A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs Comprising French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Danish, with English Translations and a General Index

Part 36

Chapter 364,828 wordsPublic domain

He is a fool who does not know from what quarter the wind blows, 118

He is a fool who loses the flight for the leap, 118

He is a fool who makes his physician his heir, 11

He is a fool who makes a mallet of his fist, 11

He is a fool who thinks that another does not think, 125, 233, 286

He is a great fool who forgets himself, 21

He is a great simpleton who starves himself to feed another, 224

He is a horse with four white feet (_i. e._ he is unlucky), 12

He is a man like a book, 303

He is a man who acts like a man, 353

He is a poor smith who is afraid of sparks, 359

He is a sorry barber who has but one comb, 128

He is a thief indeed who robs a thief, 8

He is a very bad manager of honey who leaves nothing to lick off his fingers, 9

He is an essence of scoundrels, 326

He is an aristocrat in folio, 323

He is an old saint, and may leave it in the hands of God, 274

He is as easily caught as a hare with drums, 326 (_See_ Hares are not caught, &c.)

He is as good a Catholic as Duke Alva’s dog, who ate flesh in Lent, 327

He is as good a divine as Judas was an apostle, 323

He is as poor as Job, 326

He is as sharp as a leaden dagger, 326

He is as welcome as the first day in Lent (alluding to fast-day), 327

He is blind enough who cannot see through a sieve, 224

He is called clever who cheats and plunders his friend, 21

He is easy to lure, who is ready to follow, 353

He is nowhere who is everywhere, 112

He is in safety who rings the tocsin, 202, 222

He is in search of a ram with five feet, 77

He is like a cat, he always falls on his feet, 21

He is like a singed cat, better than he looks, 26

He is like Jean de Nivelle’s dog, that runs away when he is called, 11

He is like the anchor that is always in the sea, yet does not learn to swim, 95

He is like the gardener’s dog, who don’t eat cabbages and will let no one else eat them, 21

He is lucky who forgets what cannot be mended, 150

He is master of another man’s life who is indifferent to his own, 97

He is most likely to spill who holds the vessel in his hand, 354

He is most cheated who cheats himself, 356

He is my friend who grinds at my mill, 222, 277

He is nearest to God who has the fewest wants, 353

He is nearest a thing who has it in his hands, 353

He is no friend that eats his own by himself, and mine with me, 285

He is no merchant who always gains, 323

He is no small knave who knows a great one, 361

He is noble who performs noble deeds, 326

He is not a bad driver who knows how to turn, 373

He is not a good mason who refuses any stone, 112

He is not a man who cannot say no, 112

He is not a thorough wise man who cannot play the fool on occasion, 90

He is not fit to be a baker whose head is made of butter, 353

He is not free who drags his chain after him, 24, 112

He is not happy who knows it not, 98

He is not so much of a devil as he is black, 24

He is not yet born who can please everybody, 355

He is of the race of Johnny Van Cleeve, who would always much rather have than give, 326

He is out of danger who rings the alarm-bell, 202, 222

He is past preaching to who does not care to do well, 21

He is rich enough who is contented, 166

He is rich enough who owes nothing, 17, 97

He is rich enough who does not want, 73

He is so wise, that he goes upon the ice three days before it freezes, 327

He is the devil’s valet, he does more than he is ordered, 11

He is the wisest man who does not think himself so, 33

He is the world’s master who despises it, its slave who prizes it, 97

He is too idle to fetch his breath, 326

He is too stupid to be trusted alone by the fire, 326

He is very blind who cannot see the sun, 75

He is wise who learns at another’s cost, 125

He is worthy of sweets who has tasted bitters, 353

He is young enough who has health, and he rich enough who has no debts, 353

He is your friend who gets you out of a scrape, 201, 267

He keeps his word, as the sun keeps butter, 325

He knocks boldly at the door who brings good news, 19, 72, 373

He knows best where the shoe pinches who wears it, 356, 373

He knows enough who knows how to live and keep his own counsel, 5

He knows it as well as his Pater-noster, 255

He knows the water best who has waded through it, 374

He knows well where the thorn pricks him, 95

He knows where the devil carries his tail, 96, 124

He laughs at scars who never felt a wound, 139

He laughs well (or best) who laughs longest, 55, 124 (_See_ He who laughs)

