Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
Whether the egg crashes on the coconut or
the coconut crashes on the egg, it is the
egg that suffers.
Whether the knife falls on the melon or the
melon on the knife, the melon suffers.
Whether the pitcher strikes the stone, or the
stone the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher.
Whether to go east or west depends on one's
mind or feet.
Whether we walk quickly or slowly, the
road remains the same.
Whether well-shaven or not, it looks the
same after a few days.
Whether you boil snow or pound it you can
have but water of it.
Whether you hit an owl with a stump, or a
stump with an owl.
Whether you ignore a pig, or worship that
pig from afar, to the pig it's all the same.
Whether you think you can or think you
can't, you're right.
Whether you were gold or satin, you're the
same acanthus-seller.
Which cat does not gorge a mouse?
Which is a man's most desirable occupation?
the one for which he is most fit.
Whichever hand is cut, the whole body feels
the pain.
Whichever son is able should bury his
father. The first son did not kill him.
While a person gets they can never lose.
While alive in rags; when dead in satin to
cover the body.
While avoiding the smoke I have fallen into
the flame.
While between two stools my tail go to the
ground.
While doctors consult, the patient dies.
While father alive to get to know people.
While he was being cooked, a stone was also
being cooked, and the stone was ready
first.
While horse is strong travel to see places.
While keeping a tiger from the front door,
the wolf comes in at the back.
While life lasts let us enjoy it.
While life yet lasts, laughter and molasses.
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While seeking new friends, hold to the old.
While the blanket is short, learn to bend.
While the butchers were arguing, the cow
dropped dead.
While the cat is away, the mice will play.
While the doctors consult, the patient dies.
While the dogs yelp, the hare flies to the
wood.
While the grass grows the steed starves.
While the grass is growing the mare dies.
While the great bells are ringing no one
hears the little ones.
While the mouse in the walls may look from
afar at a cat, he does well not to go
squeaking about it.
While the pot boils, friendship blooms.
While the sheep bleats it loses its mouthful.
While the sun is shining, bask in it.
While the sun is still up, let people work
that the earth may live.
While the wooden idols are tormenting me,
the termites are tormenting them.
While the word is yet unspoken, you are
master of it; when once it is spoken, it is
master of you.
While there is life there is hope.
While there's nothing to do in April, let out
the herd to pasture with all the sheep.
While travelling, the load settles in place.
While two dogs are fighting for a bone, a
third runs away with it.
While we are the Pope we'll pontificate; who
knows if we'll be Pope another time.
While we consider when to begin, it
becomes too late.
While we discuss matters, the opportunity
passes by.
While we draw we are drawn.
While we pursue happiness, we flee from
contentment.
While we would catch we are caught.
While wrangling over a quarter of pig, you
can lose a flock of sheep.
While yearning for excess we lose the
necessities.