day the better deed, we think. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 328 The better Day, the better Deed. I never heard this used but when People say that they did such an ill thing on Sunday. 1896 J. C. HUTCHESON Crown & Anchor xiii. The better the day, the better the deed.. It was only the Pharisees who objected to any necessary work being done on the Sabbath. 1995 D. WILLIAMS Death of Prodigal ‘And he was coming back here with us after, for Sunday lunch. I’ve just cleaned the car in his honour, too. The better the day, the better the deed, like.’ ■ action and inaction
  

BETTER the devil you know than the devil you don’t know
Cf. 1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 48 Nota res mala, optima. An euyl thynge knowen is best. It is good kepyng of a shrew [a scolding or ill-tempered woman] that a man knoweth; 1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 84 You had rather keepe those whom you know, though with some faultes, then take those whom you knowe not, perchaunce with moe faultes; 1586 D. ROWLAND tr. Lazarillo de Tormes H6^V The olde prouerbe: Better is the euill knowne, than the good which is yet to knowe.

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  1857 TROLLOPE Barchester Towers II. vii. ‘Better the d—you know than the d— you don’t know,’ is an old saying.. but the bishop had not yet realised the truth of it. 1937 W. H. SAUMAREZ SMITH Letter 16 May in Young Man’s Country (1977) ii. Habit has practically made me resigned to Madaripur—’Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.’ 1987 S. STEWART Lifting the Latch 166 I knowed he’d never change, it ‘ud always be ‘Don’t-be-so-daft’ and no appreciation; but better the Black ‘un thee knows than the devil thee don’t. 2007 Times 14 Sept. 28 More than half (54 per cent) think that it is time for a change, while about two fifths (43 per cent) say that it is ‘better to stick with the devil you know’. "familiarity