He lays his eggs beside his nest, 327

He lies like a tooth-drawer, 23

He lives in the land of promise, 327

He looks for his ass and sits on its back, 20

He lords it (or swaggers) like an eel in a tub, 325

He loses his market who has nothing to sell, 201

He loses least in a quarrel who keeps his tongue in check, 356

He loves well who never forgets, 75, 205, 268

He may lie boldly who comes from afar, 1, 95

He may swim boldly who is held up by the chin, 9

He means well, but has a bad way of showing it, 326

He measures others by his own standard, 95, 325

He must be a clever host that would take the devil into his hostelry, 355

He must be ill-favoured who scares the devil, 355

He must be pure who would blame another, 373

He must cry loud who would scare the devil, 373

He must gape wide who would gape against an oven, 327

He must have clean fingers who would blow another’s nose, 355

He must have crept out of hell while the devil was asleep, 326

He must have iron fingers who would flay the devil, 373

He must have keen eyes that would know a maid at sight, 145

He must have plenty of butter who would stop everybody’s mouth, 373

He must indeed be a good master who never errs, 325

He must keep a sharp look-out who would speak the truth, 373

He must rise betimes who would please everybody, 327

He must shoot well who always hits the mark, 323

He must stand high that would see the end of his own destiny, 355

He must stoop that has a low door, 94

He need have plenty of meal who would stop every man’s mouth (_Scotch_: He behoves to have meal enou that sal stop ilka man’s mou’), 98, 322, 355

He needs say nothing about the score who pays nothing, 20

He needs a long spoon that would eat out of the same dish with the devil, 355

He never was a friend who ceased to be so for a slight cause, 287

He never was a friend who has ceased to be one, 48

He ought not to complain of the sea who returns to it a second time, 73

He pays for the glasses who breaks them, 48

He plays best who wins, 49,182

He preaches well who lives well, 78, 205

He pulls at a long rope who desires another’s death, 3

He puts his sickle into another man’s harvest, 23

He ruins himself in promises, and clears himself by giving nothing, 26

He runs as fast as if he had eggs in his shoes, 327

He runs far who never turns, 89

He runs heavily who is forced to run, 354

He’s a friend at sneezing-time,—the most that can be got from him is a “God bless you,” 71

He said devil, but meant you, 327

He scolds most that can hurt the least, 374

He sells the bird on the branch, 96

He sets the wolf to guard the sheep, 95

He should not complain of being cheated who buys cloth by the sample, 287

He sins as much who holds the bag as he who puts into it, 7

He sits well who can rise without help, 355

He sleeps securely who has nothing to lose, 17

He slumbers enough who does nothing, 5

He sticks his nose in everything (He has his finger in every pie), 145

He struts as valiantly as an English cock, 327

He studies the Bible of fifty-two leaves (a pack of cards), 326

He sups ill who eats up all at dinner, 37

He swims on his own bulrush, 328

He takes out a nail and puts in a pin, 77

He that abideth low cannot fall hard, 310

He that at twenty is not, at thirty knows not, and at forty has not, will never be, nor ever know, nor ever have, 79

He that bears the cross, blesses himself first, 354

He that buildeth upon the highway hath many advisers, 179, 308 (_See_ He who builds)

He that buys the office of magistrate must of necessity sell justice, 79

He that can be patient finds his foe at his feet, 309

He that chases another does not sit still himself, 308

He that climbs high falls heavily, 182

He that comes unbidden goes unthanked, 310

He that corrects not youth controls not age, 50

He that courts injury will obtain it, 373

He that creepeth falleth not, 310

He that cuts above himself will get splinters in his eye, 376

He that despises the little is not worthy of the great, 310

He that does ill never wants for excuses, 266

He that does not lie, does not come of good blood, 251

He that does not save pennies will never have pounds, 352

He that eats his fowl alone may saddle his horse alone, 252, 292

He that examines every bush will hardly get into the wood, 185

He that exceeds his commission must answer for it at his own cost, 80

He that finds fault wants to buy, 186, 248 (_See_ He who)

