English proverbs (E)

English proverbs (E)

Proverbs are popularly defined as short expressions of popular wisdom. Efforts to improve on the popular definition have not led to a more precise definition. The wisdom is in the form of a general observation about the world or a bit of advice, sometimes more nearly an attitude toward a situation.

E

• Each to his own taste
  • French: Chacun à son goût
  • Alternatively: à chacun son goût - "To each his own".
• The early bird catches the worm. But the second mouse gets the cheese.
• The early bird gets (or catches) the worm.
• Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. (attibuted to Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac)
• Education is a progressive discovering of our own ignorance.
• Education makes machines which act like men and produces men who act like machines
• Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!
• An empty vessel makes the most noise
  • Meaning: Those who lack intelligence speak the most/loudest.
  • Those with the least understanding often complain about things the most.
• The ends justify the means.
  • Ovid, Heroides (c. 10 BC): Exitus acta probat. See also: Means and ends.
• The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
• The English are a nation of shopkeepers
  • (Attributed to Napoleon)
• An Englishman's home is his castle.
  • Variant of "A man's home is his castle."
• Enjoy what you don't know.
• Even a broken/stopped clock is right twice a day.
• Even a dog can distinguish between being stumbled over and being kicked.
• Even a dog can make it to the top when there's a flood.
• Even an old dog likes to be patted on the head and told, "Good boy!" -Justice Holmes
• Even angels have teeth.
  • Nathaniel Wenger "Poetry to Grow a Tree"
• Even the best perfumes of the world lose their fragrance when you are not around me.
• Every cloud has a silver lining.
  • Meaning: When something bad happens there is always some good that comes of it.
• Every dog has its day.
  • Variation on a quote from Hamlet: "...whatever Hercules says, the cat will mew and dog will have its day."
• Every rose has its thorn.
  • Meaning: Every good thing has its downside
• Everyday living is life lessons. by Allen Zimama.
  • Meaning: Every negative thing has positive aspects.
• Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.
• Everything can be justified until it happens to you.
• Everything changes; everything stays the same.
• Everything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening.
• Everything in its own time.
• Everything with time
• The exception proves the rule.
  • Often mistakenly referred to as a misquote. In reality, the Latin probate may mean either to probe or to prove. The key is that prove in this case carries the older meaning of to test, as in the phrases proving (testing) ground or the proof (test) of the pudding is in the eating.
• An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
  • Translation: If you kill a neighbor's ox you must buy him a new one. (In biblical times.)
  • Possible interpretation: retribution should be equitable, proportionate and "fit the crime". Biblical reference, modern usage often connotes support for capital punishment.
  • A common response, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, is "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind," is often used as a criticism for this concept, implying that "an eye for an eye" will only perpetuate a potentially endless cycle of violence.