The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (249 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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One HALF of the world does not know how the other half lives
Cf.
1532
RABELAIS
Pantagruel
II. xxxii.
la moytié du monde ne sçait comment l'autre vit
, one half of the world knows not how the other lives.
1607
Holy Observations
xvii.
One half of the world knowes not how the other liues: and therefore the better sort pitty not the distressed .. because they knowe it not.
1640
Outlandish Proverbs
no. 907
Halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lives.
1755
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Preface) It is a common saying, that One Half of the World does not know how the other Half lives.
1830
King's Own
I. x.
It is an old proverb that ‘one half the world do not know how the other half live’. Add to it, nor
where
they live.
1945
That Hideous Strength
i.
‘I didn't even know this was Bracton property.’ ‘There you are!..One half of the world doesn't know how the other half lives.’
1979
Murder in Outline
vi.
It just proved how true that saying is about one half knowing so little of the other, even when both halves are living under the same roof.
ignorance
;
society
HALF the truth is often a whole lie
1758
Poor Richard's Almanack
(July)
Half the Truth is often a great Lie.
1859
Poems
(1969) 1107
That a lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies, That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright, But a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight.
1875
Proverbial Folklore
166
Half the truth is often a whole lie .. is a proverb which Tennyson has most admirably versified.
1979
Sealed Envelope
xiii.
‘You've been lying.’ .. ‘Half the truth can be worse than a straight lie ..’
lying

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