The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (33 page)
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Set a BEGGAR on horseback, and he'll ride to the Devil
A proverb (now frequently used elliptically) with many variations, meaning that one unaccustomed to power or luxury will abuse it or be corrupted by it.
1576
Petit Palace
76
Set a Beggar on horsebacke, and he wyl neuer alight.
1591
Henry VI
,
Pt. 3
I
. iv. 127
It needs not .. proud queen; Unless the adage must be verified, That beggars mounted run their horse to death.
1592
Pierce Penniless
I. 174
These whelpes .. drawne vp to the heauen of honor from the dunghill of abiect fortune, haue long been on horseback to come riding to your Diuelship.
1616
Sacrifice of Thankfulness
6
He that serues the Flesh serues his fellow: And a Beggar mounted on the backe of Honour, rides post to the Diuell.
1669
New Help to Discourse
151
Set a Beggar on Horse-back, and he will ride to the Devil.
1855
North & South
I. x.
You know the proverb …‘Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride to the devil,’—well, some of these early manufacturers did ride to the devil in magnificent style.
1923
Affair at Flower Acres
ii.
I should think your early days of forced economy would have taught you not to be quite so extravagant. But there's an old proverb—‘Set a beggar on horse-back—’ and so forth, that jolly well fits you.
1945
Enemy at Gate
21
The plebeians .. eventually attained to that comfortless pre-eminence .. which can only be experienced by beggars on horseback devoid of all aptitude .. for the precarious art of equitation.
1961
Scandalous Regent
X.
He had a good deal of the vulgarity and insolence of the beggar on horseback.
good fortune
;
pride
1576Petit Palace
76
Set a Beggar on horsebacke, and he wyl neuer alight.
1591
Henry VI
,
Pt. 3
I
. iv. 127
It needs not .. proud queen; Unless the adage must be verified, That beggars mounted run their horse to death.
1592
Pierce Penniless
I. 174
These whelpes .. drawne vp to the heauen of honor from the dunghill of abiect fortune, haue long been on horseback to come riding to your Diuelship.
1616
Sacrifice of Thankfulness
6
He that serues the Flesh serues his fellow: And a Beggar mounted on the backe of Honour, rides post to the Diuell.
1669
New Help to Discourse
151
Set a Beggar on Horse-back, and he will ride to the Devil.
1855
North & South
I. x.
You know the proverb …‘Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride to the devil,’—well, some of these early manufacturers did ride to the devil in magnificent style.
1923
Affair at Flower Acres
ii.
I should think your early days of forced economy would have taught you not to be quite so extravagant. But there's an old proverb—‘Set a beggar on horse-back—’ and so forth, that jolly well fits you.
1945
Enemy at Gate
21
The plebeians .. eventually attained to that comfortless pre-eminence .. which can only be experienced by beggars on horseback devoid of all aptitude .. for the precarious art of equitation.
1961
Scandalous Regent
X.
He had a good deal of the vulgarity and insolence of the beggar on horseback.
good fortune;
pride
beggar
BEGGARS can't be choosers
The substitution of
can't
for
must not
is a recent development. Cf. mid 15th-cent. Fr.
qui empruncte ne peult choisir
, he who borrows cannot choose.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I.
X
. D1
Folke say alwaie, beggers shulde be no choosers.
1579
Apology of School of Abuse
in
Ephemerides of Phialo
90
V
Beggars, you know, muste bee no chosers.
1728
Journey to London
III. i.
My Lords, says I, Beggars must not be Chusers; but some Place about a thousand a Year .. might do pretty weel.
1863
Hard Cash
xxiii.
The dustman .. grumbled at the paper and the bones, he did. So I told him beggars mustn't be choosers.
1888
Snatched from Poor House
iv.
Crawl out o' that bed! I'spose you do feel a little bad, but ‘beggars can't be choosers!’
1939
Blanche Fury
72
‘I suppose .. you would marry any man with a good character and a fine estate.’.. ‘Beggars can't be choosers, you mean!’
1985
Case of Hardboiled Dicks
ix.
It wasn't a good idea, but it was my first one in just over eight chapters and beggars can't be choosers.
necessity
;
poverty
can't
for
must not
is a recent development. Cf. mid 15th-cent. Fr.
qui empruncte ne peult choisir
, he who borrows cannot choose.
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
I.
X
. D1
Folke say alwaie, beggers shulde be no choosers.
1579
Apology of School of Abuse
in
Ephemerides of Phialo
90
V
Beggars, you know, muste bee no chosers.
1728
Journey to London
III. i.
My Lords, says I, Beggars must not be Chusers; but some Place about a thousand a Year .. might do pretty weel.
1863
Hard Cash
xxiii.
The dustman .. grumbled at the paper and the bones, he did. So I told him beggars mustn't be choosers.
1888
Snatched from Poor House
iv.
Crawl out o' that bed! I'spose you do feel a little bad, but ‘beggars can't be choosers!’
1939
Blanche Fury
72
‘I suppose .. you would marry any man with a good character and a fine estate.’.. ‘Beggars can't be choosers, you mean!’
1985
Case of Hardboiled Dicks
ix.
It wasn't a good idea, but it was my first one in just over eight chapters and beggars can't be choosers.
necessity;
poverty
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