A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

BETTER be envied than pitied
Cf. PINDAR Pythian Odes I. 163 ''/'-v' ⁿ'''. envy is stronger than pity; HERODOTUS Hist. iii. 52 .Vr) ;■ ^.^.-л^^.¹., it is better to be envied than
to be pitied; mid 15th-cent. Fr. trop plus vaut estre enviё que plaint, it is much better to be envied than pitied; ERASMUS Adages IV. iv. 87 praestat invidiosum esse quam miserabilem.

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  1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs i. xi. D2V Sonne, better be envied then pitied, folke sey. a 1631 DONNE Poems (1633) 94 Men say, and truly, that they better be Which be envyed then pittied. 1902 G. W. E. RUSSELL Onlooker’s Note-Book xxxiii. Her friend responded sympathetically, ‘My dear, I’d much rather be envied than pitied.’ ■ malice; pity
  

BETTER be out of the world than out of the fashion

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  1639 J. CLARKE Paramiologia Anglo-Latina 171 As good out of th’ world as out o’ th’ fashion. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation ii. 117 ‘Why, Tom, you are high in the Mode.’ .. ‘It is better to be out of the World, than out of the Fashion.’ 1903 E. F. MAITLAND From Window in Chelsea IV. Women seem seldom hindered by lack of money when it is a case of follow-my-leader. ‘Better be out of the world than out of the fashion.’ 1935 J. MAXTON If I were Dictator i. Dictatorships are fashionable just now. There was an old-time song which said ‘If you are out of the fashion you had better leave the world.’ ^novelty
  

BETTER be safe than sorry
Now very often in the form better safe than sorry.

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  1837 S. LOVER Rory O’More II. xxi. ‘Jist countin’ them,—is there any harm in that?’ said the tinker: ‘it’s betther be sure than sorry’. 1933 Radio Times 14 Apr. 125 Cheap distempers very soon crack or fade. Better be safe than sorry. Ask for Hall’s. 1972 J. WILSON Hide & Seek vii. It’s not that I want to shut you in.. but—well, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 2002 Washington Post 12 Jan. C10 (Garfield comic strip) ‘You’re breaking up with me? But we’ve never dated. You don’t want to take any chances?’ ‘Better safe than sorry.’ ■ prudence; security