Proverb Examples from around the world

Proverbs Starting with letter B - part 1
Full list:
A  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  B  2  3  4  C  2  D  2  3  E  2  3  4  F  2  3  G  2  H  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  I  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  J  K  L  2  M  2  3  N  2  3  4  O  2  3  4  P  2  Q  R  S  2  3  T  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  U  V  W  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Y  2  Z 
Bacchus hath drowned more men than Neptune.
Bachelor, a peacock; betrothed, a lion; married, an ass.
Back is the way the female donkey pees.
Bad and good are intertwined like rope.
Bad beginnings lead to bad results.
Bad bird, bad egg.

Bad birds seldom bring good weather.
Bad charcoal only makes smoke.
Bad children? Guilty parents!.
Bad egg, bad chick.
Bad eyes never see any good.
Bad fowl, bad egg.
Bad friends prevent you from having good friends.
Bad grass - away from the field.
Bad grass does not make good hay.
Bad head, bad heart.
Bad hen, bad egg.
Bad is called good when worse happens.
Bad is never good until worse happens.
Bad is the sack that will not bear patching.
Bad is the wool that cannot be died.
Bad is want which is born of plenty.
Bad luck in game, luck in love.
Bad luck is fertile.
Bad merchandise is never cheap.
Bad money always comes back.
Bad money drives out good.
Bad news come on horseback.
Bad news don't lie at rest.
Bad news has wings.
Bad news is always true.
Bad news is the first to come.
Bad news travels fast.
Bad peace is better than a good quarrel.
Bad people don't sing.
Bad the crow, bad the egg.
Bad things are always foreshadowed / You can identify a bad person by observing his/her behaviors.
Bad things often turn out to be good for you.
Bad tidings always come too soon.
Bad ware is never cheap.
Bad ware must be cried up.
Bad watch often feeds the wolf.
Bad weather prevents even wars.

Bad work isn't good play.
Badly oiled wheels will squeak.
Bake it and then say it. (Finish what you start before you brag about it).
Bald from here and from here.
Bald man's head gets washed fastest.
Bald people can always find a comb.
Bare is brotherless back.
Bargain like a gypsy, but pay like a gentleman.
Bargains are costly.
Bargains are dear.
Barking dog doesn't bite.
Barking dogs don't bite.
Barking dogs don't catch hares.
Barking dogs seldom bite.
Barking saves biting.
Barking up the wrong tree.
Barren corn makes bitter bread.
Barriers will disappear on the path of the skilled.
Bashfulness is of no use to the needy.
Bashfulness will not avail a beggar.
Basketeer who makes a basket makes a hundred if he's given wicker and time.
Baskets after the vintage.
Bathe early every day and sickness will avoid you.
Bathe other people's children but don't wash behind their ears.
Bathe other people's children, but don't wash behind their ears.
Battle doesn't need a purpose; the battle is its own purpose.
Be a friend to yourself, and others will.
Be a horse ever so well shod, he may slip.
Be a lion at home and a fox abroad.
Be alive horse, because grass grows.
Be always a little afraid so that you never will be much afraid.
Be amiable, then you'll be loved.
Be as you would seem to be.
Be bad to the bad; good to the good; be a flower to other flowers and a thorn to other thorns.
Be brave, not ferocious.
Be careful before every step.
Be careful for deep water and dogs that do not bark.
Be careful not to make a woman weep.
Be first in the field, the last to the couch.
Be glad you are unknown, for when you are known, you would wish you weren't.
Be happy while you're living, For you're a long time dead.
Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead.
Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people.
Be in readiness for favorable winds.
Be it a bread given to the beggar, be it one taken from him.
Be just before you're generous.
Be like a camel -- carrying sweets but dining on thorns.
Be like the mouth and the hand: when the hand is hurt the mouth blows on it, when the mouth is hurt the hand rubs it.
Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind.
Be merry, Shrovetide, for to-morrow thou wilt be ashes.
Be mindful of your own fingers when you are chewing that of a monkey.
Be mine; I will be thine.
Be my enemy and go to my mill.
Be neither intimate nor distant with the clergy.
Be not a baker if your head is butter.
Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still.
Be not an esquire where you were a page.
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
Be not ashamed of your craft.
Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance.
Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed at not understanding.
Be not unmindful of obligations conferred.
Be not water, taking the tint of all colors.
Be old betimes that thou may'st long be so.
Be old betimes, if you wish your old age to last.
Be old when young, if you would be young when old.
Be on a horse when you go in search of a better one.
Be on your guard against a silent dog and still water.
Be patient with a bad neighbor: he may move or face misfortune.
Be patient with a bad neighbor: he may move or face misfortune.
Be patient with your enemies and forgiving of your friends.
Be peaceful yet vigilant -- a sheep will bite someone without a stick.
Be prepared' ( in Italy).
Be quick to follow up an advantage.
Be resolved and the thing is done.
Be silent, or say something better than silence.
Be sincere - and go with God.
Be skeptical; long garments can also hide big feet.
Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him.
Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.
Be sure before you marry of a house wherein to tarry.
Be sure not to owe anything to the rich, and don't lend anything to the poor.
Be sure that the candle is lit before you throw away the match.
Be sure to have a controversial opinion, and men will talk about you.
Be sure to send a lazy man for the angel of death.
Be the horse good or bad always wear your spurs.
Be the same thing that ye wa'd be ca'd.
Be the thing you would be called.
Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant.
Be truly what thou wouldst be thought to be.
Be what you would seem to be.
Be wise, but pretend to be ignorant.
Beads about the neck, and the devil in his heart.
Beads about the neck, and the devil in the heart.
Bear and bull catch no fox.
Bear no malice.

