Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

291
Is trie a bha sonas air bial mor.
Large mouth is often lucky.
Muckle-mou'd folk has aye hap to their mQoX.—Scot.
Is trie a bha suaib-cliiitbaich air leauabh bodaich.
An old man's child has often had a touch of madness.
Is trie a bha urrainn grni ni, agus ni gun urrainn.
The worthy has often lacked means, and means hecn
enjoyed luithout merit.
Is trie a bheothaich srad bheag teine mor,
A small spark has often kindled a great fire.
Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! — St. J^\3IES.
Parvula scintilla spepe magntim suscitavit incendium. — Lett.
A single spark can burn the whole quarter. — Arab.
Piccola favilla accende gran fuoco. — Ital.
Von einem Funken konimt ein grosses Feuer. — Germ.
A small spark makes a great fire. — Eng.
A wee spark maks muckle wark. — Scot.
Is trie a chaidh an fheala-dhà gu feala-rireadli.
Joke has often come to earnest.
Mows may come to earnest. — Scot.
Is trie a ebaillear fear na mor-mbisnich.
Daring often leads to death.
'S mie ve daaney, ach s"olk ve ro ghaaney — It is good to be bold,
but bad to be too bold. — Manx.
Be bold, but not too bold. — Eng.
Is trie a ehinn an eneadach, 's a dh' fhalbh an sodar-
naeh.
The delicate often survive, vjhile the vigorous go.
Is trie a ehinn fuigheaU fochaid, 's a mheath fiiigheall
farmaid.
The refuse of mockery has often waxed, and that of
envy v:aned.
Macintosh's rendering is, ' Oft has the object of scorn arrived
at honour, and that of envy fallen into contempt'.
Is trie a fhuair ' olc an airidh' car.
' Poor fellow ' has often heen crossed.
Lit. ' lU-deserved' has often got a turn.
Is trie a fhuair fear na roghainn diù.
The man with cJwice has often got the vjorse.