The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (72 page)

see also
why buy a COW when milk is so cheap?
;
one WHITE foot, buy him
.

 
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A warning that the buyer must satisfy himself of the nature and value of a purchase before proceeding with the transaction. The Latin tag
caveat emptor
is also frequently found: (
caveat emptor
,
quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit
, let the purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.) See also the next proverb.
1523
Husbandry
36
And [if] he [a horse] be tame and haue ben rydden vpon than caveat emptor be ware thou byer.
1592
Pierce Penniless
I. 155
Sed caueat emptor, Let the interpreter beware.
1607
Fleire
II. C4
They are no prouerb breakers: beware the buyer say they.
1927
Times
29 Sept. 10
We dislike very much, whether it is put in Latin or in English, the phrase ‘Let the buyer beware!’
1974
Knock Down
xi.
‘
Caveat emptor
,’ I said. ‘What does that mean?’ ‘Buyer beware.’ ‘I know one buyer who'll beware for the rest of his life.’
1983
Treasure Preserved
xvii.
‘All he or his lawyers had to do was read our lease.’ ‘I agree. A case of buyer beware.’
1998
Modern Maturity
Jan.–Feb. 36
Caveat emptor (let the byer beware) is clearly good advice to people shopping around for a managed-health plan.
buying and selling
;
caution

 
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Cf. It.
chi compra ha bisogna di cent' occhi; chi vende n'ha assai di uno
, he who buys needs a hundred eyes; he who sells but one.
1640
Outlandish Proverbs
no. 390
The buyer needes a hundred eyes, the seller not one.
1745
Poor Richard's Almanack
(July)
He who buys had need have 100 Eyes, but one's enough for him that sells the Stuff.
1800
Parent's Assistant
(ed.3) III. 86
He taught him .. to get .. from customers by taking advantage of their ignorance … He often repeated ..‘The buyer has need of a hundred eyes, the seller of but one.’
1843
Handley Cross
I. xiii.
The buyer has need of a hundred eyes, the seller of but one, says another equestrian conjurer.
1928
Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News
7 Jan. 27 (
caption
)
The buyer has need of a hundred eyes. The seller of but one.
buying and selling
;
caution

 
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Julius Caesar replied thus (according to Plutarch) when asked why he had divorced his wife Pompeia. He considered his honour and position compromised, since she was indirectly associated with Publius Clodius' trial for sacrilege. Cf.
1580
LYLY
Euphues & his England
II. 101 Al women shal be as Caesar would haue his wife, not onelye free from sinne, but from suspition.
1779
Letter
4 Jan. in et al.
Adams Family Correspondence
(1973) III. 148
It is a very great misfortune that persons imployed in the most important Departments should .. have seperate interests from the publick whom they profess to serve. Caesars wife ought not to be suspected.
1847
Guesses at Truth
(ed. 3) 1st Ser. 263
Caesar's wife ought to be above suspicion … Caesar himself ought to be so too.
1930
Strong Poison
xxi.
You've got a family and traditions, you know. Caesar's wife and that sort of thing.
1965
Dusty Death
xxi.
Policemen .. are like .. candidates for the Church of England ministry, … and Caesar's wife … Not only they, but all their relations, must be above suspicion.
1990
Washington Times
9 July D2
He [i.e. Governor D. Wilder] ought to bear in mind the maxim of one of Caligula's more lucid predecessors: Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. And so should Caesar.
associates
;
conduct

 
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