A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

FACTS are stubborn things

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  1732 E. BUDGELL Liberty & Progress ii. Plain matters of fact are terrible stubborn things. 1749 J. ELIOT Continuation of Essay on Field Husbandry 20 Facts are stubborn things. 1866 BLACKMORE Cradock Nowell III. vi. Facts, however, are stubborn things, and will not even make a bow to the sweetest of young ladies. 1942 L. THAYER Murder is Out xxvii. You’re.. too intelligent to think that suggestion would have any weight with a jury. .. Facts are stubborn things. ■ reality and illusion
  

fail see when all FRUIT fails welcome haws.
failure see SUCCESS has many fathers, while failure is an orphan.
FAINT heart never won fair lady
Cf. c 1390 GOWER Confessio Amantis v. 6573 Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, Ther schal no castell ben assailed.

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  1545 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages (ed. 2) 10 A coward verely neuer obteyned the loue of a faire lady. 1580 LYLY Euphues & his England II. 131 Faint hart Philautus neither winneth Castell nor Lady: therfore endure all thinges that shall happen with patience. 1614 W. CAMDEN Remains concerning Britain (ed. 2) 306 Faint heart neuer wonne faire Lady. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xvi. Then, madam, we will not take your denial. .. Have I not heard it said, that faint heart never won fair lady. 1899 G. GISSING Crown of Life xiii. Could he leave England, this time, without confessing himself to her? Faint heart—he mused over the proverb. 2002 New Scientist 11 May 37 Those who risk all might die in the attempt, but this is no worse genetically speaking than sitting around and dying childless; they might, by risking all, do very well indeed. Faint heart never won fair lady. "boldness; love
  

FAIR and softly goes far in a day

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  c 1350 Douce MS 52 no. 50 Fayre and softe me [one] ferre gose. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 87 Fair and softly goes far in a day. ..He that spurs on too fast at first setting out, tires before he comes to his journeys end. Festina lente. 1818 SCOTT Heart of Midlothian IV. viii. Reuben Butler isna the man I take him to be, if he disna learn the Captain to fuff [puff] his pipe some other gate [place] than in God’s house, or [before] the quarter be ower. ‘Fair and softly gangs far,’ said Meiklehose. 1914 K. F. PURDON Folk of Furry Farm ii. Maybe I’m like the singed cat, better than I look! I’m slow, but fair and easy goes far in a day. "gentleness; tact