The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (277 page)
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HONESTY is the best policy
1605Europæ Speculum
K3
This over-politick .. order may reach a note higher than our grosse conceipts, who think honestie the best policie.
a
1763
Poems
(1773) I. 75
I'll filch no filching;—and I'll tell no lye; Honesty's the best policy,—say I.
1854
Detached Thoughts
II. xviii.
‘Honesty is the best policy’; but he who acts on that principle is not an honest man.
1928
Swan Song
vi.
It had been in their systems just as the proverb ‘Honesty is the best policy’ was in that of the private banking which then obtained.
1980
‘’
Spend Game
ix.
When a crisis comes to the crunch I'm full of this alert feeling. I think it's a sort of realization that honesty's the best policy.
conduct;
honesty and dishonesty
HONEY catches more flies than vinegar
Soft or ingratiating words achieve more than sharpness.
1666
Italian Proverbs
149
Honey gets more flyes to it, than doth viniger.
1744
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Mar.)
Tart Words make no Friends: spoonful of honey will catch more flies than Gallon of Vinegar.
1955
Destination Danger
X.
i .. Know the old saying relative to honey catching more flies than vinegar … if this is an act, you might as well save your breath.
1979
Sunflower
xviii.
Honey might attract more flies than vinegar, but nothing beat [
sic
] blackmail at securing the absolute allegiance.
1996
Washington Post
25 Oct. B4
Ask his advice frequently, and thank him profusely for his wisdom and guidance. Remember that old adage ‘You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.’
tact
1666Italian Proverbs
149
Honey gets more flyes to it, than doth viniger.
1744
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Mar.)
Tart Words make no Friends: spoonful of honey will catch more flies than Gallon of Vinegar.
1955
Destination Danger
X.
i .. Know the old saying relative to honey catching more flies than vinegar … if this is an act, you might as well save your breath.
1979
Sunflower
xviii.
Honey might attract more flies than vinegar, but nothing beat [
sic
] blackmail at securing the absolute allegiance.
1996
Washington Post
25 Oct. B4
Ask his advice frequently, and thank him profusely for his wisdom and guidance. Remember that old adage ‘You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.’
tactThere is HONOUR among thieves
The concept is found in
c
1622
–
3
Soddered Citizen
(1936) I. 305 Theeues haue betweene themselues, a truth, And faith, which they keepe firme, by which They doe subsist;
1703
P. A. MOTTEUX
Don Quixote
II. Ix. The old proverb still holds good, Thieves are never rogues among themselves.
1802
Works
(1843) IV. 225
A sort of honour may be found (according to a proverbial saying) even among thieves.
1823
Dict. Turf
98
‘There is honour among thieves, but none among gamblers,’ is very well antithetically spoken, but not true in fact.
1984
Murder before Matins
vi.
Honour among thieves was an empty phrase to all three of them: every professional criminal they'd known would sell his sidekick unhesitatingly if the price were right.
1996
Washington Post Book World
15 Sept. 3
This remarkable aspect of pirate life—proof positive that there can be honour among thieves—is reason enough to mythologize the buccaneers.
honour
;
wrongdoers
c
1622
–
3
Soddered Citizen
(1936) I. 305 Theeues haue betweene themselues, a truth, And faith, which they keepe firme, by which They doe subsist;
1703
P. A. MOTTEUX
Don Quixote
II. Ix. The old proverb still holds good, Thieves are never rogues among themselves.
1802Works
(1843) IV. 225
A sort of honour may be found (according to a proverbial saying) even among thieves.
1823
Dict. Turf
98
‘There is honour among thieves, but none among gamblers,’ is very well antithetically spoken, but not true in fact.
1984
Murder before Matins
vi.
Honour among thieves was an empty phrase to all three of them: every professional criminal they'd known would sell his sidekick unhesitatingly if the price were right.
1996
Washington Post Book World
15 Sept. 3
This remarkable aspect of pirate life—proof positive that there can be honour among thieves—is reason enough to mythologize the buccaneers.
honour;
wrongdoers
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