The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (427 page)
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The PEN is mightier than the sword
Cf. CICERO
De Officiis
I
. xxii.
cedant arma togae
, arms give way to persuasion.
1582
Heptameron of Civil Discourses
iii.
The dashe of a Pen, is more greeuous then the counter use of a Launce.
a
1712
Eagle & Robin in Poetical Works
(1781) III. 49
Poor Bob .. A goosequill on for weapon ty'd, Knowing by use that now and then A sword less hurt does than a pen.
1839
Richelieu
II
. ii.
Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword.
1976
Wilt
iii.
The man who said the pen was mightier than the sword ought to have tried reading
The Mill on the Floss
to Motor Mechanics.
1995
And Hope to Die
iii. 35
‘I've been practising using my tongue instead of fists.’ ‘Ah yes. Like the pen, mightier than the sword?’
tact
De Officiis
I
. xxii.
cedant arma togae
, arms give way to persuasion.
1582Heptameron of Civil Discourses
iii.
The dashe of a Pen, is more greeuous then the counter use of a Launce.
a
1712
Eagle & Robin in Poetical Works
(1781) III. 49
Poor Bob .. A goosequill on for weapon ty'd, Knowing by use that now and then A sword less hurt does than a pen.
1839
Richelieu
II
. ii.
Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword.
1976
Wilt
iii.
The man who said the pen was mightier than the sword ought to have tried reading
The Mill on the Floss
to Motor Mechanics.
1995
And Hope to Die
iii. 35
‘I've been practising using my tongue instead of fists.’ ‘Ah yes. Like the pen, mightier than the sword?’
tactTake care of the PENCE and the pounds will take care of themselves
The ‘Mr. Lowndes’ to whom quot. 1750 attributes this saying was William Lowndes (1652–1724).
1750
Letter
5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500
Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury .. used to say… Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.
1912
Pygmalion
II
. 132
Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.
1979
Arrow of God
IV
. xvii.
Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.
1996
Murder on Flying Scotsman
3
Under her breath, Julia rebelliously muttered his other favourite maxim, ‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.’
money
;
thrift
1750Letter
5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500
Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury .. used to say… Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.
1912
Pygmalion
II
. 132
Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.
1979
Arrow of God
IV
. xvii.
Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.
1996
Murder on Flying Scotsman
3
Under her breath, Julia rebelliously muttered his other favourite maxim, ‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.’
money;
thrift
A PENNY saved is a penny earned
1640Outlandish Proverbs
no. 506
A penny spar'd is twice got.
a
1661
Worthies
(Hunts.) 51
By the same proportion that a penny saved is a penny gained, the preserver of books is a Mate for the Compiler of them.
1695
Canterbury Guests
II
. iv.
This I did to prevent expences, for .. a penny sav'd, is a penny got.
1748
Castle of Indolence
I
. 26
A Penny saved is a Penny got.
1853
Bleak House
ix.
I saved five pounds out of the brickmaker's affair… It's a very good thing to save one, let me tell you: a penny saved, is a penny got!
1923
Inimitable Jeeves
xi.
I can save money this way; and believe me, laddie, nowadays .. a penny saved is a penny earned.
1979
Only Children
5
You can hear his engine saying the same dull things he said in history—A pen-ny saved is a pen-ny earned, he said, over and over again.
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