The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (585 page)
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two
see also
BETTER one house spoiled than two
;
BETWEEN two stools one falls to the ground
;
a BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush
;
two BOYS are half a boy, and three boys are no boy at all
;
of two EVILS choose the less
;
FOUR eyes see more than two
;
one HOUR'S sleep before midnight is worth two after
;
NO man can serve two masters
;
ONE for sorrow, two for mirth
;
if you can't RIDE two horses at once, you shouldn't be in the circus
;
if you RUN after two hares you will catch neither
;
THREE may keep a secret, if two of them are dead
;
one VOLUNTEER is worth two pressed men
.
BETTER one house spoiled than two
;
BETWEEN two stools one falls to the ground
;
a BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush
;
two BOYS are half a boy, and three boys are no boy at all
;
of two EVILS choose the less
;
FOUR eyes see more than two
;
one HOUR'S sleep before midnight is worth two after
;
NO man can serve two masters
;
ONE for sorrow, two for mirth
;
if you can't RIDE two horses at once, you shouldn't be in the circus
;
if you RUN after two hares you will catch neither
;
THREE may keep a secret, if two of them are dead
;
one VOLUNTEER is worth two pressed men
.
The UNEXPECTED always happens
Similar to
NOTHING is certain but the unforeseen
. Cf. PLAUTUS
Mostellaria
I
. iii. 197
insperata accidunt magi' saepe quam quae speres
, unexpected things happen more often than those you hope for.
1885
How to be Happy though Married
xxv.
A woman may have much theoretical knowledge, but this will not prevent unlooked-for obstacles from arising … It is the unexpected that constantly happens.
1909
Times Weekly
12 Nov. 732
No place in the world is more familiar than the House of Commons with ‘the unforeseen that always happens.’
1938
Scoop
I
. iii.
Have nothing which in a case of emergency you cannot carry in your own hands. But remember that the unexpected always happens.
1977
Peter's Quotations
296
Peter's Law—The unexpected always happens.
certainty and uncertainty
;
foresight and hindsight
NOTHING is certain but the unforeseen
. Cf. PLAUTUS
Mostellaria
I
. iii. 197
insperata accidunt magi' saepe quam quae speres
, unexpected things happen more often than those you hope for.
1885How to be Happy though Married
xxv.
A woman may have much theoretical knowledge, but this will not prevent unlooked-for obstacles from arising … It is the unexpected that constantly happens.
1909
Times Weekly
12 Nov. 732
No place in the world is more familiar than the House of Commons with ‘the unforeseen that always happens.’
1938
Scoop
I
. iii.
Have nothing which in a case of emergency you cannot carry in your own hands. But remember that the unexpected always happens.
1977
Peter's Quotations
296
Peter's Law—The unexpected always happens.
certainty and uncertainty;
foresight and hindsight
UNION is strength
Unity
is a popular alternative for
union
, especially when used as a trade-union slogan. Cf. HOMER
Iliad
XIII
. 237
uµ
is a popular alternative for
union
, especially when used as a trade-union slogan. Cf. HOMER
Iliad
XIII
. 237
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