J. F. Campbell 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 haj) to their meat. — ^cot.
Is trie a bha suaib-elmtbaich air leanabh bodaieh.
An old TYian's child has often had a touch of madness.
Is trie a bha urrainn gun ni, agus ni gun urrainn.
The worthy has often lacked means, and means been
enjoyed without merit.
Is trie a bheothaich srad bheag teine mor.
A small sjmrk has often kindled a great fre.
Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! — St. James.
Parvula scintilla saepe magnum suscitavit incendium. — Lat.
A single spark can burn the whole quarter. — Arab.
Piccola favilla accende gran fuoco. — Ital.
Von einem Funken kommt ein grosses Feuer. — Germ.
A small spark makes a great fire. — Eng.
A wee spark maks muckle wark. — Scot.
Is trie a ehaidh an fheala-dhà gu feala-rireamli.
Joke has often come to earnest.
Mows may come to earnest. — Scot.
Is trie a chaillear fear na mor-mhisnicb.
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 chinn an eneadacb, 's a dh' fhalbb an sodar-
naeb.
Tlie delicate often survive, while the vigorous go.
Is trie a cbinn fuigbeall foehaid, 's a mbeath fuigheall
farmaid.
The refuse of mockery has often wa-xed, and that of
envy waned.
Macintosh's rendering is, ' Oft has the object of scorn arrived
at honour, and that of envy fallen into contempt'.
Is trie a fhuair 'ole 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 choice has often got the worse.