Bear patiently that which thou sufferest by thine own fault.
Bear patiently that which you suffer by your own fault.
Bear with others and you shall be borne with.
Bear won't bite bear.
Beard and cloak do not make one a philosopher.
Beat a Chinese long enough and he will talk Tibetan.
Beat one dog and the others will run away.
Beat the churl and he will be your friend.
Beat the dog; wait for its master.
Beat the rogue and he will be your friend.
Beat your drum inside the house to spare the neighbors.
Beat your gong and sell your candles.
Beat your own and others will fear you.
Beaten with his own rod.
Beating a dead person is a sin.
Beautiful girls are seldom happy, intelligent boys are seldom beautiful.
Beautiful grapes often make poor wine.
Beautiful roads never go far.
Beautiful things are secured with most difficulty.
Beautiful woman, beautiful trouble.
Beautiful women and wine are sweet venom.
Beauty and chastity are always quarreling.
Beauty and folly are often companions.
Beauty carries its dower in its face.
Beauty does not season soup.
Beauty doesn't exist, men only dream it.
Beauty draws with a single hair.
Beauty is a fading flower.
Beauty is a good letter of introduction.
Beauty is an empty calabash.
Beauty is but dross it honesty be lost.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is not so much what you see as what you dream.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Beauty is only skin-deep.
Beauty is potent but money is omnipotent.
Beauty is potent, but money is omnipotent.
Beauty is power.
Beauty is silent eloquence.
Beauty is ten, nine of which is dressing.
Beauty is the eye's food but the soul's sorrow.
Beauty is the sister of idleness and the mother of luxury.
Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the beauty of men.
Beauty never travels in a group.
Beauty without honesty is like a rose without perfume.
Beauty without virtue is a curse.
Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.
Beauty without wisdom is like a flower in the mud.
Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume.
Because a man has injured your goat, do not go out and kill his bull.
Because friendship is pleasant, we partake of our friend's entertainment; not because we have not enough to eat in our own house.
Because he has so many trades, he is unemployed.
Because he killed his wife he took shelter with his in-laws.
Because of a period, Martin lost his post!.
Because of their figure, vain women stay cold.
Because the cat was given no meat, he said it was Friday.
Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.
Because with tricks you should do a war.
Because you have drowned others, you were drowned — and in the end, those who drowned you will be drowned.
Become famous, then go to sleep.
Bed is the poor man's opera.
Bedbug might be small, but definitely is stinky.
Beer makes beautiful bodies.
Beer on wine, everything is fine; wine on beer... you are going to get sick / suffer.
Bees do not become hornets.
Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.

Bees touch no fading flowers.
Before God and the bus driver we are all equal.
Before a man learns to hang he is half dead.
Before borrowing money from a friend decide which you need most.
Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
Before eating, open thy mouth.
Before firing, you must take aim.
Before healing others, heal yourself.
Before honor is humility. Proverbs 15:33.
Before one cooks, one must have the meat.
Before shooting, one must aim.
Before the fat one slims, the slim one will die.
Before the time, great courage; when at the point, great fear.
Before we went to churches and bars - now we go to clubs and cinemas. (Another reference to cultural progress under Soviet rule.) (Note: not night-clubs or some such).
Before you ask a man for clothes, look at the clothes that he is wearing.
Before you beat a dog, find out who its master is.
Before you beat the dog, find out the name of his master.
Before you build a house you have to dig a pit.
Before you buy shoes, measure your feet.
Before you can score you must first have a goal.
Before you find God, you will be eaten by saints.
Before you let your voice be heard, first lick your lips.
Before you love, learn to run through snow without leaving footprints.
Before you love,/ Learn to run through snow,/ Leaving no footprints.
Before you make a friend eat a peck of salt with him.
Before you make a friend, eat a bushel of salt with him.
Before you make a friend, eat a pack of salt with him.
Before you marry consider what you do.
Before you marry reflect, for it is a knot you cannot untie.
Before you marry, beware, for it is a knot difficult to untie.
Before you marry, watch what you do.
Before you milk a cow tie it up.
Before you mount, look to the girth.
Before you prepare to improve the world, look around your own house three times.
Before you start up a ladder, count the rungs.
Beggars breed and rich men feed.
Beggars can never be bankrupts.

