Proverbs

1. Many hands make light work - When many people work together to
accomplish a difficult task, it doesn’t seem so difficult. That is the general
meaning of this proverb. In other words, if people work together,
the work is easier and is completed more quickly.

2. Strike while the iron is hot - This proverb means that you should take
advantage of a favourable situation before it changes.
3. Honesty is the best policy - It is best to always be honest and tell the truth.
By doing so, you will win the trust and respect of others.
4. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence - Other people’s
lives always seem better, happier, and more successful than yours, even if
your life is going well.
5. Don’t judge a book by its cover - Don’t form an opinion or make a
judgment about someone or something based on its outward appearance.
6. An apple a day keeps the doctor away - Since apples are rich in vitamin C –
which is vital to our health – this proverb means that proper nutrition
contributes to good health and fewer visits to the doctor. In this proverb,
apples are a symbol of healthy foods and proper nutrition.
7. Better late than never - It is better to do something late than not do it at
all.
8. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you - Don’t treat badly the person or people
on whom you depend or who take care of you in some way.
9. Rome wasn’t built in a day - Time is needed to do great or important
things.
[Link] speak louder than words - A person’s true character can be seen by
what he does, not by what he says. A person can talk as much as he wants,
but he may not actually do anything to back up his words.
[Link]’s no use crying over spilt milk - Don’t waste time crying or complaining
about something bad that has happened that cannot be changed
[Link] waters run deep - This is said about a person who tends to be quiet
and does not say much. Such a person often has a “deep,” interesting
personality.
[Link] killed the cat - You could be harmed by being too curious about or
too interested in something that doesn’t concern you.
[Link] hands are tied - This saying is not to be taken literally. It has a different
meaning. It means that a person is unable to change things or render help
in a given situation.
[Link] of sight, out of mind - When you don’t see or hear about something,
you tend to forget about it.
[Link] come, easy go - This means that money is easily earned and just as
easily spent or lost (on gambling, for example).
[Link] can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs - It is impossible
to do something good or accomplish an important task without
encountering some problems or making some sacrifices.
[Link] forbidden fruit is always the sweetest - Things that are prohibited
seem very attractive or desirable.
[Link] you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours - If you do something to help me, I
will do something to help you.
[Link]’s the tip of the iceberg - As everyone knows, only a small part of an
iceberg is visible above the water. The rest is underwater.
This proverb is used to describe a situation when we are in the process of
trying to do something, and we encounter a difficulty or problem in
connection with it. The saying means that the present problem is not the
most difficult part of the entire process; many more – and probably more
difficult – problems lie ahead.
[Link] to walk before you run - Learn basic skills before you attempt to do
something more difficult. For example, don’t begin a study of English with
difficult subjects such as articles or gerunds. Start with easier material,
slowly increase your knowledge, and gradually work toward studying more
difficult topics.
[Link] things first - The most important things should be done before
everything else.
[Link]’t bite off more than you can chew - Don’t take on more work or
responsibility than you can handle at one time.
[Link]’s better to be safe than sorry - Be careful and exercise caution – even if it
seems unnecessary and it takes longer to complete something – and you
will avoid potential problems that could arise later.
[Link] early bird catches the worm - If you arrive early or do something
before other people do it, you have a greater chance of succeeding.
[Link]’t make a mountain out of an anthill (molehill) - Don’t make a minor
problem or difficulty into a major one; don’t exaggerate the significance of a
small problem.
[Link] there’s a will, there’s a way - If your desire to accomplish something
is strong enough, you will find a way to do it.
[Link] put your best foot forward - The meaning of this proverb is that
you should always try your best to make a good impression on others; show
your best traits and qualities.
[Link] squeaky wheel gets the grease - The person who complains the most
or is most vocal about something that he needs is usually the one that
receives help or attention
30.A rolling stone gathers no moss – This has two meanings: 1) a person who
is always moving – never living in one place very long – cannot be successful
or make a lot of money, and 2) a busy person will not become stagnant but
will remain creative and productive.
[Link] in Rome, do as the Romans do - This proverb means that you should
follow the local customs of whichever place you happen to be (even if it
seems odd or unsavoury).
[Link] of a feather flock together - This proverb refers to people who have
similar, overlapping interests, and how they often tend to be friendly or
may be found together.
33.A stitch in time saves nine - This proverb is referring to procrastination: it
means that getting your work done ahead of time, or completing some
simple task earlier rather than later, will save you effort down the road.
[Link] is in the eye of the beholder - This proverb refers to the fact that
everyone sees beauty differently, and what is ugly to one person may be
beautiful to another.
[Link] in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones - This proverb refers to
hypocrisy: it means that you should not accuse someone of a charge that
you yourself are guilty of.
[Link] makes the heart grow fonder - This proverb means that you tend
to have a fonder memory and feeling about someone or something after
they have been gone for a period.
[Link] of the frying pan, into the fire. - This refers to when someone goes
from one bad situation, to one that’s even worse. For example, if you leave
one job because you don’t like it for a new job, and then you hate the new
job even more.

