A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

slowly see make HASTE slowly; the MILLS of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.
SMALL choice in rotten apples

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  1593 SHAKESPEARE Taming of Shrew I. i. 129 Faith, as you say, there’s small choice in rotten apples. 1931 C. WELLS Umbrella Murder iv. ‘I’m going upstairs, and you can come with me, or stay behind, as you choose.’ ‘Small choice in rotten apples.’ 1958 ‘S. DEAN’ Dishonor among Thieves xxiii. It’s a choice of rotten apples. ■ choices; necessity
  

SMALL is beautiful

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  1973 E. F. SCHUMACHER (title) Small is beautiful. 1977 D. JAMES Spy at Evening xxiv. Small Is Beautiful—but big pays more. 1991 Washington Post 13 Jan. G8 In the 19th century, some classical composers forgot (if they had ever known) the principle that ‘small is beautiful.’ 2002 Times 2 May 23 Small isn’t always beautiful and really small, like Nanoarchaeum equitans, which measures a whole 100 millionth of a millimetre less than the tiniest bacterium, may be a long way from even being visible to the naked eye. "great and small
  

small see also the BEST things come in small packages; BETTER are small fish than an empty dish; LITTLE things please little minds; there’s no great LOSS without some gain; the MILLS of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.
smell see (noun) MONEY has no smell; (verb) FISH and guests smell after three days.
smock see NEAR is my kirtle, but nearer is my smock.
No SMOKE without fire
Cf. PLAUTUS Curculio 53 flamma fumo est proxima, the flame is right next to the smoke; late 13th-cent. Fr. nul feu est sens fumee nefumee sens feu, no fire is without smoke, nor smoke without fire; c 1375 J. BARBOUR Bruce (EETS) IV. 81 And thair may no man fire sa covir, [Bot] low or reyk [flame or smoke] sall it discovir.

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  c 1422 T. HOCCLEVE Works (EETS) I. 134 Wher no fyr maad is may no smoke aryse. 1592 G. DELAMOTHE French Alphabet II. 39 No smoke without fire. 1655 T. FULLER Church Hist. Britain II. x. There was no Smoak but some Fire: either he was dishonest, or indiscreet. 1869 TROLLOPE He knew He was Right II. lii. He considered that.. Emily Trevelyan had behaved badly. He constantly repeated.. the old adage, that there was no smoke without fire. 1948 ‘M. INNES’ Night of Errors iv. ‘Chimneys!.. Who the deuce cares whether there’s smoke from every chimney in the house.’ ‘I do. No smoke without fire.’ 2002 Times 8 July 8 ‘I’ve been found not guilty, but mud sticks. Some people will say: “There’s no smoke without fire.”’ "public opinion; rumour