The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (233 page)
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gold
A GOLDEN key can open any door
1580Euphues & his England
II. 71
Who is so ignorant that knoweth not, gold be a key for euery locke, chieflye with his Ladye.
1660
Nonsuch Professor
II. ix.
The gates of the new Jerusalem .. are not got open by golden keys.
1842
Poems
(1969) 694
Every door is barr'd with gold, and opens but to golden keys.
1945
Lark Rise
xix.
Their better-educated neighbours .. did not call on the newly rich family. That was before the days when a golden key could open any door.
bribery and corruption;
money
If you can't be GOOD, be careful
Cf. mid-11th-cent. L.
si non caste tamen caute
;
1303
R. BRUNNE
Handlyng Synne
(EETS) l. 8316 The apostle seyth thys autoryte [dictum], ‘Gyf thou be nat chaste, be thou pryue [secret],’
1528
W. TYNDALE
Obedience of Christian Man
73 As oure lawears saye,
si non caste tamen caute
, this is, if ye live not chaste, se ye cary clene [act properly], and playe the knave secretly.
1903
Pitcher in Paradise
viii.
Always bear in mind what the country mother said to her daughter who was coming up to town to be apprenticed to the Bond Street millinery, ‘For heaven's sake be good; but if you can't be good, be careful.’
1907
(
song-title
)
If you can't be good—be careful.
1967
Beyond Belief
I. iv.
Ta ra Alan if you can't be good be careful see you later.
1982
Parting of Ways
xvii.
Tommy .. gave me a stern warning … ‘Never meet a German in Prague .. Be good, and if you can't, be very careful.’
caution
si non caste tamen caute
;
1303
R. BRUNNE
Handlyng Synne
(EETS) l. 8316 The apostle seyth thys autoryte [dictum], ‘Gyf thou be nat chaste, be thou pryue [secret],’
1528
W. TYNDALE
Obedience of Christian Man
73 As oure lawears saye,
si non caste tamen caute
, this is, if ye live not chaste, se ye cary clene [act properly], and playe the knave secretly.
1903Pitcher in Paradise
viii.
Always bear in mind what the country mother said to her daughter who was coming up to town to be apprenticed to the Bond Street millinery, ‘For heaven's sake be good; but if you can't be good, be careful.’
1907
(
song-title
)
If you can't be good—be careful.
1967
Beyond Belief
I. iv.
Ta ra Alan if you can't be good be careful see you later.
1982
Parting of Ways
xvii.
Tommy .. gave me a stern warning … ‘Never meet a German in Prague .. Be good, and if you can't, be very careful.’
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