Read historical proverb records with fixed sources, context and selection boundaries, without treating old sayings as present-day fact or advice.
Browse all published languages. Each work opens only an available, reviewed reading. 667 entries
It is not easy to straighten in the oak the crook that grew in the sapling.
Covetousness brings nothing home.
I wad rather my friend should think me framet than fashious.
He that has a goose will get a goose.
Time and the hour run through the longest day.
Save a thief from the gallows, and he will be the first to cut your throat.
Gear is easier gained than guided.
The pot calls the kettle black bottom.
Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
If the grass grow in Janiveer, It grows the worse for it all the year.
Lifeless, faultless.
Drawn wells are seldom dry.
He that will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock.
Let him that owns the cow take her by the tail.
He that will to Cupar maun to Cupar.
He can say, "My jo," an' think it na.
A May flood never did good.
The hardest step is over the threshold.
Knock a man down, and kick him for falling.
He is like a cat, he always falls on his feet.
An idle brain's the deil's smiddy.
"Had I wist," quoth the fool.
The old horse may die waiting for new grass.
Smooth waters run deep