Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
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 chiding than a good deal of
heartache.
Better a little fire that warms, nor a meikle
that burns.
Better a little fire to warm us than a big one
to burn us.
Better a little furniture than an empty house.
Better a little in peace and with right, than
much with anxiety and strife.
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 meal of vegetables where there is
love than a fatted ox where there is
hatred.
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 patient man than a warrior, one
who controls his temper than one who
takes a city.
Better a poor horse than an empty stall.
Better a poor husband than a lover who’s a
baron.
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 salt herring on your own table, than
a fresh pike on another man’s.
Better a sick body than an ignorant mind.
Better a single decision maker than a
thousand advisors.
Better a slap from a wise man than a kiss
from a fool.
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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 small fish than an empty dish.
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 sparrow today than a bustard
tomorrow.
Better a steady drip than a sudden deluge.
Better a stride that will last than a trot that
tires fast.
Better a thief for a neighbor than an
overzealous rabbi.
Better a thousand enemies outside the house
than one inside.
Better a thousand enemies outside the tent
than one within
Better a toom house than an ill tenant.
Better a wee bush than nae beild.
Better a wise foe than a foolish friend.
Better a wise man’s servant than an idiot’s
master.
Better a wit cost, nor two for nought.
Better a woman who is dark-skinned and
gracious, than one who is light-skinned
and insipid.
Better afield with the birds than hanging on
lords.
Better alone than in bad company.
Better alone unattached than unsuitably
matched.
Better an ache than a tear.
Better an ass that carries me than a horse
that throws me.
Better an egg in peace, than an ox in war.
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
Better an egg today than the chicken
tomorrow.
Better an empty purse than an empty head.
Better an even down snaw than a driving
drift.