The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (234 page)
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A GOOD beginning makes a good ending
c1300
South-English Legendary
(EETS) I. 216
This was atte uerste me thingth [it seems to me] a god bygynnynge. Ther after was the betere hope to come to god endynge.
c
1350
Douce MS
52 no. 122
Of a gode begynnyng comyth a gode endyng.
1710
Proverbs
1
A good Beginning makes a good End … 'Tis a great point of Wisdom .. to begin at the right end.
1850
‘’
Odd Leaves from Life of Louisiana ‘Swamp Doctor’
109
I hope my future lot will be verification of the old adage, that a ‘bad beginning makes a good ending’, for mine is bad enough.
1934
His First Million Women
xvi.
I was brought up to believe that ‘Of a good beginning cometh a good ending’ … ‘You can't do a good plastering job if your laths aren't right to begin with.’
beginnings and endings
There's many a GOOD cock come out of a tattered bag
The proverb is derived from cockfighting. Similar in sentiment is:
1721
J. KELLY
Scottish Proverbs
7 An ill Cow may have a good Calf. Bad People may have good Children.
1883
Shropshire Folklore
xxxvi.
There'll come a good cock out of a ragged bag … A cockfighting simile, lately used by a farmer, whose buildings were out of repair, but his stock in good condition.
1953
Simon
xiv.
‘There's many a good cock come out of a tattered bag,’ said the dark shape, slowly. There was an instant of … silence, and then Simon said, ‘And a good tune played on an old fiddle.’
appearance, deceptive
1721
J. KELLY
Scottish Proverbs
7 An ill Cow may have a good Calf. Bad People may have good Children.
1883Shropshire Folklore
xxxvi.
There'll come a good cock out of a ragged bag … A cockfighting simile, lately used by a farmer, whose buildings were out of repair, but his stock in good condition.
1953
Simon
xiv.
‘There's many a good cock come out of a tattered bag,’ said the dark shape, slowly. There was an instant of … silence, and then Simon said, ‘And a good tune played on an old fiddle.’
appearance, deceptiveNo GOOD deed goes unpunished
Sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde, but not traced in his writings.
1938
Ego
3 25 Jan. 275
Pavia was in great form to-day: ‘Every good deed brings its own punishment.’
1967
Diaries
(1986) 13 June 209
Very good line George came out with at dinner: ‘No good deed ever goes unpunished.’
1995
Washington Times
10 Dec. B1
No good deed goes unpunished. Pepsi-Cola offered .. scholarships to children from low-income families .. to enable them to attend private schools. Soon .. Pepsi machines in the public schools began to get jammed and vandalized.
1998
Times
15 June 23
The story about Mr Weston and the vindictive seagull is surely a fine example of the adage that ‘a good deed, however small, never goes unpunished.’
just deserts
1938Ego
3 25 Jan. 275
Pavia was in great form to-day: ‘Every good deed brings its own punishment.’
1967
Diaries
(1986) 13 June 209
Very good line George came out with at dinner: ‘No good deed ever goes unpunished.’
1995
Washington Times
10 Dec. B1
No good deed goes unpunished. Pepsi-Cola offered .. scholarships to children from low-income families .. to enable them to attend private schools. Soon .. Pepsi machines in the public schools began to get jammed and vandalized.
1998
Times
15 June 23
The story about Mr Weston and the vindictive seagull is surely a fine example of the adage that ‘a good deed, however small, never goes unpunished.’
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