Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
If rubles fell from heaven the poor would
have no bag.
If Saint Paul's day be fair and clear, it will
betide a happy year.
If she can't dig or cook send her back to her
father.
If she's a nun in the abbey, she treats Jesus
as an owner, but if she's a nun in the
home, she serves Jesus and kisses him.
If some men knew who some men were,
then some would pay the more honour
there.
If someone betrays you once, it is his fault. If
he betrays you twice, it is your fault.
If someone betrays you once, it's his fault. If
he betrays you twice, it's your fault.
If someone can take whatever you have,
give them whatever they ask for.
If someone cannot even keep his own
secrets, don't count on him to keep
someone else's.
If someone has bitten you, he has reminded
you that you have teeth.
If someone hates you, don't let her find you
hateful.
If someone hits you with a stone, hit him
with bread; your bread will return to you
and his stone will return to him.
If someone is coming to kill you, get up
early and kill him first.
If someone is waiting for something
important they wouldn't die until they
achieve it.
If someone is walking towards you, you
don't need to tell him "come here."
If someone isn't handsome by nature, it's
useless for them to wash over and over
again.
If someone puts their trust in you, don't
sever it.
If someone says "There is a wedding
ceremony in the clouds," then the
women would soon arrive with their
ladders.
If someone sweats for you, you change his
shirt.
If someone throws stones at you, throw back
309
bread.
If someone transports dung and does not eat
it, it should not be concluded that he is
an honest person.
If something can go wrong, it will.
If something happens to the master the
servants will get his share too.
If something is given to you then take it, if
you are beaten, then run away.
If something is worth doing, then it's worth
doing right.
If something that was going to chop off your
head only knocked off your cap, you
should be grateful.
If sorrow would not talk it would die.
If speaking is silver, then listening is gold.
If speech is of silver, silence is golden.
If stars were loaves, many people would
sleep out.
If stretching were wealth, the cat would be
rich.
If stupidity were a crime, half the human
race would be hanged at every
crossroads.
If summer had a mother, she would weep at
summer's passing.
If sweetness be excessive, it is no longer
sweetness.
If talk is silver then silence is gold.
If tar, hard liquor and sauna do not cure; the
disease is fatal.
If ten cents does not go out, it does not bring
in one thousand dollars.
If the adder could hear, and the blindworm
could see, neither man nor beast would
ever go free.
If the bald man knew a remedy he would
rub it on his own head.
If the ball does not stick to the wall, it will at
least leave a mark.
If the banana pest doesn't die it will always
reach at the ripe banana.
If the bathroom and a brandy cannot help a
man, then death is imminent.
If the beard meant everything, the goat
would preach.