Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
If the man lets a woman know what he has
got in his saving box, she will marry him
for his money.
If the mare jumps, the filly will jump higher.
If the master gets drunk it is an honorable
drunkenness; if the servant does it is
evidence of his mean disposition.
If the master gnaws bones, what will he give
the dog?
If the metal is not good, you cannot take it
out on the blacksmith.
If the moon helps me I will scoff at the stars.
If the moon is with you, you need not care
about the stars.
If the mother had never been in the oven,
she would not have looked for her
daughter there.
If the mountain will not come to Mahomet,
Mahomet must go to the mountain.
If the mountain won't come to Mohammed,
then Mohammed must go to the
mountain
If the mule isn't kicking, it's biting.
If the nail decided to malinger, it would not
pierce butter.
If the needle doesn't pass, the thread doesn't
follow.
If the North Wind takes to blowing, it will
rain for a week.
If the old dog barks, he gives counsel.
If the olive trees blossom in April, you'll
have enough to collect them with barrels;
if they bud in May, you'll have enough
to fill a small measure; but if as late as
June, you'll only be collecting handfuls.
If the owner of a calabash calls it a worthless
calabash, others will join him to use it to
pack rubbish.
If the owner of the goat is not afraid to
travel by night, the owner of a hyena
certainly will not be.
If the owner of two adjacent farms cannot be
friends, then they must wait till their
next reincarnation to be able to make
friends.
If the palm of the hand itches it signifies the
coming of great luck.
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If the palmwine tapper is praised, he dilutes
the palm-wine with water.
If the panther knew how much he is feared,
he would do much more harm.
If the patient dies, the doctor has killed him,
but if he gets well, the saints have saved
him.
If the peacock were to look at its feet, it
would stop him strutting.
If the peasant doesn't hear the thunder he
won't make the sign of the cross.
If the pedestal is beautiful the statue must be
even more beautiful.
If the people wanted life, destiny better
respond.
If the pitcher knocks against a stone, woe to
the pitcher; and if the stone knocks
against the pitcher, woe to the pitcher.
If the place you have arrived at is blind,
blink your eye.
If the pocket is empty, the judge is deaf.
If the poet does not teach his song to the
people, who will sing it?
If the potato misses, ireland's beaten.
If the prayers of dogs were answered, bones
would rain from the sky.
If The Priest is used to get drunk, the people
do not sober at all.
If the prince wants an apple, his servants
take the tree.
If the pupil is smart, the teacher gets the
credit.
If the qIvon is cold, the blood is hot.
If the rabbit is your enemy, admit that he
can sprint fast.
If the rain has seen dirt on you, it does not
stop falling on you. (If a person has bad
luck, problems will just keep on coming.)
If the rhythm of the drum beat changes, the
dance step must adapt.
If the rich could hire other people to die for
them, the poor could make a wonderful
living.
If the rich could hire the poor to die for
them, the poor would make a very nice
living.