Gransnet forums

Chat

Favourite Proverbs.

(142 Posts)
Calendargirl Tue 25-Aug-20 12:22:26

What is your favourite proverb?

So many to choose from, but one of mine is;

‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’.

DanniRae Thu 03-Sept-20 16:12:22

Another piece of graffiti:

"I want to be what I was when I wanted to be what I am now"

lilydily9 Thu 03-Sept-20 16:23:54

Don't worry about things you can't control.

hulahoop Thu 03-Sept-20 16:45:54

All was going well til someone turned the light off at the end of the tunnel .
It can sometimes be difficult to remember when you are up to your a__e in alligators that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.

TheFrugalPiggy Thu 03-Sept-20 16:52:13

Progres was alright in the beginning but now it's gone too far.

Ogden Nash

Witzend Thu 03-Sept-20 16:54:36

Waste not, want not.

Do as you would be done by.

And not really a proverb, but....

‘Work is the curse of the drinking classes.’ ?
(Oscar Wilde IIRC.)

blossom14 Thu 03-Sept-20 17:31:50

Self praise is no recommendation.

Forestflame Thu 03-Sept-20 18:35:46

Don't judge a book by it's cover.
What goes around comes around.

If those that matter don't mind ,then those that mind don't matter.

Rozzy Thu 03-Sept-20 19:09:53

What a great post; many wise words & I have written down a few. Although I still like the response I heard to ‘walk a mile in my shoes....’
I can say what I like then, as you’re a mile away & I have your shoes.

LovesToBake Thu 03-Sept-20 21:07:42

Good people do good things for other people.

Every storm runs out of rain - Maya Angelou

Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. - Rumi

CanadianGran Thu 03-Sept-20 21:40:45

The higher they are, the harder they fall.

Maybe not my favourite, but wished upon some in my darker moods!

Jillybird Thu 03-Sept-20 21:50:13

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lemongrove Thu 03-Sept-20 21:54:09

Notsooldat75

To thine own self be true - Polonius in Hamlet

This was my Grandfather’s favourite too, but he tacked a few words on the end of it....’ but lie like hell to everybody else!’

I think that ( like another poster) ‘many a mickle makes a muckle’ takes some beating, but how about the Yorkshireman’s Prayer:
See all, hear all, say now’t,
Eat all, sup all, pay now’t,
If ever thee does ow’t for now’t
Always do it for tha sen!
( translation?)
See all hear all say nothing, eat all, drink all pay nothing,
If ever you do something for nothing, always do it for
yourself.

Doodledog Thu 03-Sept-20 21:54:13

'Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.' (Oscar Wilde)

'It's a queer bird, the fish'

Urmstongran Thu 03-Sept-20 22:05:17

Better to be ‘looked over’ ? than overlooked!

A stitch in time saves nine.

Too many cooks spoil the broth (I’m happy to stay out of the kitchen, sit down and wait to be served).
#lazygran

What goes around comes around (sadly, I don’t believe that, as ne’er do wells seem to thrive on the whole).

9 times out of 10 our worst fears never materialise. (So far, so true).

Urmstongran Thu 03-Sept-20 22:07:44

lemongrove

Notsooldat75

To thine own self be true - Polonius in Hamlet

This was my Grandfather’s favourite too, but he tacked a few words on the end of it....’ but lie like hell to everybody else!’

I think that ( like another poster) ‘many a mickle makes a muckle’ takes some beating, but how about the Yorkshireman’s Prayer:
See all, hear all, say now’t,
Eat all, sup all, pay now’t,
If ever thee does ow’t for now’t
Always do it for tha sen!
( translation?)
See all hear all say nothing, eat all, drink all pay nothing,
If ever you do something for nothing, always do it for
yourself.

No wonder Yorkshire folk have a reputation for being tight lemongrove!

Tickledpink Thu 03-Sept-20 22:14:18

If you can’t say something nice, say nothing.

Nanderin Thu 03-Sept-20 22:22:16

When you come to the end of your rope tie a knot in it and hang on.

Bobbysgirl19 Fri 04-Sept-20 00:11:02

Many a true word spoken in jest.

A stitch in time, saves nine.

grannyqueenie Fri 04-Sept-20 00:46:41

Another one brought on proverbs!
“ a borrower nor a lender be”, “don't wear your heart on your sleeve” were two of my mother’s favourites, I've managed to abide by the 1st, but probably failed dismally on the 2nd!

Rufus2 Fri 04-Sept-20 11:47:52

"No one is listening until you fart"

Devorgilla Fri 04-Sept-20 13:32:57

From my paternal grandmother -

'Never trouble trouble 'til trouble troubles you'.

From my maternal grandmother

'Love many, trust few, but always paddle your own canoe.'

Rufus2, I like your style.

Calendargirl Fri 04-Sept-20 15:41:01

Not really a proverb, but wise words from my mum;

If you have a friend, keep that friend,
But never let that friend your secrets know,
For if that friend should turn your foe
Then all the world your secrets know.

Alexa Fri 04-Sept-20 16:44:23

Horses for courses.

DanniRae Fri 04-Sept-20 18:53:32

Rufus2 - Charming (not!)

lemongrove Fri 04-Sept-20 19:55:36

Your proverb was made up Rufus tut tut.