[Link] proof of the pudding is in the eating. - This means that you only know
what something is like after you’ve tried it. So, for example, if you say, ‘I
don’t think this meal is going to be very nice!’. Someone could
appropriately respond, ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’. Basically,
you won’t know, until you’ve tried it.

[Link] before you leap. - This proverb is about always being cautious and not
just diving straight into things without knowing anything.
[Link] cloud has a silver lining. - This proverb suggests that even in bad
things, there are good things that come out of them.

[Link] who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. - This proverb is all
about people being hypocritical. It basically means that you shouldn’t judge
people for faults or failings that you yourself have.

[Link] good turn deserves another. - This proverb is all about repaying
favours. If someone does something nice for you, or a ‘good turn’, then you
should do something nice back, so they deserve another ‘good turn’.
[Link] speak louder than words. - This one is quite self-explanatory and
simple- it’s easier to say things than it is to follow through and do them. I
could become prime minister tomorrow (watch out world) and promise
every person in the country free chocolate for life (we can all dream). But
actually, doing that, and seeing through that promise, means a lot more
than actually saying it.
[Link]’s no such thing as a free lunch. - This means that sometimes, people
aren’t just doing things to be nice, like giving you a free lunch. Sometimes,
when people do these things, it’s because they want something in return (a
rather pessimistic outlook on life, if we’re honest).
[Link] a loaf is better than no bread. - This proverb essentially means that
something is better than nothing. For example, for your birthday, you might
ask for two birthday cakes (because there is no such thing as too much
cake), but you might only get one. But one cake is better than not having
any cake at all, or half a loaf is better than no bread.

[Link] and tide wait for no man. - This proverb means that, as much as we
may want to sometimes, we can’t stop time. And nothing that we do can
stop time from going on.

[Link] makes perfect. - A simple proverb- the more you practise at

something, the better you get! (Usually, though tell that to my old violin
teacher- yikes.)
[Link] goes before a fall. - This is referring to people who become too
arrogant or confident in themselves. It’s basically a warning to people that
 when you feel untouchable, that’s usually the time when you fail and trip
up, or fall. So don’t become too arrogant because it may lead to failure.

[Link] of sight, out of mind. - This saying basically means that if you can’t see
something, you don’t have to think about it. Although it’s not necessarily
true, it can be used to describe people who forget about friends or family
members that they don’t see often.

[Link] will out. - This means that, no matter what happens, the truth will
always come out in the end. This can often be said to someone to comfort
them when someone is lying about something that’s happened when you
know the truth. Someone may say that ‘the truth will out’ to reassure you
that people will know the truth of what really happened in the end and not
to worry.
[Link] work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. - This proverb reminds people
that we all need time off. If we’re just working all the time, we become very
bored, and boring.

[Link]’s worth doing is worth doing well. - Pretty self-explanatory this one-
if you’re going to do something, you might as well go to the extra effort of
doing it well. For example, if you’re going to go to the trouble of doing your
homework, there’s no point not putting any effort into it. You might as well
try if you’re going to do anything at all.

[Link] all, lose all. - This is a warning to people about not being too greedy.
If you try and hold onto too much, you’re going to end up dropping
everything.
[Link] can’t have your cake and eat it too. - This proverb is used to advise
people that they can’t have something two ways. For example, you might
want to wait until the new game you’re after is out to spend your birthday
money. But you might also want to spend your birthday money on a new
pair of shoes. But you can’t have it two ways, or, you can’t have your cake
and eat it too.
[Link] can’t teach an old dog new tricks. - This saying is all about how difficult
it can be to change the habits and attitudes of people. If someone has done
something or thought something for a really long time, it can be hard to
change that (but not impossible!).

56.A leopard can’t change its spots. - This saying refers to the fact that some
people think that people don’t change. That, whatever your personality and
character, especially if it’s bad, you can’t change it.

[Link] sleeping dogs lie. - This proverb refers to problems and issues. If
something is in the past, or if something is not causing any problems, don’t
bring something up or interfere that may then result in an issue. If
something isn’t causing an issue, don’t make it into one.

