Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

250-
Is fhearr suidlie goirid na seasamh fada.
Better short sitting than long standing.
Is fearr suidhe gearr na seasamh fada. — Ir.
Sliare soie son veg na roie (ruith) son veg. — Manx.
Is fhearr tàmh na obair a nasgaidh.
Better rest than work for nothing.
A Miso-Celt might point to this as illustrative of Celtic laziness,
l>nt for the Scottish saying, ' Better sit idle than work for nought,'
and the English one, 'As good to play for nought as work for
nought'.
Per con. Is fhearr saothaii- fliaoin na daoine diomhain — Better
useless work than be idle.
Is fhearr teicheadh math, na droch fhuireach.
Better a good retreat than stag to suffer.
He that fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day,
is the common form of what in Hudibras is.
For those that fly may fight again,
Wliich he can never do that's slain.
Older still, however, is the Greek sajnng, quoted in self-defence
by Demosthenes, when twitted for leaving his shield on the field
of Cheronoea, Avrjp 6 (pfvyav, Kai ttoXlv jiaxriO-eTM, thus translated
by Udall (1542), from the Adagia of Erasmus,
That same man that runnith awaie
Male again fight another daie.
Is fhearr tilleadh am meadhon an àtha, na bathadh
uile.
Better turn mid-ford than he droivncd.
Is fearr pilleadh as làr an atha, na bathadh 's a tuile. — Ir.
Better wade back mid- water than gang forat and droon.— Scoi.
Beter ten halve gekeerd (turn halfway) dan ten heele gedwaald
(he wholly lost). — Dutch.
Is fhearr tobhairt caillich na geall riglL
An old loife's gift is better than a king's promise.
There is a democratic sharpness in this, very uncommon in
Gaelic sayings.
Is fhearr treabhadh anmoch na 'bhi gun treabhadh
idir.
Better late 2:)loughÌ7ig than none at all.
Is fhearr uair de bhean-an-tighe na obair latha ban-
oglaich.
Better an hour of the mistress than a days work of the
servant.