Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

242
Is fearr eòlus an uilc nà an t-olc gan eòlus. — Ir. Share yn oik
shione dooin na yn oik uagh nhione clooin. — Manx.
Gwell i dclyn y drwg a wyr na'r drwg nis gwyr. — Welsh.
And makes ns rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of. — Hamlet, III., 1.
Better the ill ken'd than the guid unken'd.— /S'cof.
Is fliearr am bonnach beag leis a' bheanuaclid, na 'm
bonnach mor leis a' mhollaclid.
The little bannock with a blessing is better than the big
one with a curse.
This saying occurs in some of the old Gaelic tales, when a son
is going from home, and is asked by his mother which he prefers.
See Dr. M'Leod's Caraid nan Gaidheal, p. 273.
Al. an t-i;bh beag — the little egg; an leth beag — the little half.
Is fliearr aon ian 's an làimh, na 'dhà dhiag air iteig,
A bird in the hand is worth a dozen on wing.
Fearr dreoilin ann dorn na corr air chairde (free). — Ir.
Ta ushag ayns laue chammag (cho math) as jees (dithisj sy
thammag (hush). — Manx.
Gwell aderyn yn (one bird) y Haw na dau ynllwyn (two in
wood). — Welsh.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the wood. — Eng.
A bird in the hand's worth twa fleein' by. — Scot.
A thousand cranes in the air are not worth a sparrow in the
fist. — Arab.
Mas vale pajaro (s^yarrow) en la mano, que buitre (vulture)
volando. — Span.
Beter eene vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht {shy). — Dutch.
E meglio un ticello in gabbia che cento fuori. — Ital.
Is fbearr aon laogh na da chraicionn.
One calf is better than two shins.
Is fbearr aon oidbche Mbairt na tri latba Fogliair.
One night in March is worth three days in Auticrnn.
For growth.
Is fbearr aon sine na ceatbramb coirce.
One teat (of a coiv) is better than a quarter of oats.
Al. Is fhearr aon sine bà na bolla dhe 'n mhin bhàn — Better one
'■.eat of a cow than a boll of Lowland meal.
Would that all lairds and sheep-farmers considered this, who
iiave crofters on their lands, with children, but no cows to give
hem milk ! Unhappily, there is less of milk, both of cows, and of
luman kindness, in some places where once they were not wanting.
Is fliearr aon taisgeacb na seacbd teagraidb.
Better one secure than seven to be qathercd.