[Link] is thicker than water. - This saying refers to family. It basically means
that family is the most important thing above anything else, like friendship
or love.

[Link] there’s smoke, there’s fire. - This is usually describing a situation

where someone is accused of doing something wrong. It means that if
they’re accused of it, there’s probably a good reason for it.

[Link] many cooks spoil the broth. - This proverb claims that when too many
people are involved in something, like cooking, it doesn’t go well. Although
teamwork is great, the idea is that when too many people’s opinions are
involved, it might ruin it.
[Link] news is good news. - This advice is often given as a comfort to people
who are waiting to hear back about something but haven’t heard anything
yet. The idea is that, if you haven’t heard anything bad yet, you can assume
that everything is good until you hear something to the contrary.
[Link] not, want not. - This one is all about persuading people not to waste
things because they might need it in the future.
[Link]’t cross the bridge until you come to it. - This proverb is giving the
advice that you shouldn’t worry about a situation until you’re facing it.
There’s no point getting stressed over a problem that hasn’t happened yet-
just wait until there is a problem, and then deal with it then.
[Link] can’t be choosers. - This proverb says that, when you don’t have a
lot of option available to you, you can’t really afford to be picky.

[Link] early bird catches the worm. - This proverb advocates for being early
for things, saying that if you’re early, you’re more likely to achieve what you
want.

[Link] cat is out of the bag. - This refers to when something has been
revealed that people weren’t previously aware of. For example, if you were
planning a surprise for someone and someone else accidentally told them,
you could say that they ‘let the cat out of the bag’.

67.A bad workman always blames his tools. - This proverb describes a person
who does something badly, and then instead of blaming it on themselves
and their own failure or lack of skill, will blame their tools or something
beyond their control.

[Link] pen is mightier than the sword. - This proverb states that what you can
do with a pen, so good communication and the power of language, can
have more of an effect than a sword, or what you can do through violence.

[Link] favours the bold. - This saying is all about advising people to be
brave and to go for things, because you always miss the opportunities that
you don’t go for. Being brave often leads to success.

70.A watched pot never boils. - This proverb is all about advising people to be
patient. If you’re sat waiting for something to happen, time passes a lot
slower. It’s best to distract yourself and get on with something else in the
meantime.
[Link] it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. - If there isn’t a problem, don’t try to change it.
If it’s working fine, you don’t need to try to improve it. This often comes
with the implication that trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing
may make it worse.

[Link] man’s trash is another man’s treasure. - This proverb refers to the fact
that everyone’s tastes are different. What you consider to be worthless,
another person may see as high value.

[Link]’t put all your eggs in one basket. - This one has enjoyed particularly
common usage in recent years (I’m looking at you, reality television) and
means don’t invest everything in one idea. Have a backup plan. Makes
sense, really.

[Link] can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. - This talks
about the fact that you can give someone an opportunity for something,
like taking a horse to water, but you can’t make them do it. It is up to them
whether or not they take your help or your advice.

[Link] wrongs don’t make a right. - This proverb explains that, when
someone wrongs you in some way, wronging them back doesn’t make the
situation better. If anything, it just makes the situation worse.

[Link]’t bite off more than you can chew. - This is all about not taking on
more than you can manage. ‘Biting off more than you can chew’ implies
that someone has taken too much on and can’t handle it.

[Link] made your bed, now you have to lie in it. - This refers to when
someone creates a bad situation for themselves, they then have to deal
with the consequences.

Quotes
1. Education can open our eyes and expand are minds unlike anything else. It
allows us to continually reshape how we see the world, leading to an
improved and more well-rounded life. And it all starts with being a student.
2. “The man who does not read books has no advantage over the one who
cannot read them.” — Mark Twain
3. “Teachers can open the door, but you must enter it yourself.” — Chinese
Proverb
4. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from
you.” — B.B. King
5. “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the
world.” — BB King
6. “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited.” – Plutarch
7. “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John
Wooden
8. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." — Albert
Einstein
9. “Learning is never done without errors and defeat.” – Vladimir Lenin
10.“Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game.” — Babe
Ruth
11.“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig
Ziglar
12.“The expert in anything was once a beginner." — Helen Hayes
13.“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim
Ryun
14.“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln
15.“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than
you think.” — A.A Milne
16.“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a
question remains a fool forever.” — Chinese Proverb
17.“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe
18.“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” —Karim Seddiki
19.“If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life
Believing that It is Stupid.”- Albert Einstein
20.“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one
can go.”- T.S Eliot
21.“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.” – Wayne Gretzky
22. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk,
then crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”- Martin Luther king.