Beggars can't be choosers.
Beggars fear no rebellion.
Beggars mounted ride their horses to death.
Beggars must not be choosers.
Begged bread has a hard crust.
Begin to weave and God will give the thread.
Beginning and ending shake hands.
Beginning is easy -- to keep going is hard.
Beginning is half done.
Begun is half done.
Behave like the chameleon: look forward and observe behind.
Behind an able man there are always other able men.
Behind every mountain lies a vale.
Behind every mountain lies a valley.
Behind the cross stands the devil.
Behind the dog it is 'dog,' in front of it, it's 'mister dog.'.
Behold the iguana puffing itself out to make itself a man!.
Being able to feel it on wooden shoes.
Being happy is better than being king.
Being ignorant of law harms.
Being in the right does not depend on having a loud voice.
Being loved is the best way of being useful.
Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle.
Being someones right hand.
Being warned, let us pursue a better course.
Being well dressed does not prevent one from being poor.
Being young is a fault which improves daily.
Believe a boaster as you would a liar.
Believe him who speaks from experience.
Believe me, for I have experienced.
Believe not that all that shines is gold.
Believe nothing and be on your guard against everything.
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
Believe only half of what you see and nothing of what you hear.
Believe that you have it, and it is yours.
Believe that, and drink some water (to wash it down.).
Believe the liar up to the door of his house and no further than that.
Believe what you see and lay aside what you hear.
Believe your servants but do not listen to them.
Belles are not for the beaux.
Bells call to church but do not enter.
Beloved children have many names.
Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.
Ben Harlow.
Bend the tree while it is young.
Bend the willow while it is young.
Benefits grow old betimes, but injuries are long livers.
Benefits make a man a slave.
Benefits please like flowers, when they are fresh.

Benefits, like flowers, please most when they are fresh.
Berry by berry, a basket will be full.
Best is the enemy of good.
Best not to talk.
Best to bend while it is a twig.
Better 'what will I eat with' than 'what will I eat.
Better Late Than Never.
Better a Jew without a beard than a beard without a Jew.
Better a bad harvest than a bad neighbor.
Better a bad wife than an empty house.
Better a bed of wood than a bier of gold.
Better a bird in the hand than ten in the air.
Better a bite from a friend than a caress from an enemy.
Better a bitter truth than a sweet lie.
Better a blind horse than an empty halter.
Better a blush in the face than a spot in the heart.
Better a bony agreement than a fat disagreement.
Better a daughter that has been slept on than a son who has been hanged.
Better a day alive than two dead.
Better a devil you know than a hundred strangers.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate is.
Better a distant good than a near evil.
Better a dog fawn on you than bite you.
Better a dove on the plate than a woodgrouse in the mating place.
Better a drop of wisdom than an ocean of gold.
Better a fair pair of heels than a halter.
Better a free bird than a king in captivity.
Better a friend at court than gold on the finger.
Better a friend than money to spend.
Better a friend's bite than an enemy's caress.
Better a friendly denial than an unwilling compliance.
Better a friendly denial than unwilling compliance.
Better a friendly refusal than an unwilling consent.
Better a friendly refusal than an unwilling promise.
Better a goat that can give milk than a cow that cannot.
Better a good conscience without wisdom than wisdom without a good conscience.
Better a good cow than a cow of a good kind.
Better a good dinner than a fine coat.
Better a good hanging than a bad marriage.
Better a good hope than a bad possession.
Better a good neighbour than a distant friend.
Better a good shilling than a dud sovereign.
Better a handful of dry dates and content therewith than to own the Gate of Peacocks and be kicked in the eye by a broody camel.
Better a healthy donkey than a consumptive philosopher.
Better a known harm than an unknown benefit.
Better a lean agreement than a fat lawsuit.
Better a lean agreement than a fat sentence.
Better a lean peace than a fat victory.

