A List of proverbs and sayings. This page contains examples of proverbs and an ever growing list of proverbs. It is a good practice to avoid use of these proverbs in poetry unless used in a completely original way.
See also: Idioms.
A proverb is a brief and popular saying that typically gives advice about how people should live or that expresses a belief that is commonly thought to be true.
Hail brings frost in the tail.
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Half a loaf is better than no bread.
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Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
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Happy go lucky.
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Happy is he who hath sown his wild oats betimes.
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Happy is he who knows his follies in his youth.
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Happy is the man that has a hobby.
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Hardly ever saves many a lie.
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Harm watch, harm catch.
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Haste makes waste, and waste makes want, and want makes strife between the good man and his wife.
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Haste over nothing but catching fleas.
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Haste trips up its own heels.
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Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
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Hasty men never lack woe.
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Hasty resolutions seldom speed well.
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Have but few friends, though many acquaintances.
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Have not the cloak to make when it begins to rain.
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He can ill pipe that wants his upper lip.
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He covers me with his wings, and bites me with his bill.
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He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
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He deserves not the sweet that will not taste the sour.
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He fisheth on that catcheth one.
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He giveth one knock on the hoop, and another on the barrel.
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He giveth twice who gives in a trice.
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He goes a-sorrowing, who goes a-borrowing.
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He goes not out of his way that goes to a good inn.
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He had enough to keep the wolf from the door.
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He had need rise betimes that would please everybody.
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He hath a good judgment who is apt to distrust his own.
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He is a real friend who assists one in a pinch.
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He is in clover.
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He is most loved that hath most bags.
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He is not wise that is not wise for himself.
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He is poor indeed that cannot promise nothing.
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He is wise enough that can keep himself warm in winter.
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He knows not a hawk from a hand-saw.
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He knows on which side his bread is buttered.
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He lies as fast as a dog can trot.
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He lies like an epitaph.
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He liveth long that liveth well.
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He loseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth.
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He loseth nothing who keeps God for his friend.
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He may well be contented who needs neither borrow nor flatter.
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He measures your corn by his bushel.
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He must crack the nut that would eat the kernel.
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He must needs swim that's held up by the chin.
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He must stoop that hath a low door.
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he names them as occurring in "Childe Harold," instead of in "Don Juan.
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He needs must go that the devil drives.
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He robs Peter to pay Paul.
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He stands in his own light.
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He teacheth ill who teacheth all.
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He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison.
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He that cannot abide a bad market deserves not a good one.
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He that chastiseth one, amendeth many.
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He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little.
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He that doth not lend doth lose his friend.
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He that endureth is not overcome.
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He that goes far from home for a wife, either intends to cheat or will be cheated.
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He that goes softly goes surely.
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He that grasps at too much, holds fast nothing.
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He that gropes in the dark finds that he would not.
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He that handles thorns shall prick his fingers.
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He that hath a good harvest may be content with some thistles.
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He that hath a head of wax must not walk in the sun.
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He that hath a trade hath an estate.
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He that hath many irons in the fire, some of them will cool.
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He that hath no head, needs no hat.
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He that hath no money needeth no purse.
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He that hath nothing is not contented.
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He that hath shipped the devil must make the best of him.
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He that hires the horse must ride before.
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He that is angry without a cause must be pleased without amends.
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He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.
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He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
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He that is thrown would ever wrestle.
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He that is warm thinks all are so.
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He that knows himself best, esteems himself least.
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He that labours and thrives, spins gold.
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He that lives not well one year sorrows for it seven.
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He that lives upon his wits, breaks for want of stock.
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He that longs most lacks most.
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He that loves law will get his fill.
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He that makes a good war makes a good peace.
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He that pays last never pays twice.
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He that pryeth into every cloud, may be stricken with a thunder-bolt.
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He that reckons without his host must reckon again.
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He that revealeth his secret maketh himself a slave.
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He that riseth betimes hath something in his head.
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He that runs fast will not run long.
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He that runs fastest gets the prize.
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He that runs in the night stumbles.
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He that sends mouths sends meat.
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He that shows his purse longs to be rid of it.
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He that sings on Friday shall weep on Sunday.
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He that sows nothing plants thistles.
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He that strikes with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard.
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He that stumbles twice over the same stone, deserves to break his shins.
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He that tells his wife news is but newly married.
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He that throws away his estate with his hands, goes afterwards to pick it upon his feet.
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He that travels far knows much.
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He that waits for a dead man's shoes may go long enough barefoot.
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He that waits on another man's trencher, makes many a late dinner.
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He that will eat the kernel, must crack the nut.
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He that will not be counselled cannot be helped.
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He that will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock.
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He that will not go over the stile must be thrust through the gate.
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He that will not stoop for a pin, shall never be worth a point.
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He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing.
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He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.
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He that will too soon be his own master, will have a fool for his scholar.
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He that would be Pope must think of nothing else.
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He that would catch fish must not mind getting wet.
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He that would learn to pray let him go to sea.
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He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle.
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He that's down, down with him.
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He tied a knot with his tongue he couldn't undo with his teeth.
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He wants to have a finger in every pie.
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He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
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He who blusters without reason has most reason to bluster.
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He who drinks when he is not dry, will be dry when he has no drink.
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He who gets four pounds and spends five has no need of a purse.
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He who hath most peas may put most in the pot.
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He who hath no ill fortune, is dazed with good.
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He who is born to be hanged will never be drowned.
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He who is not handsome at twenty, nor strong at thirty, nor wise at forty, nor rich at fifty, will never be handsome, strong, rich, or wise.
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He who lies long in bed his estate feels it.
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He who maketh others wretched is himself a wretch, whether prince or peasant.
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He who marries for wealth sells his liberty.
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He who seeketh trouble never misseth it.
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He who serves well need not be afraid to ask his wages.
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He who stays in the valley will never get over the hill.
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He who would enjoy his friend's dinner should not look into the kitchen.
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He who would have a hare for breakfast must hunt over night.
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He would not lend his knife to the devil to stab himself.
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He would split a hair.
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He would starve in a cook-shop.
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He's a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.
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He's Tom Tell-troth.
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Health is better than wealth.
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Hearts may agree though heads differ.
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Hedges have eyes, and walls have ears.
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Hell is paved with good intentions.
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Help yourself and your friends will like you.
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Her face was her fortune.
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Hidden troubles disquiet most.
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Hide nothing from thy minister, physician, and lawyer.
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High places have their precipices.
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High winds blow on high hills.
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Hold not with the hounds and run with the hare.
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Home is home, be it ever so homely.
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Honesty is the best policy; but he who acts on this principle is not an honest man.
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Honour and ease are seldom bed-fellows.
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Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.
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Hope humbles more than despair.
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Hope is a good breakfast, but a bad supper.
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Hot love is soon cold.
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Hot love is soon cold.
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Hunger costs little; daintiness much.
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Hunger is the finest sauce.
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Hunger makes hard bones sweet beans.
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Hunger makes short devotion.
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Hunger will break through stone walls.
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Hungry flies bite sore.
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Hungry men think the cook lazy.
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