The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (181 page)
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A FAULT confessed is half redressed
1558Interlude of Wealth & Health
D2
V
Yf thou haue doone amisse, and be sory therfore, Then helfe a mendes is made.
1592
Arden of Feversham
H1
V
A fault confessed is more than half amends, but men of such ill spirite as your selfe Worke crosses [arguments] and debates twixt man and wife.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 1140
Confession of a Fault makes half amends.
1822
Nigel
III. v.
Come, my Lord, remember your promise to confess; and indeed, to confess is, in this case, in some slight sort to redress.
1855
Handbook of Proverbs
285
A fault confessed is half redressed.
1981
Xanadu Talisman
x.
A fault confessed is half redressed, so I hope he will forgive us.
confession;
error
favour
FEAR the Greeks bearing gifts
The saying is often used allusively. The original Latin version is also quoted: VIRGIL
Aeneid
II. 49
timeo Danaos
,
et dona ferentes
, I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts (said by Laocoön as a warning to the Trojans not to admit the wooden horse); thus
1777
S. JOHNSON
Letter
3 May (1952) II. 515 Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first.
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
. Beware, says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy.
1873
Phineas Redux
I. xxxiii.
The right honourable gentleman had prided himself on his generosity as a Greek. He would remind the right honourable gentleman that presents from Greeks had ever been considered dangerous.
1929
Times
26 Oct. 13
Mr. Moses .. must now be reflecting on the wisdom of the advice to ‘fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts’.
1943
Case of Drowsy Mosquito
vi.
‘It wasn't a trap, I tell you.’ Nell Sims said .. ‘Fear the Greeks when they bear olive branches.’
1980
Assassination Run
iv.
Fear the Greeks bearing gifts was the maxim to be drummed into every novice in the department.
deception
;
giving and receiving
Aeneid
II. 49
timeo Danaos
,
et dona ferentes
, I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts (said by Laocoön as a warning to the Trojans not to admit the wooden horse); thus
1777
S. JOHNSON
Letter
3 May (1952) II. 515 Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first.
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
. Beware, says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy.
1873Phineas Redux
I. xxxiii.
The right honourable gentleman had prided himself on his generosity as a Greek. He would remind the right honourable gentleman that presents from Greeks had ever been considered dangerous.
1929
Times
26 Oct. 13
Mr. Moses .. must now be reflecting on the wisdom of the advice to ‘fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts’.
1943
Case of Drowsy Mosquito
vi.
‘It wasn't a trap, I tell you.’ Nell Sims said .. ‘Fear the Greeks when they bear olive branches.’
1980
Assassination Run
iv.
Fear the Greeks bearing gifts was the maxim to be drummed into every novice in the department.
deception;
giving and receiving
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