Important English Proverbs



Great minds think alike

Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.




Habit is second nature

An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature.




He laughs best who laughs last

A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end.




Never do things by halves


One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately.



Great haste makes great waste

If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later.




It's never too late to mend

It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.




It's no use crying over spilt milk


It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified.




Still waters run deep

One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person.




Jack of all trades and master of none

Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them.





Let sleeping dogs lie

One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble.




No news is good news

When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right.




Look before you leap

Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences.




Necessity is the mother of invention

When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it.




Honesty is the best policy

Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.




One man's meat is another man's poison

No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes.




Once bitten twice shy

If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time.




Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter

( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother )




Practice makes perfect

It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it




Prevention is better than cure

It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen.



Between the devil and the deep sea

To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.




Where there's a will there's a way

When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.




A burnt child dreads fire

A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.




First come, first served

The first in line will be attended to first.




A friend in need is a friend indeed

A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.




Discretion is the better part of valor

If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.




A hungry man is an angry man

A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.




Empty vessels make the most noise

Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.




A man is as old as he feels

A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.




Great talkers are little doers

Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.




An idle brain is the devil's workshop

One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.




An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.




Faint heart never won fair lady

To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.




A penny saved is a penny gained

By being thrifty one will be able to save up