The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (86 page)
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CHILDREN and fools tell the truth
Cf. late 14th-cent. Fr.
pour savoir vrai de chose toute
,
yvre
,
enffant
,
sot et femme escoute
, to know the truth about everything, listen to drunkards, children, idiots, and women;
c
1425
in
Anglia
(1885) VIII. 154 Atte laste treuthe was tryed oute of a childe and dronken man.
1537
in
Letters & Papers of Reign of Henry VIII
(1929) Addenda I.i. 437
It is ‘an old saying that a child, a fool and a drunken man will ever show .. the truth’.
1591
Endymion
IV.ii.
Children must not see Endimion, because children and fooles speake true.
1652
Scots Figgaries
III. 23
I am a fool 'tis confest, but children and fooles tell truth sometimes; you know.
1805
Letter
Jan. (1932) I. 233
It is a proverb, that children and fools talk truth and I am mistaken if even the same valuable quality may not sometimes be extracted out of the tales made to entertain both.
1921
Evening Standard
21 Oct. 9
Solicitor .. ‘Are you telling the truth in this case?’ Witness.—Only children and fools tell the truth.
1972
‘’
Murder with Love
ii.
All he said was that children and fools speak the truth.
children
;
fools
;
truth
pour savoir vrai de chose toute
,
yvre
,
enffant
,
sot et femme escoute
, to know the truth about everything, listen to drunkards, children, idiots, and women;
c
1425
in
Anglia
(1885) VIII. 154 Atte laste treuthe was tryed oute of a childe and dronken man.
1537in
Letters & Papers of Reign of Henry VIII
(1929) Addenda I.i. 437
It is ‘an old saying that a child, a fool and a drunken man will ever show .. the truth’.
1591
Endymion
IV.ii.
Children must not see Endimion, because children and fooles speake true.
1652
Scots Figgaries
III. 23
I am a fool 'tis confest, but children and fooles tell truth sometimes; you know.
1805
Letter
Jan. (1932) I. 233
It is a proverb, that children and fools talk truth and I am mistaken if even the same valuable quality may not sometimes be extracted out of the tales made to entertain both.
1921
Evening Standard
21 Oct. 9
Solicitor .. ‘Are you telling the truth in this case?’ Witness.—Only children and fools tell the truth.
1972
‘’
Murder with Love
ii.
All he said was that children and fools speak the truth.
children;
fools
;
truth
CHILDREN are certain cares, but uncertain comforts
The sense is reversed in the last quotation.
1639
Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
240
Children are uncertaine comforts, but certaine cares.
1641
English Gentleman
(ed. 3) 27
Children reflect constant cares, but uncertaine comforts.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 1095
Children are certain Cares, but uncertain comforts.
1885
How to be Happy though Married
xvi.
Children are
not
‘certain sorrows and uncertain pleasures’ when properly managed.
1915
Dear Enemy
203
My new little family has driven everything out of my mind. Bairns are certain joy, but nae sma' care.
children and parents
1639Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
240
Children are uncertaine comforts, but certaine cares.
1641
English Gentleman
(ed. 3) 27
Children reflect constant cares, but uncertaine comforts.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 1095
Children are certain Cares, but uncertain comforts.
1885
How to be Happy though Married
xvi.
Children are
not
‘certain sorrows and uncertain pleasures’ when properly managed.
1915
Dear Enemy
203
My new little family has driven everything out of my mind. Bairns are certain joy, but nae sma' care.
children and parentsCHILDREN should be seen and not heard
Originally applied specifically to (young) women.
c
1400
Festial
(EETS) I. 230
Hyt ys an old Englysch sawe [saying]: ‘A mayde schuld be seen, but not herd.’
1560
Works
I. Bbb2
This also must honest maids provide, that they be not full of tongue … A maid should be seen, and not heard.
1773
Spiritual Quixote
I. III. xviii.
It is a vulgar maxim, ‘that a pretty woman should rather be seen than heard’.
1820
Memoirs
(1875) V. xii.
My dear mother's constant lesson in childhood, that children in company should be seen and not heard.
1959
Eating People is Wrong
ii.
‘You think that children should be seen and not heard then?’ asked the novelist.
1982
High Spirits
180
You know the sort of thing:.. children are to be seen and not heard except for exceptional children like me.
1996
Murder on Flying Scotsman
i. 12
Harold is being disagreeable … He says children should be seen and not heard, and preferably not seen either, but I want my little darlings with me.
children
;
manners
c1400
Festial
(EETS) I. 230
Hyt ys an old Englysch sawe [saying]: ‘A mayde schuld be seen, but not herd.’
1560
Works
I. Bbb2
This also must honest maids provide, that they be not full of tongue … A maid should be seen, and not heard.
1773
Spiritual Quixote
I. III. xviii.
It is a vulgar maxim, ‘that a pretty woman should rather be seen than heard’.
1820
Memoirs
(1875) V. xii.
My dear mother's constant lesson in childhood, that children in company should be seen and not heard.
1959
Eating People is Wrong
ii.
‘You think that children should be seen and not heard then?’ asked the novelist.
1982
High Spirits
180
You know the sort of thing:.. children are to be seen and not heard except for exceptional children like me.
1996
Murder on Flying Scotsman
i. 12
Harold is being disagreeable … He says children should be seen and not heard, and preferably not seen either, but I want my little darlings with me.
children;
manners
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