Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
When wine enters modesty departs.
When wine sinks, words swim.
When wisdom fails, luck helps.
When wise men play mad pranks they do it
with a vengeance.
When with dwarfs, do not talk about
pygmies.
When wits meet sparks fly out.
When woman reigns the devil governs.
When women increase in wealth, they are
silent. But when they fall into trouble,
the whole world gets to know.
When wood breaks it can be repaired, but
ivory breaks forever.
When wood is chopped, woodchips will fly.
When wrathful words arise a closed mouth
is soothing.
When ye are weel, haud yoursel sae.
When ye ca' the dog out o' your ain kail-
yaird, dinna ca't into mine.
When ye're gawn and coming the gate's no
toom.
When you are amongst the crows, caw like
them.
When you are an anvil be patient; when a
hammer, strike
When you are an anvil, bear; when you are a
hammer, strike.
When you are an anvil, hold you still; when
you are a hammer, strike your fill.
When you are at Rome do as Rome does.
When you are at Rome, do as the Romans
do.
When you are crossing over a river you
might be eaten by crocodiles, but don't
let yourself get bitten by the little fish.
When you are dead, your sister's tears will
dry as time goes on, your widow's tears
will cease in another's arms, but your
mother will mourn you until she dies.
When you are eating with a blind man, do
not touch his hand.
When you are eating with the devil, you
must use a long spoon.
When you are in a hurry, the horse holds
back.
When you are in a pack of hounds, you
708
either bark or wag your tail.
When you are in difficulty, go to the house
of your friend -- not your sister's.
When you are in the Devil's wheel, you
must learn how to spin.
When you are looking for a country with no
tombstones you will find yourself in the
land of cannibals.
When you are looking upwards you see no
frontiers.
When you are offended, take a walk.
When you are on the road speak not ill of
your enemy.
When you are pepper, I am mustard; when
thou art a needle, I am a knife.
When you are polite, the others think they
are wearing flowers.
When you are poor, you will have no
visitors even if you live in a crowded
city; once you become rich, you'll be
surprised by visitors from alleged
relatives even if you live in a remote
location.
When you are rich you suffer in a more
comfortable way.
When you are rich, you are hated; when you
are poor, you are despised.
When you are right no one remembers;
when you are wrong no one forgets.
When you are seized, hold on yourself.
When you are serv'd a' the geese are
water'd.
When you are sick you promise a goat, but
when you are well again make do with a
chicken.
When you are talking about marriage, think
about your mother.
When you are thirsty, it's too late to think of
digging the well.
When you are very angry, don't go to a
lawyer; when you are very hungry, don't
be a poet.
When you are well off, keep as you are.