The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (45 page)
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o
, it is better to start doing what one has to late than not at all; LIVYHist.
IV.ii.
potius sero quam nunquam
.
c
1330
in
Die Mittelenglische Gregoriuslegende
(1941) 146 A.
Better is lat than neuer blinne [cease] Our soules to maken fre.
c
1450
Assembly of Gods
(EETS) l. 1204
Vyce to forsake ys bettyr late then neuer.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I.x. C4
Things done, can not be vndoone,.. But better late then neuer to repent this.
1708
Conquest of Syria
I. 276
Whilst he was murdering the unhappy Aleppians, Caled (better late than never) came to their Relief.
1852
Two Guardians
xviii.
She obtained from Agnes some admiration for Caroline's conduct, though in somewhat of the ‘better late than never style’.
1954
Letter
16 Sept. (1969) 711
I am sorry your holiday will have to be postponed so long; but better late than never.
1985
Embrace Wolf
iii.
It took my father ten years to get over the disappointment, but he did. Better late than never.
1997
Washington Post
30 Jan. A19
Well, better late than never. As the century closes, we have come upon a cure for the century's defining disorder, political zealotry.
lateness
BETTER one house spoiled than two
Said of two foolish or wicked people joined in marriage and troubling only themselves.
Spoiled
or (
spilled
[destroyed]) is sometimes contrasted with
filled
(see quots. 1670 and 1805).
1586
tr.
de la Primaudaye's French Academy
xlvi.
The wicked and reprobate, of whom that common proverbe is spoken, that it is better one house be troubled with them than twaine.
1587
Penelope's Web
V. 162
The old prouerb is fulfild, better one house troubled than two.
1670
English Proverbs
51
Better one house fill'd then two spill'd. This we use when we hear of a bad Jack who hath married as bad a Jyll.
1805
Diary
28 May (1911) III. 161
One of the company discovering a disposition to speak much of his own wife .. the Gen. observed .. One house filled was better than two spoiled.
1924
Folk-Lore
XXXV. 358
Better one house spoilt than two (said when a witless a man marries a foolish woman).
marriage
Spoiled
or (
spilled
[destroyed]) is sometimes contrasted with
filled
(see quots. 1670 and 1805).
1586tr.
de la Primaudaye's French Academy
xlvi.
The wicked and reprobate, of whom that common proverbe is spoken, that it is better one house be troubled with them than twaine.
1587
Penelope's Web
V. 162
The old prouerb is fulfild, better one house troubled than two.
1670
English Proverbs
51
Better one house fill'd then two spill'd. This we use when we hear of a bad Jack who hath married as bad a Jyll.
1805
Diary
28 May (1911) III. 161
One of the company discovering a disposition to speak much of his own wife .. the Gen. observed .. One house filled was better than two spoiled.
1924
Folk-Lore
XXXV. 358
Better one house spoilt than two (said when a witless a man marries a foolish woman).
marriageThe BETTER the day, the better the deed
Frequently used to justify working on a Sunday or Holy Day. Cf. early 14th-cent. Fr.
a bon jour bone euvre
, for a good day, a good deed.
1607
Michaelmas Term
III. i.
Why, do you work a' Sundays, tailor? The better day the better deed, we think.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
328
The better Day, the better Deed. I never heard this used but when People say that they did such an ill thing on Sunday.
1896
Crown & Anchor
xiii.
The better the day, the better the deed .. It was only the Pharisees who objected to any necessary work being done on the Sabbath.
1938
Circus is Coming
x.
It was Good Friday …‘Us for the station to fetch that box … The better the day the better the deed.’
1976
Twinkle, twinkle, Little Spy
ix.
‘Merry Christmas,’ I said. ‘The better the day, the better the deed.’
1989
Holy Treasure!
xviii.
I'm cooking between church services. Well, the better the day the better the deed.
1995
Death of Prodigal
‘And he was coming back here with us after, for Sunday lunch. I've just cleaned the car in his honour, too.The better the day, the better the deed, like.’
action and inaction
a bon jour bone euvre
, for a good day, a good deed.
1607Michaelmas Term
III. i.
Why, do you work a' Sundays, tailor? The better day the better deed, we think.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
328
The better Day, the better Deed. I never heard this used but when People say that they did such an ill thing on Sunday.
1896
Crown & Anchor
xiii.
The better the day, the better the deed .. It was only the Pharisees who objected to any necessary work being done on the Sabbath.
1938
Circus is Coming
x.
It was Good Friday …‘Us for the station to fetch that box … The better the day the better the deed.’
1976
Twinkle, twinkle, Little Spy
ix.
‘Merry Christmas,’ I said. ‘The better the day, the better the deed.’
1989
Holy Treasure!
xviii.
I'm cooking between church services. Well, the better the day the better the deed.
1995
Death of Prodigal
‘And he was coming back here with us after, for Sunday lunch. I've just cleaned the car in his honour, too.The better the day, the better the deed, like.’
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