He that finds something before it is lost, will die before he is sick, 309

He that has a choice has trouble, 309

He that has an hour’s start will not be hanged, 253

He that has but one pig easily fattens it, 82

He that has good legs has often bad boots, 182

He that has lost his credit is dead to the world, 180

He that has no head needs no hat, 183

He that has no ill luck grows weary of good luck, 250

He that has no money in his purse should have fair words on his lips, 376

He that has not money in his purse should have honey in his mouth, 50

He that has swallowed the devil may swallow his horns, 82

He that has the devil on his neck must find him work, 308

He that has the luck leads the bride to church, 309

He that hath a head of wax must not approach the fire, 48

He that hath a wife is sure of strife, 49

He that hath an ill name is half hanged, 309

He that hears much, hears many lies, 311

He that hides can find, 48

He that hides is no better than he that steals, 373

He that holds is no better than he that scourges, 373

He that holds the handle of the frying-pan runs the risk of burning himself, 10

He that hunts others must run himself, 179

He that hunts two hares at once will catch neither, 49, 343

He that inquires much, learns much, 378

He that is afraid of the devil does not grow rich, 82

He that is ashamed to eat is ashamed to live, 48

He that is at sea has not the wind in his hands, 310 (_See_ He who is at sea)

He that is bitten by a dog must apply some of its hair, 311

He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned, 80, 182, 309

He that is drowning shouts though he be not heard, 78

He that is embarked with the devil must sail with him, 80, 310

He that is good for something is the ass of the public, 101

He that is in fault is in suspicion, 80

He that is more civil than usual, either wants to cozen you or has need of you, 253

He that is not gallant at twenty, strong at thirty, rich at forty, or experienced at fifty, will never be gallant, strong, rich or prudent, 246

He that is out at sea, must either sail or sink, 377

He that is thrown would still wrestle, 28

He that is too much in haste, may stumble on a good road, 53

He that is unkind to his own will not be kind to others (Galician) 245

He that jokes, confesses, 78

He that keeps out of harm’s way will gather goodly riches, 355

He that laughs on Friday may cry on Sunday, 58

He that lies down with dogs will get up with fleas, 52, 79, 247, 376

He that lives with cripples learns to limp, 308

He that loves his child chastises him, 311

He that makes himself dirt is trod on by the swine, 86

He that makes one basket can make a hundred, 249

He that marries for love has good nights, but sorry days, 179

He that minds his business at home, will not be accused of taking part in the fray, 248

He that never fails never grows rich, 83

He that paints a flower does not give it perfume, 85

He that pelts every barking dog must pick up a great many stones, 183

He that performs his own errand saves the messenger’s hire, 392

He that picks up all sorts of wood soon gets an armful, 179

He that plays at racket must watch the ball, 309

He that reckons without his host must reckon again, 49, 80, 111

He that says A, must also say B, 179

He that says what he should not, will hear what he would not, 374

He that seeks, finds, and sometimes what he would rather not, 78

He that seeks to have many friends never has any, 87

He that shows his money shows his judgment, 82

He that sings himself is the best pleased, 354

He that sits among reeds cuts pipes when he pleases, 182

He that spares something to-day will have something to-morrow, 309

He that spends more than he is worth spins a rope for his own neck, 51

He that stands may fall, 80

He that stays in the valley will not get over the hill, 52

He that stirs honey will have some of it stick to him, 249

He that stumbles and falls not, mends his pace, 53, 248

He that ties well, unties well (Safe bind, safe find), 246

He that tickles himself, may laugh when he will, 185, 309, 379

He that trusts a faithless friend, has a good witness against him, 252

He that ventures not, fails not, 51

He that wants should not be bashful, 78

He that wants the kernel must crack the nut, 22, 180, 308

He that wants to beat a dog can easily find a stick, 87 (_See_ Who wants)

He that wants to hang a dog, is sure to find a rope, 378

He that wants to hang a dog, says that it bites the sheep, 352

He that well considers the world, must own he has never seen a better, 308

He that will does more than he that can, 281

He that will have eggs, must bear with cackling, 309

He that will have fire must bear with smoke, 311

He that will not be saved needs no preacher, 184

He that will not when he can, cannot when he will, 83, 251 (_See_ Who will not)

