Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

22
A still deeper stage of cowardice is indicated in the saying,
Am fear nach d' fhuair toll, dli' iarr e dorus.
He that couldn't find a hole sought a door.
Am fear nach 'eil math air aoidheachd na h-oidhclie
'thoirt seachad, tha e math ah' saodachadh an rathaid.
He that is not good at giving a bed is good at showing
the road.
See ' Easgaidh mu'n rathad mlior'.'
He tliat's'^ill o' his harboury is guid at the way-kenning. — Scot.
Am fear nach eisd ris na 's olc leis, cha'n fhaic e na
's ait leis.
He who wont listen to what he dislikes ivont see ivhat
he likes.
Am fear nach fhosgail a sporan fosglaidh e 'bhial.
The man who won't ojxm his purse ivill open his mouth.
Words cost nothing. — See James ii. 15.
Am fear nach freagair 'athair no 'mhàthair, freag-
raidh e ni 's tàire, craicionn an laoigh.
He that won't listen to father or mother will listen to a
meaner thing, the calf's skÌ7i.
Macintosh interprets this as referring to ' ne'er-do-weels ' who
enlist and follow the drum. But drum-heads are not made of
calf -skin.
Am fear nach gabh comhairle gabhaidh e cam-lorg.
He who won't take counsel ivill take a round-about way.
The Irish version of this substitutes ' còmhrag ' for ' cam-lorg,'
which makes good sense. ' Cam-lorg ' also means a crooked stick,
and the proverb may be rendered accordingly.
Am fear nach gabh 'n uair a glieabh, cha'n fhaigh
'n uair is àill.
He that vjill not when he may, ivhen he wills he shall
have nay. — Eng.
Am fear nach gleidh na h-airm 's an t-sith, cha blii
iad aig 'an am a' chogaidh.
He that keci^s not his arms in time of peace will have
none in time of war.
This is a sound maxim of State jDolicy.
Weapons bode peace. — Scot.
One sword keeps another in the sheath. —Engl., Germ., Dan.
L'armi portan pace.— I^ai.