Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Irish Proverbs

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"Seeing is believing, but feeling is God’s own truth."

"Better a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life."

"A generous man has never gone to hell."

"A wild goose never reared a tame gosling."

"A narrow neck keeps the bottle from being emptied in one swig."

"A silent mouth is melodious."

"Desire conquers fear."

"It s no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking."

"From strong relationships often comes great grief."

"He is not wise who will not be instructed."

"It takes time to build a castle."

"The friend that can be bought is not worth buying."

"Patience conquers destiny."

"It's better to be sorry and stay than to be sorry and go away."

"There is not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience."

"What is in the marrow is hard to take out of the bone."

"Willful waste makes woeful want"

"You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was."

"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle."

"A buckle is a great addition to an old shoe."

"A boy's best friend is his mother and there's no spancel stronger than her apron string."

"A diplomat must always think twice before he says nothing."

"A friend's eye is a good mirror."

"A dog owns nothing, yet is seldom dissatisfied."

"A dog with two homes is never any good."

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures in the doctor's book."

"A good retreat is better than a bad stand."

"A drink precedes a story."

"A hair on the head is worth two on the brush."

"A hound's food is in its legs."

"A lie travels farther than the truth."

"A light heart lives long."

"A hen is heavy when carried far."

"A kind word never broke anyone's mouth."

"A little kinship is better than a lot of charity."

"A man is known by his company."

"A new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows the corners."

"A lock is better than suspicion."

"A penny gets another penny."

"A quarrel is like buttermilk, once it's out of the churn; the more you shake it, the more sour it grows."

"A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse."

"A scholar's ink lasts longer than a martyr's blood."

"A ship often sank beside the harbor."

"A silent mouth is sweet to hear."

"A sly rogue is often in good dress."

"A turkey never voted for an early Christmas."

"A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life."

"A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea."

"A trade not properly learned is an enemy."

"A watched kettle never boils."