A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

You should KNOW a man seven years before you stir his fire
□1803 C. DIBDIN Professional Life I. p. xi. It is a well-meant saying, that you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire; or, in other words, before you venture at too much familiarity. 1904 V. S. LEAN Collectanea IV. 204 You may poke a man’s fire after you’ve known him seven years, but not before. 1942 A. THIRKELL Marling Hall iii. ‘Let me get you another drink,’ said David, taking the glass. ‘I know one ought to know people seven years to poke their fires, but I believe it’s less for cocktails.’ 1945 M. SARSFIELD Green December Fills Graveyard iv. 35 ‘I haven’t known you ten years, or whatever the period is, but I’m going to poke your fire.’ “familiarity
What you don’t KNOW can’t hurt you
□1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 168 Why should I seeke to take him in it?.. So long as I know it not, it hurteth mee not. 1908 E. WALTER Easiest Way III. 66 What a fellow doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him, and he’ll love you just the same. 1979 ‘S. WOODS’ This Fatal Writ 54 ‘No, this is interesting. . . I didn’t know—’ ‘What you don’t know can’t hurt you,’ said Maitland. 1992 A. LAMBERT Rather English Marriage (1993) vi. 115 Everyone’s entitled to their privacy and what you don’t know can’t hurt you. 2001 Times 23 Nov. 20 A little ignorance can go a long way. But what you don’t know will always hurt you. Cleverness is the saving grace of our humanity. “ignorance
KNOW thyself
Cf. Gr. ' ccf-'-Ti'-.- I or '.-(??■: i. the motto inscribed on the 6th-cent. BC temple of Apollo
at Delphi and quoted by several ancient writers (some attributing it to Solon): see esp. Pausanias x. 24 and Juvenal Satires xi; L. nosce teipsum.
□1387 J. TREVISA tr. Higden’sPolychronicon (1865) 1.241 While the cherle smootthe victor, he schulde of te seie to hym in this manere:.. Knowe thyself. 1545 R. ASCHAM Toxophilus II. 36 Knowe thy selfe: that is to saye, learne to knowe what thou arte able, fitte and apt vnto, and folowe that. 1732 POPE Essay on Man II. 1 Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. 1849 BULWER- LYTTON Caxtons III. XVI. X. ‘Know thyself,’ said the old philosophy. ‘Improve thyself,’ saith the new. 2002 Washington Times 7 Feb. A21 The self-esteem movement is based on simple-minded shibboleths such as ‘Love thyself,’ rather than ‘Know thyself.’ ■ human nature; wisdom