English Proverbs and Proverb Humor

Proverbs

A stumble may prevent a fall
All good things come to those who wait
Everyone must row with the oars he has
Every path has its puddle
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb
One of these days is none of these days
Revenge is a dish best served cold
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow

See also Weather Proverbs (external)

Beauty without grace is like a hook without bait.
Contributed by Charon Muck, 26 Jan 2000

Caught between a rock and a hard place
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
(to be stuck with two choices that are both undesirable)

Out of the frying pan and into the fire
(to go from a bad to a worse situation)

Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb
(if you're going to get into the same amount of trouble, you might as well commit the greater offense)

Six of one, half a dozen of the other
(each choice is really the same thing)

Two sides of the same coin
(two aspects of a situation that are connected by necessity)

In for a penny, in for a pound
(if you're going to make a minor committment you might as well make the entire committment)

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched
(don't start making plans for something until it is a reality, rather than a pleasant speculation)

Don't cross your bridges before you get to them

(don't worry about future problems before you need to)

A stitch in time saves nine
(if you take care of a problem while it's small you won't have a bigger problem to deal with later)
(or, as Dr. Who likes to say: A stitch in time takes up space)

Time and tide wait for no man
(act in a timely fashion because you can't get back lost chances)
(or, once again as Dr. Who likes to say: Time and tide melts the snowman.)

Contributed by Rebecca Loos, Spokane, Washington, 5 June 2000

To listen is to learn, and to understand is to inspire.

Contributed by Hannah Martinez, 5 February 2002

A lie well stuck to is as good as the truth.

Contrary Proverbs

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	BUT	A man's reach should exceed his grasp
A miss is as good as a mile	BUT	Half a loaf is better than none
All good things come to those who wait	BUT	Time and tide wait for no man
Birds of a feather flock together	BUT	Opposites attract
Clothes make the man	BUT	Never judge a book by its cover
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them	BUT	Forewarned is forearmed
Doubt is the beginning of wisdom	BUT	Faith will move mountains
Good things come in small packages	BUT	The bigger the better
Great starts make great finishes	BUT	It ain't over 'till it's over
He who hesitates is lost	BUT	Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
	BUT	Look before you leap
Practice makes perfect	BUT	All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Silence is golden	BUT	The squeaky wheel gets the grease
The pen is mightier than the sword	BUT	Actions speak louder than words
You're never too old to learn	BUT	You can't teach an old dog new tricks
What's good for the goose is good for the gander	BUT	One man's meat is another man's poison.
Wise men think alike	BUT	Fools seldom differ