The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (34 page)
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BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see
Cf.
a
1300
Proverbs of Alfred
(1907) 35 Gin thu neuere leuen alle monnis spechen, Ne alle the thinge that thu herest singen;
1770
C. CARROLL
Letter
4 Sept. in
Maryland Hist. Mag.
(1918) XIII. 58 You must not take Everything to be true that is told to you.
1845
in
Graham's Mag.
Nov. 194
You are young yet .. but the time will arrive when you will learn to judge for yourself … Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.
1858
Woman's Thoughts about Women
viii.
‘Believe only half of what you see, and nothing that you hear,’ is a cynical saying, and yet less bitter than at first appears.
1933
‘’
Slade of Yard
xix.
It's a good plan to believe half you see and nothing you hear.
1979
Green River High
ii.
I listened with the old magician's warning lively in my mind; believe nothing of what you hear—and only half of what you see!
rumour
;
trust and scepticism
a
1300
Proverbs of Alfred
(1907) 35 Gin thu neuere leuen alle monnis spechen, Ne alle the thinge that thu herest singen;
1770
C. CARROLL
Letter
4 Sept. in
Maryland Hist. Mag.
(1918) XIII. 58 You must not take Everything to be true that is told to you.
1845in
Graham's Mag.
Nov. 194
You are young yet .. but the time will arrive when you will learn to judge for yourself … Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.
1858
Woman's Thoughts about Women
viii.
‘Believe only half of what you see, and nothing that you hear,’ is a cynical saying, and yet less bitter than at first appears.
1933
‘’
Slade of Yard
xix.
It's a good plan to believe half you see and nothing you hear.
1979
Green River High
ii.
I listened with the old magician's warning lively in my mind; believe nothing of what you hear—and only half of what you see!
rumour;
trust and scepticism
A BELLOWING cow soon forgets her calf
An excessive show of grief (at a bereavement) quickly passes. Cf.
1553
T. WILSON
Art of Rhetoric
42 The Cowe lackyng her Caulfe, leaueth Loweyng within three or foure daies at the farthest.
1895
Household Tales
142
In the East Riding they say, ‘A bletherin' coo soon forgets her calf,’ meaning that excessive grief does not last long.
1928
London Mercury
Feb. 439
Common proverb in the West Country is ‘A belving cow soon forgets her calf’.
1945
Lark Rise
xxxiv.
When a woman, newly widowed, had tried to throw herself into her husband's grave at his funeral .. some one .. said drily ..‘Ah, you wait. The bellowing cow's always the first to forget its calf.’
forgetfulness
;
words and deeds
1553
T. WILSON
Art of Rhetoric
42 The Cowe lackyng her Caulfe, leaueth Loweyng within three or foure daies at the farthest.
1895Household Tales
142
In the East Riding they say, ‘A bletherin' coo soon forgets her calf,’ meaning that excessive grief does not last long.
1928
London Mercury
Feb. 439
Common proverb in the West Country is ‘A belving cow soon forgets her calf’.
1945
Lark Rise
xxxiv.
When a woman, newly widowed, had tried to throw herself into her husband's grave at his funeral .. some one .. said drily ..‘Ah, you wait. The bellowing cow's always the first to forget its calf.’
forgetfulness;
words and deeds
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