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Pearls of Wisdom:
proverbs and sayings from Victorian times
Extracted from
Moore's Improved Weather Almanack
1851
To know a bad husband, look at his wife's countenance.
Jest with an ass, and he will flap you in the face with his tail.
Say well is good, but do well is better.
When the wolf goes to steal, he goes a distance from home.
He who has to deal with a blockhead, has need of much brains.
He who rides behind another, does not saddle when he pleases.
A man-servant and a friend should be neither poor nor rich.
He who remains in the mill grinds, not he who goes and comes.
Good at a distance is better than evil near at hand.
A house filled with guests is eaten up and ill spoken of.
Gossiping and lying go hand-in-hand.
The mouse does not leave the cat's house with a full belly.
When the curate licks the knife, it must be bad for the clerk.
A reconciled friend is a double enemy.
Daub yourself with honey, and you will have plenty of flies.
Eagles fly alone, but sheep flock together.
A horse is neither better nor worse for his trappings.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
To him that wills, the way is seldom wanting.
A needy man's budget is full of schemes.
Of a bad paymaster get what you can, though it be but a straw.
He that will not look before him, will have to look behind him.
A wild goose never laid a tame egg.
Poverty makes a man acquainted with strange bed-fellows.
He who spends all he gets is on the high road to beggary.
When a river does not make a noise, it is either empty or very full.
When you meet with a madman, feign yourself a fool.
The horseshoe that clatters wants a nail.
A turn of the key is better than the conscience of a friar.
Let not your tongue cut your throat.
Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.
The way to Babylon will never bring you to Jerusalem.
Do on the hill as you would in the hall.
When one wolf eats another, there is nothing to eat in the wood.
He who has lost oxen, is always listening to the bells.
None are so deaf as they that will not hear.
A soldier, fire, and water, make room for themselves.
He that likes honey from thorns pays too dear for it.
He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolves.
Spend not where you may save; spare not where you must spend.
Accusing is proving, where malice and power sit judges.
A little wit will serve a fortunate man.
A man loses his time that comes early to a bad bargain.
The poor do penance for the follies of their superiors.
There are more lords in the world than brilliant wits.
The stone that lies not in your road need not offend you.
The best throw upon the dice is to throw them away.
Far fetched and dear bought is a bargain for the ladies.
A fool may chance to put something in a wise man's head.
What is done in the night appears in the day.
A little time may chance to hatch a great deal of mischief.
When the cat is away the mice will play.
When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window.
Good harvests make men prodigal, bad ones provident.
A nod from a lord is a breakfast for a fool.
When an ass is among monkeys, they all make faces at him.
A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open.
All truths must not be told at all times.
The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it.
The devil goes away when he finds the door shut against him.
To take ambition off a soldier is to rob him of his spurs.
Suffer not fear to tyrannize over the imagination.
Some are refined, like gold, in the furnace of affliction.
Worth has been underrated ever since wealth was overvalued.
Make not the tail broader than thy wings.
He who has one foot in a brothel, has the other in the hospital.
Punishment and reward act like the bridle and the spur.
Woe to the preachers who listen not to themselves.
Wherever there is flattery, there is sure to be a fool.
He that hath feathered his nest may flee when he likes.
If wishes would bide, beggars would ride.
What sculpture is to the block of marble, education is to the mind.
LINKS
Wikipedia: Old Moore's Almanack
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