One must draw the line somewhere
To draw the line is to lay down a definite limit of action beyond which one refuses to go. The decision depends on ourselves, but it must be... Read more →
One must draw back in order to leap better
This teaches prudence. It is a quotation from an essay by Montaigne ('Il faut reculer pour mieux sauter') and has much the same meaning as Look... Read more →
One man’s meat is another man’s poison
Food that agrees with one person may have an injurious effect on another. In a wider sense one person may like what another hates. 'My sister... Read more →
One man sows and another reaps
One men does the work and another gets the benefit. A similar proverb is One beats the bush, and another catches the birds.
One lie makes many
The telling of the one lie forces us to tell more lies, and so we become more and more deeply involved.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
This advises bold action. If you are not prepared to take risks you cannot expect to get results. 'I want to borrow the car for the weekend,... Read more →
Nothing stake, nothing draw
This refers to gambling. If you are not prepared to stake any money, you cannot expect to win any. In a wider sense this means the same as... Read more →
Nothing succeeds like success
It is not easy to achieve success, but once you have achieved it, the way is open to even greater prosperity. For example, a novelist may write... Read more →
Nothing so bad but might have been worse
There is always something to be thankful for. 'The house was burnt to the ground, but things might have been worse, for I managed to save the... Read more →
Nothing seek, nothing find
This teaches initiative. Success is not achieved without an effort. 'He that seeketh findeth,' runs the old saying and in Matthew vii, 7 we... Read more →