He that will not when he may, when he will shall have nay, 50

He that will not strive in this world should not have come into it, 84

He that won’t listen, must feel, 184

He that would be healthy, must eat temperately, and sup early, 252

He that would be healthy must wear his winter clothes in summer, 252

He that would be ill served should keep plenty of servants, 87

He that would be old long must begin betimes, 292

He that would cheat a Jew, must be a Jew, 188

He that would have a beautiful wife should choose her on a Saturday, 252

He that would have a thing done quickly and well must do it himself, 87

He that would heal a wound must not handle it, 88

He that would jest must take a jest, else to let it alone were best, 309

He that would keep his eye sound must tie up his hand, 292

He that would keep his house clean must not let priest or pigeon enter it, 54

He that would stop everybody’s mouth needs plenty of flour, 183

He that you seat upon your shoulder will often try to get upon your head, 400

He thinks to catch shell-fish in the trees, 327

He threatens many who affronts one, 265

He to whom God gives no sons, the devil gives nephews, 251

He waits long that waits for another man’s death, 327

He wants to fly before he has wings, 327

He was born on a Sunday, he likes work ready done, 21

He was born upon St. Galtpert’s night, three days before luck, 326

He was bom with a caul, 21

He wastes his tears who weeps before the judge, 119

He wears the mourning of his washerwoman, 26

He who abuses others must not be particular about the answer he gets, 355

He who always tells me a lie never cheats me, 252

He who always thinks it is too soon, is sure to come too late, 177

He who asks the fewest favours is the best received, 250

He who at thirty has no brains, will never purchase an estate, 246

He who at twenty understands nothing, at thirty knows nothing, and at forty has nothing, will lead a wretched old age, 246

He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin, 252

He who begins and does not finish loses his labour, 49

He who begins badly, ends badly, 250

He who begins ill finishes worse, 82

He who begins many things finishes few, 82

He who begins much finishes little, 186

He who bestirs himself sucks up, he who lies still dries up, 54

He who blows in the fire will get sparks in his eyes, 182

He who blows upon dust fills his eyes with it, 86

He who brings bad tidings comes soon enough, 185

He who brings is welcome, 179

He who builds a house in the market-place, builds either too high or too low, 81

He who builds a house, or marries, is left with a lank purse, 201

He who builds according to every man’s advice will have a crooked house, 379

He who builds by the roadside has many masters (or surveyors), 179, 308

He who builds on another’s ground loses his stone and mortar, 80

He who builds on the public way must let the people have their say, 179

He who burns his posteriors must sit on blisters, 311

He who buys a horse buys care, 247

He who buys a house gets many a plank and nail for nothing, 181

He who buys and sells does not feel what he spends, 247

He who buys betimes buys cheaply, 79

He who buys by the pennyworth keeps his own house and other men’s too, 87

He who buys the broom can also buy the handle, 79

He who buys what he don’t want, will soon sell what he does want, 79, 183

He who can give has many a good neighbour, 49

He who can lick can bite, 51

He who can sit upon a stone and feed himself should not move, 377

He who can wait obtains what he wishes, 78

He who cannot help may hinder, 184

He who cannot paint must grind the colours, 184

He who cannot pay with his purse must pay with his hide, 184

He who cannot revenge himself is weak, he who will not is contemptible, 84

He who cannot speak well of his trade does not understand it, 51

He who can’t get bacon must be content with cabbage, 376

He who carries nothing loses nothing, 52

He who carries one burden will soon carry a hundred, 52

He who catches one fish is a fisherman, 251

He who chastises one threatens a hundred, 86

He who cheats a cheat and robs a thief, earns a dispensation for 100 years, 181

He who chooses takes the worst (Pick and choose and take the worst), 49

He who climbs too high is near a fall, 65

He who comes first grinds first, 251

He who comes first to the mill is first served, 378

He who conceits himself wise, has an ass near at hand, 183

He who dances well goes from wedding to wedding, 246

He who decries (or finds fault, or disparages) wants to buy, 49, 78, 186, 248

He who delays, gathers, 220

He who demands does not command, 79

He who denies all confesses all, 86, 253

He who despises small things seldom grows rich, 398

He who dies not in his twenty-third year, drowns not in his twenty-fourth, and is not slain in his twenty-fifth, may boast of good days, 343

