Faint heart never won fair lady
These are words of encouragement to shy suitors. They recommend boldness, for none but the brave deserves the fair and fortune favours the bold.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease
This is an American proverb used to convey the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) people are the ones most likely to get attention and resources. Someone else or another issue might be more pressing or in dire need, but the fact is that the noise makes it impossible to ignore the squeaky wheel. The people that complains or protests the loudest attracts attention and service.
It is also used in the variant of “The squeaky wheel gets the oil”.
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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Take advantage of your opportunities before it is too late, for Life is short and time is swift. The proverb comes from Robert Herrick’s poem To the... more →
Half a loaf is better than no bread
We should be thankful for what we receive, even though it is not so much as we had hoped for. I applied for a fortnight’s holiday, but we’re so... more →
Idle folk have the least leisure
People who are lazy by nature are so reluctant to take on work that they give the impressions of having no spare time. In addition, they spend so much... more →
A Jack of all trades is master of none
Here ‘Jack’ is a name for a general labourer, one who does odd jobs and can turn his hand to anything. A ‘trade’ in this sense is a... more →
Keep something for a rainy day
Here ‘rainy day’ means ‘time of trouble or misfortune’. The advice given is: ‘You may be earning good money now, but... more →
The labourer is worthy of his hire
Anyone who works for someone else deserves to be paid for it, if not in cash, then in kind. The source is Luke, x, 7. Jesus sent seventy disciples in pairs... more →
Make haste slowly
Don’t do anything in too much of a hurry.
Nature abhors a vacuum
This idea was first expressed by Plutarch as early as the first century AD and is much quoted today. It means that any natural deficiency tends to be made... more →
