A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

uncertainty see certainty and uncertainty
unity and division
a HOUSE divided cannot stand
when SPIDER webs unite, they can tie up a lion
UNION is strength
UNITED we stand, divided we fall
value
the nearer the BONE, the sweeter the meat
GOLD may be bought too dear
a KING’S chaff is worth more than other men’s corn
it is a POOR dog that’s not worth
whistling for the WORTH of a thing is what it will bring
variety
it takes ALL sorts to make a world
VARIETY is the spice of life
villainy see wrong-doers
violence
BLOOD will have blood
when ELEPHANTS fight, it is the grass that suffers
KILLING no murder
MURDER will out
virtue
the BEST of men are but men at best to the PURE all things are pure VIRTUE is its own reward
wanting and having see also greed
APPETITE comes with eating
the BEST-laid schemes .. gang aft agley
the CAT would eat fish ..
he that would EAT the fruit must climb the tree
if IFS and ands were pots and pans..
NO pain, no gain
NOTHING venture, nothing gain
NOTHING venture, nothing have
if you RUN after two hares you will catch
neither SEEK and ye shall find the WISH is father to the thought if WISHES were horses, beggars would ride
warfare
ATTACK is the best form of defence
COUNCILS of war never fight
the best DEFENSE is a good offense
all’s FAIR in love and war
TRUTH is the first casualty of war
waste
HASTE makes waste
do not throw PEARLS to swine
SPARE at the spigot, and let out at the
bung-hole WASTE not, want not WILFUL waste makes woeful want
ways and means
DIFFERENT strokes for different folks
DIRTY water will quench fire
EASY does it
never do EVIL that good may come of it
FIGHT fire with fire
he who FIGHTS and runs away..
FIRE is a good servant but a bad master
FIRST catch your hare
when all you have is a HAMMER..
the LONGEST way round is the shortest way home
you cannot make an OMELETTE without breaking eggs
ONE size does not fit all
don’t PUT the cart before the horse
REVOLUTIONS are not made with rose-water
all ROADS lead to Rome
give a man ROPE enough and he will hang himself
there is no ROYAL road to learning
SLOW and steady wins the race
SLOW but sure
SOFTLY, softly, catchee monkey there is more than one WAY to skin a cat there are more WAYS of killing a cat than choking it with cream there are more WAYS of killing a dog than choking it with butter there are more WAYS of killing a dog than hanging it where there’s a WILL, there’s a way he who WILLS the end, wills the means