The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (328 page)
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LITTLE strokes fell great oaks
Cf. ERASMUS
Adages
I. viii.
multis ictibus deiicitur quercus
, the oak is felled by many blows.
c
1400
Romaunt of Rose
l. 3688
For no man at the firste strok Ne may nat felle down an ok.
1539
tr.
Erasmus' Adages
26
V
Wyth many strokes is an oke ouerthrowen. Nothyng is so stronge but that lyttell and lyttell maye be brought downe.
1591
Henry VI
,
Pt. 3
II. i. 54
And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hews down and fells the hardest-timber'd oak. By many hands your father was subdu'd.
1757
Poor Richard Improved:
1758 (Mar.)
Stick to it steadily and you will see great Effect; for .. Little Strokes fell great Oaks.
1869
John Ploughman's Talk
xxii.
‘By little strokes Men fell great oaks.’ By a spadeful at a time the navvies digged .. the embankment.
1981
Family Circle
Feb. 57
From the cradle to the grave we are reminded that .. great oaks are only felled by a repetition of little strokes.
great and small
Adages
I. viii.
multis ictibus deiicitur quercus
, the oak is felled by many blows.
c1400
Romaunt of Rose
l. 3688
For no man at the firste strok Ne may nat felle down an ok.
1539
tr.
Erasmus' Adages
26
V
Wyth many strokes is an oke ouerthrowen. Nothyng is so stronge but that lyttell and lyttell maye be brought downe.
1591
Henry VI
,
Pt. 3
II. i. 54
And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hews down and fells the hardest-timber'd oak. By many hands your father was subdu'd.
1757
Poor Richard Improved:
1758 (Mar.)
Stick to it steadily and you will see great Effect; for .. Little Strokes fell great Oaks.
1869
John Ploughman's Talk
xxii.
‘By little strokes Men fell great oaks.’ By a spadeful at a time the navvies digged .. the embankment.
1981
Family Circle
Feb. 57
From the cradle to the grave we are reminded that .. great oaks are only felled by a repetition of little strokes.
great and small
LITTLE thieves are hanged, but great ones escape
Cf. late 14th-cent. Fr.
les petits larrons sont penduez
,
non pas les grands
, little thieves are hanged, not big ones.
1639
Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
172
Little theeves are hang'd, but great ones escape.
1979
Daily Telegraph
22 Nov. 18
In view of the Blunt affair, I am reminded of the proverb, ‘Little thieves are hanged but great ones escape.’
great and small
;
justice and injustice
;
wrong-doers
les petits larrons sont penduez
,
non pas les grands
, little thieves are hanged, not big ones.
1639Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
172
Little theeves are hang'd, but great ones escape.
1979
Daily Telegraph
22 Nov. 18
In view of the Blunt affair, I am reminded of the proverb, ‘Little thieves are hanged but great ones escape.’
great and small;
justice and injustice
;
wrong-doers
LITTLE things please little minds
Cf. OVID
Ars Amatoria
I. 159
parva leves capiunt animos
, small things enthral light minds.
1576
Petit Palace
139
A litle thyng pleaseth a foole.
1584
Sappho & Phao
II. iv.
Litle things catch light mindes.
1845
Sybil
II. ii.
Little things affect little minds. Lord Marney .. was kept at the station which aggravated his spleen.
1880
John Ploughman's Pictures
81
Precious little is enough to make a man famous in certain companies .. for .. little things please little minds.
1963
Man & Two Women
74
Small things amuse small minds.
1973
Galt Toy Catalogue
35
As the saying goes—Little things please little minds.
great and small
Ars Amatoria
I. 159
parva leves capiunt animos
, small things enthral light minds.
1576Petit Palace
139
A litle thyng pleaseth a foole.
1584
Sappho & Phao
II. iv.
Litle things catch light mindes.
1845
Sybil
II. ii.
Little things affect little minds. Lord Marney .. was kept at the station which aggravated his spleen.
1880
John Ploughman's Pictures
81
Precious little is enough to make a man famous in certain companies .. for .. little things please little minds.
1963
Man & Two Women
74
Small things amuse small minds.
1973
Galt Toy Catalogue
35
As the saying goes—Little things please little minds.
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