Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

XXIV
well-being. He gets no ease who suffers not. Better wear than rust.
A bad man makes his own fate. Pity him who makes a bad
habit. Do what becomes you, and you'll see what pleases you.
Going to ruin is silent work. Better the long clean road than the
short dirty road. He thinks no evil who means no evil. Better the
little bannock with a blessing than the big one with a curse. Good
is not got without grief, A good name is sooner lost than won. It's
easier to go down than to climb. One should salute with a clean
hand. Good comes from sadness, and happiness from quietness.
Self-respect and Sense of Honour.
As thou valuest thyself, others will esteem thee. He who lies in the
mud will rise dirty. Pity him whose birthright is to eat dirt. A
man's will is his kingdom. A man is king in his own house. Dead
is the dependent. The dependent is timid. When a man goes
down, his own back is his support. A king's son is no nobler
than his company. Were the wealth of the woiid yours, weigh it
not against your shame. A man may survive distress, but not dis-
grace. A man will die to save his honour. Honour is a tender
thing. Honour can't bear patching. Honour is nobler than gold.
Remember those you came from. Follow close the fame of your
fathers. (This is Ossianic — Fingal to Oscar.)
Truth, Justice, Fidelity.
Truth is pleasing to God. Truth is better than gold. Better be
poor than a liar. TVhose word is no vjord, his luck is no luck.
Woe to him that fears not to lie. Blister on the lying tongue,
padlock on the hemless mouth ! A lie has hit one leg. A lie needs a
prop. A lie can't last long. None lied that loould not steal. The
lying mouth will be shut.
Counsel of the bell of Scone, touch not ivhat is not thine oum. Ill
for him whose goods are another man's. The reaver's goods are ill to
keep. The thief is brother to the hound. A mouthful of meat and a
townful of shame. He that hides the thief is worse. Put not your
sickle without leave into another's com. Don't put your spoon into
kail that's not yours. TJie wrongful should not be litigious. Don't
lend the loan. The loan should be sent laughing home.
He that promises must pay. A promise is a debt. Willing
pays no debt. There is no greater fraud than promise unfulfilled.