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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (46 page)
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BETTER the devil you know than the devil you don't know
Cf.
1539
R. TAVERNER tr.
Erasmus' Adages
48
Nota res mala, optima.
An euyl thynge knowen is best. It is good kepyng of a shrew [a scolding or ill-tempered woman] that a man knoweth;
1576
G. PETTIE
Petit Palace
84 You had rather keepe those whom you know, though with some faultes, then take those whom you knowe not, perchaunce with moe faultes;
1586
D. ROWLAND tr.
Lazarillo de Tormes
H6
V
The olde prouerbe: Better is the euill knowne, than the good which is yet to knowe.
1857
Barchester Towers
II. vii.
‘Better the d—you know than the d—you don't know,’ is an old saying .. but the bishop had not yet realised the truth of it.
1937
Letter
16 May in
Young Man's Country
(1977) ii.
Habit has practically made me resigned to Madaripur—‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.’
1973
Devil you Don't
138
‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don't’… It makes good sense. Take your lot out, and we could have a right bastard move in and set up shop.
1983
Fool for Murder
ix.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know
was a highly suspect concept, I realized suddenly. Both Aunt Maddy and I knew what would have happened to us if Davina had become the new Lady Creighleigh. Whereas the unknown quantity was less of a danger.
familiarity
1539
R. TAVERNER tr.
Erasmus' Adages
48
Nota res mala, optima.
An euyl thynge knowen is best. It is good kepyng of a shrew [a scolding or ill-tempered woman] that a man knoweth;
1576
G. PETTIE
Petit Palace
84 You had rather keepe those whom you know, though with some faultes, then take those whom you knowe not, perchaunce with moe faultes;
1586
D. ROWLAND tr.
Lazarillo de Tormes
H6
V
The olde prouerbe: Better is the euill knowne, than the good which is yet to knowe.
1857Barchester Towers
II. vii.
‘Better the d—you know than the d—you don't know,’ is an old saying .. but the bishop had not yet realised the truth of it.
1937
Letter
16 May in
Young Man's Country
(1977) ii.
Habit has practically made me resigned to Madaripur—‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.’
1973
Devil you Don't
138
‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don't’… It makes good sense. Take your lot out, and we could have a right bastard move in and set up shop.
1983
Fool for Murder
ix.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know
was a highly suspect concept, I realized suddenly. Both Aunt Maddy and I knew what would have happened to us if Davina had become the new Lady Creighleigh. Whereas the unknown quantity was less of a danger.
familiarity
It is BETTER to be born lucky than rich
1639Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
49
Better to have good fortune then be a rich mans child.
1784
New Foundling Hospital for Wit
(new ed.) IV. 128
Estate and honours! mere caprich! Better be fortunate than rich: Since oft me find .. Is verify'd what proverbs prate.
1846
Denham Tracts
(1892) I. 224
Better to be born lucky than rich.
1852
Clovernook
248
What good luck some people always have … It's better to be born lucky than rich.
1926
in
Harper's Bazaar
July 97
‘Then what
is
luck, mother?’ ‘It's what causes you to have money. If you are lucky you have money. That's why it's better to be born lucky than rich. If you're rich you may lose your money. But if you're lucky, you will always get more money.’
1980
Somerset Maugham
XV
.
This was Maugham at his most lighthearted, exposing the fallacy of the moralist position. ‘I'm glad to be able to tell you that it has a moral,’ he said, ‘and that is: it's better to be born lucky than to be born rich.’
luck;
riches
It is BETTER to give than to receive
The AV form is also used:
ACTS
xx. 35 It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
c
1390
Confessio Amantis
v. 7725
Betre is to yive than to take.
c
1527
tr.
Erasmus' Sayings of Wise Men
B2
It is better to gyue than to take, for he that takethe a gyfte of another is bonde to quyte [repay] it, so that his lyberte is gone.
1710
Proverbs
351
'Tis better to Give than to Receive, but yet 'tis Madness to give so much Charity to Others, as to become the Subject of it our Selves.
1968
‘’
Come to Dust
xxiii.
John Thatcher .. had been on the receiving end of too much discomfort lately. It is always more blessed to give than to receive.
1980
Times
(Christmas Supplement) 15 Nov. p. i.
There is no harm in reminding your relatives and friends that it is better to give than to receive.
giving and receiving
ACTS
xx. 35 It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
c1390
Confessio Amantis
v. 7725
Betre is to yive than to take.
c
1527
tr.
Erasmus' Sayings of Wise Men
B2
It is better to gyue than to take, for he that takethe a gyfte of another is bonde to quyte [repay] it, so that his lyberte is gone.
1710
Proverbs
351
'Tis better to Give than to Receive, but yet 'tis Madness to give so much Charity to Others, as to become the Subject of it our Selves.
1968
‘’
Come to Dust
xxiii.
John Thatcher .. had been on the receiving end of too much discomfort lately. It is always more blessed to give than to receive.
1980
Times
(Christmas Supplement) 15 Nov. p. i.
There is no harm in reminding your relatives and friends that it is better to give than to receive.
giving and receiving
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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