A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

LITTLE thieves are hanged, but great ones escape
Cf. late 14th-cent. Fr. les petits larrons sont penduez, non pas les grands, little thieves are hanged, not big ones.

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  1639 J. CLARKE Paramiologia Anglo-Latina 172 Little theeves are hang’d, but great ones escape. 1979 Daily Telegraph 22 Nov. 18 In view of the Blunt affair, I am reminded of the proverb, ‘Little thieves are hanged but great ones escape.’ "great and small; justice and injustice; wrong-doers
  

LITTLE things please little minds
Cf. OVID Ars Amatoria I. 159 parva leves capiunt animos, small things enthral light minds.

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  1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 139 A litle thyng pleaseth a foole. 1584 LYLY Sappho & Phao II. iv. Litle things catch light mindes. 1845 DISRAELI Sybil II. ii. Little things affect little minds. Lord Marney.. was kept at the station which aggravated his spleen. 1880 C. H. SPURGEON John Ploughman’s Pictures 81 Precious little is enough to make a man famous in certain companies.. for.. little things please little minds. 1963 D. LESSING Man & Two Women 74 Small things amuse small minds. 1973 Galt Toy Catalogue 35 As the saying goes—Little things please little minds. "great and small
  

little see also (adjective) BIG fish eat little fish; BIG fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them; BIRDS in their little nests agree; little BIRDS that can sing and won’t sing must be made to sing; EVERY little helps; GREAT oaks from little acorns grow; LONG and lazy, little and loud; MANY a little makes a mickle; MUCH cry and little wool; (adverb) LOVE me little, love me long.
LIVE and learn

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  c 1620 in Roxburghe Ballads (1871) I. 60 A man may liue and learne. 1771 SMOLLETT Humphry Clinker III. 168 ‘Tis a true saying, live and learn—O woman, what chuckling and changing have I seen! 1894 J. LUBBOCK Use of Life vi. No doubt we go on learning as long as we live: ‘Live and learn,’ says the old proverb. 1984 J. MINAHAN Great Diamond Robbery xi. ‘Y’ want steins, gov, go to Germany; ‘ere we only got pints.’ Live and learn. 2002 Washington Times 17 May C12 Live and learn. That has become something of a mantra for mutual fund investors. "experience