The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (592 page)
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One VOLUNTEER is worth two pressed men
Pressed men
were those who were forced into military service.
1705
Journal
31 Oct. in
Remarks & Collections
(1885) I. 62
'Tis s
d
my L
d
Seymour presently after M
r
. Smith was pronounc'd Speaker, rose up, and told them, Gentlemen; you have got a Low Church man; but pray remember that 100 Voluntiers are better than 200 press'd men.
1834
Jacob Faithful
I. xiii.
‘Shall I give you a song?’ ‘That's right, Tom; a volunteer's worth two pressed men.’
1837
Arethusa
I. iii.
Don't fancy you will be detained against your will; one volunteer is worth two pressed men.
1897
Captains Courageous
x.
He presumed Harvey might need a body-servant some day or other, and .. was sure that one volunteer was worth five hirelings.
1979
Shadow of Moon
(rev. ed.) iv.
The Earl could not be persuaded to send her away… In any case, said the Earl, Winter would need a personal maid, and in his opinion one volunteer was worth three pressed men.
co-operation
;
free will and compulsion
were those who were forced into military service.
1705Journal
31 Oct. in
Remarks & Collections
(1885) I. 62
'Tis s
d
my L
d
Seymour presently after M
r
. Smith was pronounc'd Speaker, rose up, and told them, Gentlemen; you have got a Low Church man; but pray remember that 100 Voluntiers are better than 200 press'd men.
1834
Jacob Faithful
I. xiii.
‘Shall I give you a song?’ ‘That's right, Tom; a volunteer's worth two pressed men.’
1837
Arethusa
I. iii.
Don't fancy you will be detained against your will; one volunteer is worth two pressed men.
1897
Captains Courageous
x.
He presumed Harvey might need a body-servant some day or other, and .. was sure that one volunteer was worth five hirelings.
1979
Shadow of Moon
(rev. ed.) iv.
The Earl could not be persuaded to send her away… In any case, said the Earl, Winter would need a personal maid, and in his opinion one volunteer was worth three pressed men.
co-operation;
free will and compulsion
We must learn to WALK before we can run
The metaphorical phrase to
run before one can walk
is also common.
c
1350
Douce MS 52
no. 116
Fyrst the chylde crepyth and after gooth [walks].
c
1450
Towneley Play of First Shepherds
(EETS) l. 100
Ffyrst must vs crepe and sythen [afterwards] go.
1670
English Proverbs
75
You must learn to creep before you go.
1794
Letter
20 July in
Writings
(1940) XXXIII. 438
We must walk as other countries have done before we can run.
1851
Lavengro
II. ii.
Ambition is a very pretty thing; but sir, we must walk before we run.
1876
Business
124
More fail from doing too much than too little. We must learn and be strong enough to walk before we can run.
1947
Manchester Fourteen Miles
xv.
Mrs. Winstanley reproved her for being impatient. She pointed out .. that everybody must learn to walk before they could run.
1980
Russian Hide & Seek
iv.
At the moment we can't leave it to the English to do anything. We must learn to walk before we can run.
patience and impatience
run before one can walk
is also common.
c1350
Douce MS 52
no. 116
Fyrst the chylde crepyth and after gooth [walks].
c
1450
Towneley Play of First Shepherds
(EETS) l. 100
Ffyrst must vs crepe and sythen [afterwards] go.
1670
English Proverbs
75
You must learn to creep before you go.
1794
Letter
20 July in
Writings
(1940) XXXIII. 438
We must walk as other countries have done before we can run.
1851
Lavengro
II. ii.
Ambition is a very pretty thing; but sir, we must walk before we run.
1876
Business
124
More fail from doing too much than too little. We must learn and be strong enough to walk before we can run.
1947
Manchester Fourteen Miles
xv.
Mrs. Winstanley reproved her for being impatient. She pointed out .. that everybody must learn to walk before they could run.
1980
Russian Hide & Seek
iv.
At the moment we can't leave it to the English to do anything. We must learn to walk before we can run.
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