He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself, 179

He who divides gets the worst share, 248

He who does as he likes has no headache, 80

He who does good to you either dies or goes away, 247

He who does no more than another is no better than another, 251

He who does not bait his hook catches nothing (or fishes in vain), 50, 184

He who does not gain, loses, 50

He who does not go (or look) forward, stays behind, 184, 245

He who does not honour his wife, dishonours himself, 246

He who does not improve to-day will grow worse to-morrow, 185

He who does not look before him, must take misfortune for his earnings, 375

He who does not mix with the crowd knows nothing, 251

He who does not open his eyes must open his purse, 180

He who does not pick up a pin cares nothing for his wife, 250

He who does not repair his gutter has a whole house to repair, 250

He who does not show himself, is overlooked, 251

He who does not speak, God does not hear, 251

He who does not tire, achieves, 196

He who does not tire, tires adversity, 51

He who does not (or will not) when he can, cannot when he will, 50, 83, 251

He who does not whip the child does not mend the youth, 250

He who does nothing, does ill, 50

He who does the wrong forgets it, but not he who receives it, 82

He who does what he likes, does not what he ought, 249

He who doth his own business defileth not his fingers, 81

He who doubts nothing knows nothing, 220

He who dresses in others’ clothes will be undressed on the highway, 248

He who eats of the king’s goose will void a feather forty years after, 50

He who eats pears with his master should not choose the best, 82

He who eats the king’s cow lean, pays for it fat, 50, 249

He who eats the meat let him pick the bone, 247

He who eats and puts by, has sufficient for two meals, 247

He who envies, suffers, 184

He who esteems none but himself is as happy as a king, 84

He who excuses himself accuses himself, 53, 86, 310

He who fain would marry, in choice should not tarry, 182

He who fears to suffer, suffers from fear, 49

He who feeds a wolf, strengthens his enemy, 376

He who feeds the hen ought to have the egg, 355

He who finds fault wants to buy, 186, 248 (_See_ He who decries, &c.)

He who finds what has not been lost, will chance to die before he is ill, 181

He who flees, proves himself guilty, 376

He who follows the crowd has many companions, 180

He who forces love where none is found, remains a fool the whole year round, 183

He who gets out of debt enriches himself, 52

He who gives to the public, gives to no one, 249

He who gives bread to others’ dogs is often barked at by his own, 79

He who gives, must take (meaning a joke), 179

He who gives quickly, gives doubly, 179 (_See_ He gives twice)

He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord, 180, 343

He who goes abroad by day has no need of a lantern, 51

He who goes everywhere gains everywhere, 51

He who goes far from home to marry, goes either to deceive or be deceived, 249

He who goes to bed with dogs, will wake up with fleas, 183, 310

He who goes to collect wool may come back shorn, 54

He who goes to the mill gets befloured, 86

He who goes with wolves learns to howl, 247

He who grasps at all, holds nothing fast (or loses all), 179, 253

He who grasps too much holds little (or nothing) fast, 53, 86, 250

He who grasps too much lets much fall, 186

He who greases his cart-wheels helps his oxen, 252

He who guesses well prophesies well, 78

He who handles pitch, besmears himself, 184

He who hangs out a branch wants to sell his wine, 252

He who has a bad name is half hanged, 81

He who has a bad tongue should have good loins, 82

He who has a bad wife can expect no happiness, 201

He who has a companion has a master, 48

He who has a glass roof should not (or must not) throw stones at his neighbour’s (or others’), 82, 181, 253, 299, 352

He who has a good horse in his stable may go on foot, 81

He who has a good neighbour has a good morning, 81, 182, 379

He who has a good nest, finds good friends, 293

He who has a good wife can bear any evil, 201

He who has a handsome wife, a castle on the frontier, or a vineyard on the roadside, is never without war, 197

He who has a head of wax must not walk in the sun, 81

He who has a head won’t want for a hat, 66

He who has a mate has a master, 81

He who has a son grown up should not call another a thief, 253

He who has a straw tail is always in fear of its catching fire, 81

He who has a tongue, may go to Rome, 82, 250

He who has a trade may travel through the world, 253

He who has a white horse and a fair wife is seldom without trouble, 376

He who has bad neighbours is fain to praise himself, 355

He who has been bitten by a snake is afraid of an eel, 355

He who has been first a novice and then an abbot, knows what the boys do behind the altar, 220

He who has been stung by a scorpion is afraid of its shadow, 248

He who has been stung by a serpent is afraid of a lizard, 79

He who has both money and bread may choose with whom his daughter to wed, 248

He who has but one coat cannot lend it, 251

He who has crossed the ford knows how deep it is, 82