Curated
Adversity tries friends.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 6. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_6
A collection of wisdom
Everyday wisdom
31 short reflections from Thomas Preston’s proverb collection, with a source reference for every passage.
Curated
What every one asks, what every one gives, but what very few take—advice.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 9. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_9
Curated
Advice comes too late when a thing is done.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 11. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_11
Curated
Anger is short-lived in a good man.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 29. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_29
Curated
Ask thy purse what thou shouldst buy.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 43. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_43
Curated
Better be alone than in bad company.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 54. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_54
Curated
Make the best of a bad bargain.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 67. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_67
Curated
At a great bargain make a great pause.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 69. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_69
Curated
A man may bear till his back breaks.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 80. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_80
Curated
Bear and forbear.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 81. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_81
Curated
Good to begin well; better to end well.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 103. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_103
Curated
Even small birds must have meat.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 125. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_125
Curated
A black plum is as sweet as a white.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 130. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_130
Curated
He who blusters without reason has most reason to bluster.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 139. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_139
Curated
A bow long bent at last waxeth weak.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 150. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_150
Curated
Great braggers, little doers.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 156. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_156
Curated
The brain that sows not corn, plants thistles.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 157. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_157
Curated
A broken leg is not healed by a silk stocking.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 167. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_167
Curated
A burden which one chooses is not felt.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 168. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_168
Curated
Business is the salt of life.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 173. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_173
Curated
In a calm sea every man is a pilot.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 187. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_187
Curated
Burn not your candle at both ends at once.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 190. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_190
Curated
Be captain of your own ship.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 197. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_197
Curated
Care's no cure.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 200. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_200
Curated
Don't run away with more than you can carry.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 204. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_204
Curated
Tis easy to build castles in the air.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 206. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_206
Curated
A cat loves fish, but she's loth to wet her feet.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 217. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_217
Curated
Those are wise who learn caution from their own experience; but those are wiser who learn it from the experience of others.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 220. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_220
Curated
Civil words cost nothing, and go a long way.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 259. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_259
Curated
Hasty climbers have sudden falls.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 265. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_265
Curated
Have not the cloak to make when it begins to rain.Proverb collected by Thomas Preston · Thomas Preston (compiler), A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, proverb 266. — https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39281/pg39281-images.html#proverb_266
What wisdom would you share?
Keep the words that stay with you. Return to your favorites and collect them into something worth sharing.
Create collection