Proverbs starting with letter L

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth

Keep secret any help you give to the poor; don't boast of your almsgiving. The source is Matthew, vi, 1-4

Let not the sun go down on your wrath

If you are angry with anybody, don't let your bitter feelings last overnight. The source is Ephesians, iv, 26.

Let bygones be bygones

Bygones are things that happened in the past. To let bygones be bygones is to forgive and forget. 'I'm sorry I lost my temper and said things I... Read more →

The leopard cannot change his spots

The accepted figurative meaning of this is that men cannot change their characters, and just as a leopard is born spotted and will always be so,... Read more →

Lend your money and lose a friend

If your friend finds himself unable to repay the debt, he will avoid you and may well say bad things about you to justify his conduct. There is... Read more →

Least said, soonest mended

Here 'mended' has the sense of making amends or atoning for some misdeed. The proverb means that long explanations and apologies are of little... Read more →

Learn to walk before you run

Knowledge cannot be acquired all at once; it must be gained step by step. Don't try to spell 'catastrophe' if you cannot spell 'cat'! Start with... Read more →

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone

If you are in a cheerful mood it is easier to get people to share your interests and feelings than if you are solemn or sad, when people tend to... Read more →

Laugh and grow fat

This is merely encouragement to be cheerful rather than solemn. Lean people tend to be more solemn than fat ones. So laugh and grow fat like the... Read more →

The last straw breaks the camel’s back

If you increase a camel's burden straw by straw, eventually you will load him one straw too many that his back will be broken. The phrase 'the... Read more →