A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Happy’s the WOOING that is not long a-doing

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  1576 R. EDWARDS Paradise of Dainty Devices 71 Thrise happie is that woying
  

That is not long a doyng. 1624 BURTON Anatomy of Melancholy (ed. 2) III. ii. Blessed is the wooing, That is not long a doing. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. ix. What signifies shilly-shally? What says the old proverb? ‘Happy’s the wooing, That is not long a doing.’ 1842 R. H. BARHAM Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. ii. 40 ‘Thrice happy’s the wooing that’s not long a-doing!’ So much time is saved in the billing and cooing. 1930 A. CHRISTIE Mysterious Mr. Quin iii. The old saying.. ‘Happy the wooing that’s not long doing.’ ^weddings
Many go out for WOOL and come home shorn
Many seek to better themselves or make themselves rich, but end by losing what they already have.
□1599 J. MINSHEU Dialogues in Spanish 61 You will goe for wooll, and returne home shorne. 1612 T. SHELTON tr. Cervantes’ Don Quixote I. vii. To wander through the world.. without once considering how many there goe to seeke for wooll, that returne againe shorne themselues. 1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 220 Many go out for wooll and come home shorn. 1858 S. A. HAMMETT Piney Woods Tavern xxiii. There’s a proverb about going out after wool, and coming home shorn. 1910 G. W. E. RUSSELL Sketches & Snapshots 315 Some go [to Ascot] intent on repairing the ravages of Epsom or Newmarket; and in this speculative section not a few.. who go for wool come away shorn. 1981 N. FREELING One Damn Thing after Another iii. One always comes back tired from holidays. ‘Go for wool and come back—?’ ‘Shaved—no, cropped.’ ‘Sheared. Yes.’ "ambition; misfortune; poverty
wool see also MUCH cry and little wool.
A WORD to the wise is enough
Now often abbreviated to a word to the wise. Cf. L. verbum sat sapienti, a word is sufficient to a wise man; also verb. sap.

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  a 1513 DUNBAR Poems (1979) 206 Few wordis may serve the wyis. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vii. 14^V Fewe woords to the wise suffice to be spoken. a 1605 W. HAUGHTON Englishmen for my Money (1616) D3 They say, a word to the Wise is enough: so by this little French that he speakes, I see he is the very man I seeke for. 1768 STERNE Sentimental Journey III. 164 A word, Mons. Yorick, to the wise.. is enough. 1841 DICKENS Old Curiosity Shop ii. ‘Fred!’cried Mr. Swiveller, tapping his nose, ‘a word to the wise is sufficient for them—we may be good and happy without riches, Fred.’ 2002 Washington Times 25 Apr. C10 (heading) The Man With the Proverbial Word to the Wise. "hints
  

word see also ACTIONS speak louder than words; an ENGLISHMAN’ word is his bond; FINE words butter no parsnips; HARD words break no bones; one PICTURE is worth ten thousand words; STICKS and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me; many a TRUE word is spoken in jest.