A collection of English Proverbs to inspire and motivate – short sayings but ones with wise words! Collection compiled by Catherine Pulsifer.Text shown in italics are thoughts from Catherine.

1. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.
   English Proverb
   This proverb is one that many people say.You could apply this to many things in your life:
   – don’t spend all your money before you get paid
   – don’t think you have passed the exam until you get it back
   The list could go on and on.
2. Many hands make light work.
   English Proverb
   This proverb is so very true. Many volunteer positions know how true this is. When faced with an overwhelming job, if you have others helping you the task is not as bad!
3. A bad penny always turns up.
   English Proverb
4. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
   English Proverb
   Some people swear by this proverb and do actually eat an apple a day. Perhaps the nutrition you find in an apple does in fact help. Or maybe it is positive thinking, if you believe eating an apple gives you good health, it may just do that.
5. Actions speak louder than words.
   English Proverb
6. You are never to old to learn.
   English Proverb
   This proverb is so very true. You can and should always be learning. If you think you can not learn then I guess you are old!
7. A picture is worth a thousand words.
   English Proverb
8. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
   English Proverb
   Saying goodbye to someone you love is difficult. However, if the goodbye is only for a short time we come to appreciate our loved one more especially when they come home.



9. Grasp no more than thy hand will hold.
   English Proverb
10. Never judge by appearances
    English Proverb
11. A good beginning makes a good ending.
    Wise words in this proverb. You could say that your preparation beforehand will help you start well. If you rush any project at the start, most often the end will not be well. Starting right always ends well.
12. Birds of a feather flock together
    English Proverb
13. Half a loaf is better than no bread
    English Proverb
14. If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well.
    English Proverb
    How many times can I remember my parents and teachers quoting this proverb! It is good advice, if it is worth doing then doing it well is always the way.
15. There is none so blind as those who will not see
    English Proverb
16. The early bird catches the worm
    English Proverb
17. Honesty is the best policy
    English Proverb
18. Into every life a little rain must fall.
    English ProverbWe all wish for only the good days, but to appreciate the good day, we also need more difficult ones. The bad times teach us lessons, help us grow, and as stated gives us an appreciation for the good times. Always remember that the rain does stop and the sun does shine again.
19. Beauty is only skin deep
    English Proverb
20. Don’t cross a bridge until you come to it
    English Proverb
    You can cause yourself unnecessary stress by worrying about what may happen. Focus on today, do your best and don’t worry about tomorrow.So often we worry about tomorrow or an event in the future, things that have yet to happen. Focus on today, tomorrow will bring its own troubles. No sense worrying about that which has not yet happen.
21. Let bygones be bygones
    English Proverb



22. A stumble may prevent a fall.
    English Proverb
23. Speak the truth and shame the devil
    English Proverb
24. Slow but sure.
    English Proverb
    If this world of “fast”, we discouraged ourselves because we sometimes feel we are not moving fast enough or we don’t seem to have enough time. But doing a little bit every day will add up. So don’t be discouraged by thinking that because your progress is slow, keep going, never quit.
25. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
    English Proverb
26. All that glitters is not gold
    English Proverb
27. The grass is always greener on the other side
    English Proverb
28. To every thing there is a season.
    English Proverb
    While this is referred to as an English Proverb, the origins come from the Bible. Read Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 to 8. The older you are and the more you experience life you realize the truth in these words.
29. As you sow, so shall you reap
    English Proverb
    Some people have lots of ambition which will end up with positive results from their hard work and determination.
30. Two wrongs don’t make a right
    English Proverb
31. Better late than never
    English Proverb
32. One cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs
    English Proverb
    While this may seem like a funny proverb it points out that sometimes things may not work the way we want it to, or sometimes what seems like a negative can sometimes turn into a positive.
33. Practice makes perfect
    English Proverb
34. There is no time like the present
    English Proverb
35. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
    English Proverb
36. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
    English Proverb
37. There is no place like home
    English Proverb
38. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
    English Proverb
39. A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it’s two-tired.
    English Proverb
    Funny but true words. If any of us get overtired it is difficult to achieve or accomplish anything.
40. If you want to judge a man’s character, give him power.
    English Proverb
41. If wishes were horses beggars might ride.
    English Proverb
42. A stitch in time saves nine.
    English Proverb
43. Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.
    English Proverb
44. Life is what you make it.
    English Proverb
    Simple words but ones which are so true. Your attitude, how you see your world, will depend on the happiness and contentment in your life. And, we are the ones who control our attitude. How we react to any situation is up to us.
45. A man is as old as he feels himself to be.
    English Proverb
46. It’s a blessing in disguise.
    English Proverb



47. Everyone must row with the oars he has.
    English Proverb
    Love this proverb, it contains much wisdom. Rather than looking at what others have and do, if we focus on our own abilities and do the task well then that is all that matters.
48. Least said is soonest mended.
    English Proverb
49. All good things come to he who waits.
    English Proverb
    Patience, how difficult it is at times to have patience.
50. A trouble shared is a trouble halved.
    English Proverb
51. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
    English Proverb

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