Completed Proverbs
"Opportunity knocks once at every man's door," but often makes sure the man is out before knocking.
"It takes two to make a quarrel." How about husband and wife, who are one?
"A fool and his money are soon parted," when the fool has friends.
"Whatever man has done man can do" better.
"Look before you leap" out of the frying-pan into the fire.
"Honesty is exact to a penny," but not always to larger amounts.
"The best things are not bought and sold" ; they are stolen and kept.
"Pity is akin to love," but kinship does not always signify friendship.
"The second blow makes the fray," but not if the first is well placed.
"There's many a slip 'twixt" the cradle and the grave.
"Everything comes to the man who waits," except that for which he waits.
"A fool is never wrong" ; few of us are.
"No fool like an old fool" in the toils of a woman.
"He who hesitates" when lying "is lost."
"Until a man finds a wife he is only half" ; thereafter he is still less.
"It takes two to make a quarrel." How about husband and wife, who are one?
"A fool and his money are soon parted," when the fool has friends.
"Whatever man has done man can do" better.
"Look before you leap" out of the frying-pan into the fire.
"Honesty is exact to a penny," but not always to larger amounts.
"The best things are not bought and sold" ; they are stolen and kept.
"Pity is akin to love," but kinship does not always signify friendship.
"The second blow makes the fray," but not if the first is well placed.
"There's many a slip 'twixt" the cradle and the grave.
"Everything comes to the man who waits," except that for which he waits.
"A fool is never wrong" ; few of us are.
"No fool like an old fool" in the toils of a woman.
"He who hesitates" when lying "is lost."
"Until a man finds a wife he is only half" ; thereafter he is still less.
— From "Completed Proverbs" by
What I really liked about this piece of writing from 1904 is how clever and succinct is. The way writers like Matthewman used to play with words and incorporate puns in their writings has changed over time. It was much easier back then, much better too.
Clare Victor Dwiggins's illustrations in this book make it even more interesting. Some works like this remain relevant forever.
