The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (155 page)
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EMPTY vessels make the most sound
Foolish or witless persons are the most talkative or noisy; also used of achievement (see quot. 1932).
Vessel
here means a receptacle, as a drinking-vessel.
a
1430
Pilgrimage of Man
(EETS) l. 15933
A voyde vessel .. maketh outward a gret soun, Mor than .. what yt was ful.
1547
Treatise of Moral Philosophy
IV. Q4
As emptye vesselles make the lowdest sounde: so they that haue least wyt, are the greatest babblers.
1599
Henry V
IV.
iv. 64
I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true—The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.
1707
Essay on Faculties of Mind
I. 249
Empty Vessels sound loudest.
1932
Harbourmaster
ii.
‘You think we don't show up too well in the test?’.. ‘Oh, dear, no. It is the empty vessel that makes the most noise.’
1967
English Proverbs Explained
51
Empty vessels make the most sound.
1982
Brock & Defector
xiii.
‘All talk and no action ..’. ‘Empty vessels make the most noise,’ Brock agreed.
boasting
;
words and deeds
Vessel
here means a receptacle, as a drinking-vessel.
a1430
Pilgrimage of Man
(EETS) l. 15933
A voyde vessel .. maketh outward a gret soun, Mor than .. what yt was ful.
1547
Treatise of Moral Philosophy
IV. Q4
As emptye vesselles make the lowdest sounde: so they that haue least wyt, are the greatest babblers.
1599
Henry V
IV.
iv. 64
I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true—The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.
1707
Essay on Faculties of Mind
I. 249
Empty Vessels sound loudest.
1932
Harbourmaster
ii.
‘You think we don't show up too well in the test?’.. ‘Oh, dear, no. It is the empty vessel that makes the most noise.’
1967
English Proverbs Explained
51
Empty vessels make the most sound.
1982
Brock & Defector
xiii.
‘All talk and no action ..’. ‘Empty vessels make the most noise,’ Brock agreed.
boasting;
words and deeds
The END crowns the work
Cf. L.
finis coronat opus
, the end crowns the work; 15th-cent. Fr.
la fin loe l'œuvre
, the end praises the work.
1509
Ship of Fools
Dd1 For the ende crowneth.
1592
French Alphabet
II. 29
The end doth crowne the worke … La fin couronne l'œuvre.
1602
Troilus & Cressida
IV. v. 223
The end crowns all; And that old common arbitrator, Time, Will one day end it.
1820
Abbot
I. xiii.
As the end crowns the work, it also forms the rule by which it must be ultimately judged.
1870
Edwin Drood
xviii.
Proof, sir, proof, must be built up stone by stone … As I say, the end crowns the work.
1942
Uncle Harry
I. 5
But the end crowns the work, Mr. Jenkins. Murderers, like artists, must be hung to be appreciated.
1961
One for my Dame
iii.
That the end should crown the work, that I had given no more lies than I had been told made no difference. You either played it straight or you didn't.
finality
finis coronat opus
, the end crowns the work; 15th-cent. Fr.
la fin loe l'œuvre
, the end praises the work.
1509Ship of Fools
Dd1 For the ende crowneth.
1592
French Alphabet
II. 29
The end doth crowne the worke … La fin couronne l'œuvre.
1602
Troilus & Cressida
IV. v. 223
The end crowns all; And that old common arbitrator, Time, Will one day end it.
1820
Abbot
I. xiii.
As the end crowns the work, it also forms the rule by which it must be ultimately judged.
1870
Edwin Drood
xviii.
Proof, sir, proof, must be built up stone by stone … As I say, the end crowns the work.
1942
Uncle Harry
I. 5
But the end crowns the work, Mr. Jenkins. Murderers, like artists, must be hung to be appreciated.
1961
One for my Dame
iii.
That the end should crown the work, that I had given no more lies than I had been told made no difference. You either played it straight or you didn't.
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