100 Classic English Proverbs

Proverbs, like idioms, are part of the language as a whole and can increase the distinctness and vividness of the language. Below are 100 classic English proverbs recommended by PQ. You are welcome to read them.

1. As you make your bed so you must lie on it, you will reap the consequences.

2. Ask no questions and you will be told no lies. If you ask less, it will be difficult for lies to come in.

3. At open doors dogs come in. Dogs come in from the open door.

4. Avarice blinds our eyes.

5. Avarice increases with wealth. The richer you are, the more greedy you are.

6. Avoid a questioner, for he is also a tattler.

7. Bacchus has drowned more men than Nepture.

8. Bad news has wings. Good things don’t go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles.

9. Bad news travels fast. Bad news travels fast.

10. Bad workmen often blame their tools. Bad workmen often blame their tools.

11. Bare words, no bargain. Bare words cannot make a deal.

12. Barking dogs Don't bite Barking dogs don't bite.

13. Barking dogs seldom bite. Barking dogs seldom bite.

14. Be always as merry as ever you can, for no-one delights in a sorrowful man.

15. Be considerate towards the poor.

16. Be honest rather clever. Honesty is more important than cleverness.

17. Be just to all, but trust not all. Be just to all, but trust not all.

18. Be prepared to put one's hand in one's pocket and prepare to give generously.

19. Be slow in choosing a friend; slower in changing. Be cautious in choosing friends, and even more cautious in discarding them.

20. Be slow to promise and quick to perform.

21. Be swift to hear, slow to speak. Be swift to hear and slow to speak.

　22. Beauty is but a blossom. Beauty is but a blossom.

23. Beauty is but skin-deep. Beauty is changeable.

24. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

25. Beauty is in the eye of the gazer.

26. Beauty is potent; but money is omnipotentBeauty is powerful, but money is more authoritative.

27. Beauty is truth, truth beauty Beauty is truth, truth is beauty.

28. Beauty lies in lover's eyes.

29. Beauty lies in the love's eyes.

30. Beauty may have fair leaves, but bitter fruit. Beautiful flowers may have fair leaves, but bitter fruit.

31. Beauty will buy no beef. Beauty will not be eaten as food.

32. Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume.

33. Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.

34. Before gold, even kings take off their hats. Money can make all the difference.

35. Beggars cannot be chosenrs.

36. Beggars must be no choosers.

37. Behind bad luck comes good luck. It is a blessing in disguise.

38. Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle and be content with the situation.

39. Believe no tales from the enemy.

40. Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.

41. Believe somebody on his bare word. Don’t believe it.

42. Benefits please like flowers, while they are fresh.

43. Better a bachelor's life than a slovenly wife.

44. Better a glorious death than a shameful life. Better a glorious death than a shameful life.

45. Better a little fire to warm us, than a great one to burn us. A raging fire can burn us.

46. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. Although the future is promising, the reality is particularly valuable.

47. Better an empty purse than an empty head. Better an empty purse than an empty head.

48. Better an open enemy than a false friend. It’s easy to hide from open guns, but hard to guard against hidden arrows.

49. Better are small fish than an empty dish.

50. Better to be alone than in bad company. It is better to have bad friends than to have no friends.

51. Better be out of the world than out of fashion.

52. Better be poor than wicked. Better be poor than wicked.

53. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

54. Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse. Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.

55. Better deny at once than promise long.

56. Better die with honor than live with shame. Better die with honor than live with shame.

57. Better early than late.

58. Better eye sore than all blind. Eye pain is better than all blind.

59. Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt. Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

60. Better good neighbors near than relations far away.

61. Better half an egg than empty shell.

62. Better is the neighbor's hen than mine. No one knows how great a seedling is.

63. Better late than never. Don’t be afraid of being slow, just be afraid of standing.

64. Better lose a jest than a friend. I would rather not say a wisecrack to avoid offending my friends.

65. Better lose the saddle than the horse.

66. Better master one than engage with ten.

67. Better one-eyed than stone-blind.

68. Better poor with honor than rich with shame. Better poor with honor than rich with shame.

69. Better say nothing than nothing to the purpose. It is better to say nothing than to say nothing.

70. Better some of a pudding than none of a pie.

71. Better the foot slip than the tongue trip. Better the foot slip than the tongue trip.

72. Better to ask the way than go astray. It is better to ask the way than to get lost.

73. Better to do well than to say well.

74. Better unlearned than ill-learned.

75. Better wear out than rust out. Better to be busy than idle.

76. Better wit than wealth. Intelligence is better than wealth.

77. Better without gold than without friends. Better without money than without friends.

78. Between friends all is common. Friends do not distinguish each other.

79. Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip.

80. Between two stools one falls to the ground.

81. Beware beginnings.

82. Beware of a man of one book. Don’t argue with a person with professional knowledge.

83. Beware of a silent dog and still water Beware of a silent dog that bites, and calm water that capsizes a boat.

84. Beware of him who regards not his reputation. Beware of people who do not respect your reputation.

85. Big mouthfuls ofter choke bite off more than you can chew.

86. Bind the sack before it be full. Do things in moderation.

87. Birds of a feather flock together Birds of a feather flock together.

88. Birth is much, but breeding is more. Birth is important, but education is even more important.

89. Bite off more than one can chew.

90. Bite the hand that feeds one. Repay kindness with hatred.

91. Bitter pills may have wholesome effects. Good medicine tastes bitter and is beneficial to disease.

92. Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

93. Blind men can judge no colors. It is not appropriate to ask blind men.

94. Blood is thicker than water. Blood is thicker than water.

95. Blood will have blood. Blood debt will be repaid with blood.

96. Books and friends should be few but good. Reading is like making friends, it should be few but good.

97. Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.

98. Borrowed garments never fit well. Borrowed garments never fit well.

99. Boys will be boys. Boys will be boys after all.

100. Brave actions never want a trumpet. Brave actions never want a trumpet. ;