Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
You may judge a man by his countenance.
You may judge of a man by his remarks.
You may keep yourself safe from fire, but
not from a bad man.
You may know a lion by his claw.
You may laugh at a friend's roof; don't
laugh at his sleeping accommodation.
You may lie, but not too much.
You may light another's candle at your own
without loss.
You may lock up the cock, but the sun will
still rise.
You may look up for inspiration or look
down in desperation but do not look
sideways for information.
You may never die before death arrives.
You may often feel that heavily on your
back which you took lightly on your
conscience.
You may poke a man's fire after you've
known him for seven years.
You may preach ever so long to the wolf, he
will nevertheless call for the lamb before
night.
You may say the cassava in your mouth is
bitter, but it is only looking at the next
one.
You may shut your doors against a thief, but
not against a liar.
You may speak with your gold and make
other tongues silent.
You may take a horse to the water, but you
can't make him drink.
You may take Mull from me, but you can't
take sea and land from me.
You may well have caught a bird, but have
you a fire to roast it on?
You might as well be hanged for a sheep as
for a lamb.
You might as well die with the chills as with
the fever.
You might as well try to hold an eel by the
tail.
You monk, do you want us to give you in
marriage?
You must act as if it is impossible to fail.
You must always be careful with something
762
that is greater than you are.
You must answer the devil in his own
language.
You must ask your neighbour if you shall
live in peace.
You must be fully prepared to lose a great
deal in order to make a great deal.
You must be strong to pull a rope against a
stronger.
You must be willing to die in order to live.
You must chop down the tree that gives too
much or too little shade.
You must climb the mountain if you would
see the plain.
You must contrive to bake with the flour
you have.
You must crack the nuts before you can eat
the kernel.
You must crawl before walking.
You must cut your coat according to your
cloth.
You must decide where you are going in the
evening, if you intend to leave early in
the morning.
You must die for your own sacred
conviction.
You must eat an elephant one bite at a time.
You must empty a box before you fill it
again.
You must face the consequences of your
actions.
You must get your son, your wife and your
bread from your native village.
You must grease the wheels if you would
have the car run.
You must have crossed the river before you
may tell the crocodile he has bad breath.
You must have good luck to catch hares
with a drum.
You must have slept with jean to know how
he snores.
You must howl with wolves if you wish to
be one of their herd.