A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

You can’t tell a BOOK by its cover

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  1929 American Speech IV 465 You can’t judge a book by its binding. 1946 ROLFE & FULLER Glass Room i. ‘Forgive me, sir,’ he said. ‘I had you all wrong. You can never tell a book by its cover.’ 1954 R. HAYDN Journal of Edwin Carp 131 This is a nice respectable street, wouldn’t you say, sir?.. Unfortunately, sir, you can’t tell a book by its cover. 1969 S. MAY et al. You can’t judge Book by its Cover (song) 1 I can’t let you know you’re getting to me.. ‘cause you can’t judge a book by its cover. My pappa used to say, look, child, look beyond a tender smile. 1984 D. CANNELL Thin Woman xii. Appreciate your allowing me to participate, but you should be less trusting, Ellie—can’t always judge a book by its cover. 2001 Bookseller 9 Nov. 28 Don’t judge a book by its cover, read it for yourself at BookBrowse.com. ■ appearance, deceptive
  

book see also a GREAT book is a great evil.
If you’re BORN to be hanged then you’ll never be drowned
Commonly used to qualify another’s apparent good luck. Cf. mid 14th-cent. Fr. noyer ne peut, cil qui doit pendre, he cannot drown who must hang; c 1503 A. BARCLAY tr. Gringore’s Castle of Labour (1506) A8 He that is drowned may no man hange.

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  1593 J. ELIOT Ortho-Epia Gallica 127 He thats borne to be hangd shall neuer be drownde. 1723 DEFOE Colonel Jack (ed. 2) 126 He had a Proverb in his Favour, and he got out of the Water.. not being born to be drown’d, as I shall observe afterwards in its place. 1956 H. LEWIS Witch & Priest v. There is another picture, and underneath it says.. If you’re born to be hanged, then you’ll never be drowned. 1986 M. SLUNG More Momilies 16 If you’re born to hang, you won’t drown. "fate and fatalism; luck
  

born see also it is BETTER to be born lucky than rich; because a MAN is born in a stable that does not make him a horse; YORKSHIRE born and Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm and weak in the head.