Great Throughts Treasury

"Either a strong man or a fool tells the truth."

"Who speaks of his friend, speaks of himself."

"The affection showed be a donkey is a kick."

"A bear's friendship is to scratch and tear."

"Bear witness for God's sake, use a stick for a friend's."

"Look at a man's deeds, not whether he is tall or short."

"When they take their meals apart, their aimes and objects become separate."

"Destiny is a saddled ass, he goes wherever you lead him."

"A fool would not have made such a fool of himself as a clever fellow (like you) has done."

"A drowning man catches at a bush."

"A closed mouth is better than talking nonsense."

"A cock makes a great to-do whether you catch hold of it tightly or gently."

"A friend will cause you to weep, an enemy to laugh."

"A fly's hostility will be known on the scald-headed man. What is a small hare, what is its load?"

"A lucky man never grieves."

"A man who has been bitten by a snake is afraid of a bit of rope lying on the ground."

"A mountain is no place for a thief."

"A good understanding is rubies and jewels, it is not (acquirable) by force or gold."

"A hint for a gentleman, a club for a clown."

"A jackal at bay fights like a tiger."

"A journey is a dire calamity."

"A horse shows itself off under a good rider."

"A lamb goes with the sheep and a kid with the goats."

"A hundred blows of a goldsmith are equal to one of a smith."

"A tiger is a tiger, even inside a cage."

"A small man relies on a big, but a big man relies on God."

"A rich house makes its foolish inhabitants wise."

"Against a sword assume a shield, against words a bold front."

"Although the cloud is black, white water falls from it."

"An orphan is strong in crying."

"A thin beard is fit for the razor."

"Acquire knowledge, for it is glory in religion and the world."

"Aim at much, lay by a little."

"Although there are many roads, for men there is only one (i.e., the straightest)."

"An untimely guest is the house's plunder."

"As are the mothers so are the daughters."

"As the rock, so its chameleon; as the mountain, so its goat."

"As a man grows old, his avarice increases."

"Another's misery is half enjoyment."

"As you sow, so will you reap."

"As mother so daughters: as the mill so the flour."

"Bannuchis say this of Wazirs, but its general application is that a bad man, whom one has punished or injured, becomes all the more dangerous."

"Ask the sheep about the thorn-hodge."

"At last the wolf's cub becomes a wolf."

"Be beautiful yourself, and you will find the world full of beauty."

"Be it but an onion, let it be (given) graciously."

"Be not so sweet that men will eat you, nor so bitter that they will spit you out."

"Brotherhood is all very well, but my bow has a definite price."

"Before reaching the water doff not the sandals."

"Brotherly love is all very well, but let there be some sort of account kept."