The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (166 page)
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EVIL communications corrupt good manners
Proper conduct is harmfully influenced by false information or knowledge; also used to assert the deleterious effect of bad example. With allusion to
I CORINTHIANS
XV.33 (AV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
c
1425
Treatises of Fistula
(EETS) 5
Shrewed speche corrumpith gode maners.
1533
Debellation
[subjugation]
of Salem
xiv.
(As saynt Poule speketh of such heresyes) euyl communication corrupteth good maners.
1749
Tom Jones
IV. XII. iii.
I heartily wish you would .. not think of going among them.—Evil Communication corrupts good Manners.
1829
Advice to Young Men
V. cccviii.
Evil communications corrupt good manners.
1874
Phineas Redux
I. xvi.
[The horse] would have taken the fence .. but Dandolo had baulked .. and evil communications will corrupt good manners.
1939
Christmas Holiday
ii.
A disposition of such sweetness that no evil communication could corrupt his good manners.
1973
‘’
Appleby's Answer
ii.
One can't be too careful in choosing a well-bred cat's company … Evil communications corrupt good manners.
conduct
;
example, good and bad
I CORINTHIANS
XV.33 (AV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
c1425
Treatises of Fistula
(EETS) 5
Shrewed speche corrumpith gode maners.
1533
Debellation
[subjugation]
of Salem
xiv.
(As saynt Poule speketh of such heresyes) euyl communication corrupteth good maners.
1749
Tom Jones
IV. XII. iii.
I heartily wish you would .. not think of going among them.—Evil Communication corrupts good Manners.
1829
Advice to Young Men
V. cccviii.
Evil communications corrupt good manners.
1874
Phineas Redux
I. xvi.
[The horse] would have taken the fence .. but Dandolo had baulked .. and evil communications will corrupt good manners.
1939
Christmas Holiday
ii.
A disposition of such sweetness that no evil communication could corrupt his good manners.
1973
‘’
Appleby's Answer
ii.
One can't be too careful in choosing a well-bred cat's company … Evil communications corrupt good manners.
conduct;
example, good and bad
Never do EVIL that good may come of it
With allusion to
ROMANS
iii. 8 (AV) And not .. Let us do evil, that good may come.
1583
Anatomie of Abuses
K5 We must not doo euil, that good may come of it: yet the lawes in permitting certain reasonable gain to be received for the loane of money lent .. haue not doone much amisse.
1689
Letter
in
Coll. Connecticut Hist. Society
(1860) I. 59
If I knew any thing whereby to justify the present proceeding, I should not conceal it; but we must not do evil that good may come of it.
1882
Unknown to History
II. ix.
Walsingham's agents .. did evil that good might come, thinking Mary's death alone would ensure them from Pope and Spaniard.
1950
Murder Included
127
What .. were the ethics? A promise made to a silly child, was it binding? You mustn't do evil that good may come of it .. but the boy was only fourteen and practically half-witted, and Lisa was an absurd little Quixote.
good and evil
;
ways and means
ROMANS
iii. 8 (AV) And not .. Let us do evil, that good may come.
1583Anatomie of Abuses
K5 We must not doo euil, that good may come of it: yet the lawes in permitting certain reasonable gain to be received for the loane of money lent .. haue not doone much amisse.
1689
Letter
in
Coll. Connecticut Hist. Society
(1860) I. 59
If I knew any thing whereby to justify the present proceeding, I should not conceal it; but we must not do evil that good may come of it.
1882
Unknown to History
II. ix.
Walsingham's agents .. did evil that good might come, thinking Mary's death alone would ensure them from Pope and Spaniard.
1950
Murder Included
127
What .. were the ethics? A promise made to a silly child, was it binding? You mustn't do evil that good may come of it .. but the boy was only fourteen and practically half-witted, and Lisa was an absurd little Quixote.
good and evil;
ways and means
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