A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

turneth see a SOFT answer turneth away wrath.
turning see it is a LONG lane that has no turning.
twelve see it is not SPRING until you can plant your foot upon twelve daisies.
twice see FOOL me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; he GIVES twice who gives quickly; LIGHTNING never strikes the same place twice; MEASURE twice, cut once; ONCE bitten, twice shy; OPPORTUNITY never knocks twice at any man’s door; THINK twice, cut once.
As the TWIG is bent, so is the tree inclined
Cf. 1530 J. PALSGRAVE L^claircissement de la Langue Frangaise 161 A man may bende a wande [shoot] while it is grene [pliant] and make it strayght though it be neuer so croked.
□1732 POPE Epistles to Several Persons 1.102 ‘Tis Education forms the common mind, Just as the Twig is bent, the Tree’s inclined. 1818 T. G. FESSENDEN Ladies Monitor 75’ ‘Tis education forms the tender mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined.’ This hacknied adage, not more trite than true. 1940 P. McGINLEY Primary Education in Pocketful of Wry 16 As bends the twig, thus grows the el-em.. So, twice a month, we’re bound to sell ’em The doctrine of Impartial Minds. 1979 ‘C. AIRD’ Some die Eloquent viii. ‘Nature, not nurture?’ murmured the biologist. .. ‘As the twig is bent,’ Sloan came back. 1996 National Review 9 Dec. 63 Older, bigger children defend their privileges, while younger kids try to subvert the status quo. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. ■ children; human nature; nature and nurture
TWO blacks don’t make a white
Similar to TWO wrongs don’t make a right.
□1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 321 Two Blacks make no White. An Answer to them who, being blam’d, say others have done as ill or worse. 1822 SCOTT Letter 14 Mar (1934) VII. 96 To try whether I cannot contradict the old proverb of ‘Two blackies [Lockhart Life: blacks] not making a white’. 1882 A. AINGER Charles Lamb vii. As two blacks do not make a white, it was beside the mark to make laborious fun over Southey’s youthful ballads. 1932 G. B. SHAW Adventures of Black Girl 28 Never forget that two blacks do not make a white. 1966 A. E. LINDOP I start Counting viii. ‘What’s the modern murderer got to fear?.. They’ll only go to prison.’..’Two blacks don’t make a white.’ "good and evil