Better a leg broken than the neck.
Better a lie that heals than a truth that wounds.
Better a lie that soothes than a truth that hurts.
Better a lie which heals than a truth which wounds.
Better a little furniture than an empty house.
Better a live beggar than a dead king.
Better a living dog than a dead lion.
Better a living donkey than a dead doctor.
Better a mile of detour than an inch of a dangerous way.
Better a mistake at the beginning than at the end.
Better a mouse in the pot than no meat at all.
Better a near neighbour than a distant cousin.
Better a night full of anger than a night full of repentance.
Better a patch than a hole.
Better a poor horse than an empty stall.
Better a quiet death than a public misfortune.
Better a red face than a black heart.
Better a ruined than a lost land.
Better a sick body than an ignorant mind.
Better a slap from a wise man than a kiss from a fool.
Better a slap from your friend than a kiss from your enemy.
Better a slip of the foot than of the tongue.
Better a small fire that warms you than a big one that burns you.
Better a snotty child than his nose wiped off.
Better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof.
Better a sparrow in the hand than two flying.
Better a stupid wife than a mess at home.
Better a thief for a neighbor than an overzealous rabbi.
Better a thousand enemies outside the tent than one within.
Better a verst into the wrong direction, than a span into danger.
Better a wise man's servant than an idiot's master.
Better a witch doctor than a troublemaker.
Better afield with the birds than hanging on lords.
Better alone than in bad company.
Better an apple pie than apple blossom.
Better an mule that carries me than a horse that throws me.
Better an egg in peace, than an ox in war.
Better an egg this year than a chicken next year.
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
Better an egg today, than an ox tomorrow.
Better an empty purse than an empty head.
Better an end with pain than pain without end. or Better an end with horror than a horror without end.
Better an honest enemy than a false friend.
Better an honest slap in the face than an insincere kiss.
Better an honest smack in the face than a false kiss.
Better an iron dictatorship than a golden anarchy.
Better an open enemy than a false friend.
Better an ounce of happiness than a pound of gold.
Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold.

Better an ugly duckling from your own village than a beauty from foreign parts.
Better an unjust peace than a just war.
Better anticipate than be anticipated.
Better ask ten times than go astray once.
Better ask twice than go wrong once.
Better ask twice than lose your way once.
Better ask twice than to lose your way once.
Better aught than nought.
Better badly mounted than proud on foot.
Better be a bird of the wood than a bird in the cage.
Better be a coward than foolhardy.
Better be a cursed man than he who curses.
Better be a fool than a knave.
Better be a tail for the lions than the head of the foxes.
Better be alone than in bad company.
Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.
Better be carried by an mule than thrown by a horse.
Better be convinced by words than by blows.
Better be envied than pitied.
Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one.
Better be in debt than in shame.
Better be killed by robbers than by the kick of an ass.
Better be kind at home than burn incense in a far place.
Better be mad with all the world than wise alone.
Better be one-eyed than quite blind.
Better be out of the world than out of the fashion.
Better be proficient in one art than a smatterer in a thousand.
Better be quarreling than lonesome.
Better be quarrelling than lonesome.
Better be safe than sorry.
Better be silent than speak ill.
Better be the head of a cat than the tail of a lion.
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Better be the head of a lizard than the tail of a dragon.
Better be the head of a rat than the tail of a lion.
Better be too credulous than too skeptical.
Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.
Better beg than steal.
Better belly burst than good victuals spoil.
Better beloved than admired.
Better bend than break.
Better blow hard than burn yourself.
Better bread in the basket than a feather in your cap.
Better coarse cloth than naked thighs.
Better come late to church than never.
Better cross an angry man than a fasting man.
Better cross-eyed than blind.
Better die ten years early than live ten years poor.
Better do a good deed near at home than go far away to burn incense.
Better do a kindness near home than go far to burn incense.
Better do it than wish it done.
Better dry bread in peacetime than meat in wartime.
Better educated than wealthy.
Better envy than pity.
Better ever than never.
Better fifty enemies outside the house than one within.
Better free in a foreign land than a serf at home.
Better gain in mud than lose in gold.
Better give nothing than stolen alms.
Better give than not to have to give.
Better give the wool than the sheep.

Better go about than be drowned.
Better go about than fall into the ditch.

These are Proverb Examples from around the world, some have been translated from their original language to english.


Full list:
A  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  B  2  3  4  C  2  D  2  3  E  2  3  4  F  2  3  G  2  H  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  I  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  J  K  L  2  M  2  3  N  2  3  4  O  2  3  4  P  2  Q  R  S  2  3  T  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  U  V  W  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Y  2  Z