Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

Tlie hetrayer is the murderer Let the knave be kept doicti !
Forsake not a friend in the fray.
Courage.
The iveak shall not ivin. Assurance is txoo-thirds of success. The
bashful won't be brave. Fear is worse than fighting. He that flees
not will be fled from. Weak is the grasp of the downcast. Neither
seek nor shun the fight. (This admirable saying is Ossianic.) Swift
goes the rear that's pricked by fear.
Temperance.
A man may live though not full. One may live on little, though
not on nothing. Tighten your belt till you get food. Eat less and
buy it. Only dogs eat to surfeit. Hunger is a good cook. Hungry
birds fight best. Big belly was never bountiful. A sioeet mouth ivill
send you to beggary. Take your thirst to the stream, as the dog
does. I like not the drinking fellowship. The uneasy seat in the ale-
house is best. Leave the fag-end of a fair.
Industry, Punctuality, Promptness, Early rising.
Better knot straws than do nothing. Will is a good worker.
Better try than hope. Long sleeping makes 'hot rowing. Lazy is the
hand that ploughs not. Who won't plough when it is cold shall not
reap when it is hot. He who neither works nor pushes, ^oon't get food
among the bushes. The diligent weak will beat the lazy strong. The
silly body builds the dyke when the corn is eaten. Take the good
day early. Get bait while the tide is out. Dry shoes won't get fish.
The sea icon't wait for a load. Keep the fair on its day. You
can't to-day recall yesterday. Tim.e won't wait, nor tide show mercy.
The late watcher never overtook the early riser. Lively is the early
riser. He that lies long in bed, will be all day hard bestead. Give
your ' thank you ' to the cock.
Courtesy, Hospitality. — Highland courtesy and
hospitality are so well known that a very few out of
many sayings will suffice under these heads.
He that is courteous will be courteous to all. The goodman's
advice ought to be taken. Forwardness spoils manners. A dog goes