The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (90 page)
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CIVILITY costs nothing
Politeness
now often replaces
civility
. Cf. late 15th-cent. Fr.
de bouche honnesteté.. petit couste et vault plenté
, courteous words .. cost little and are worth much.
1706
Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Cortesía,
Mouth civility is worth much and costs little.
1765
Letter
30 May (1967) III. 107
Remember Civility costs nothing, and buys every thing.
1765
Memoirs
73
Politeness .. costs but little.
1841
Ten Thousand a Year
I. iii.
It may be as well .. to acknowledge the fellow's note …Civility costs nothing.
1873
Rambles
xiv.
Civility costs nothing, it is said—Nothing, that is, to him that shows it; but it often costs the world very dear.
1980
Medium for Murder
x.
‘It made me hopping mad to hear you kow-towing to him.’.. ‘Politeness costs nothing,’ said Brooker.
1992
Death in Disguise
v. 95
There was no call, Jill's boss had agreed whilst comforting his employee with an iced Malibu, to take that tone. Politeness cost nothing.
manners
;
Politeness
now often replaces
civility
. Cf. late 15th-cent. Fr.
de bouche honnesteté.. petit couste et vault plenté
, courteous words .. cost little and are worth much.
1706Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Cortesía,
Mouth civility is worth much and costs little.
1765
Letter
30 May (1967) III. 107
Remember Civility costs nothing, and buys every thing.
1765
Memoirs
73
Politeness .. costs but little.
1841
Ten Thousand a Year
I. iii.
It may be as well .. to acknowledge the fellow's note …Civility costs nothing.
1873
Rambles
xiv.
Civility costs nothing, it is said—Nothing, that is, to him that shows it; but it often costs the world very dear.
1980
Medium for Murder
x.
‘It made me hopping mad to hear you kow-towing to him.’.. ‘Politeness costs nothing,’ said Brooker.
1992
Death in Disguise
v. 95
There was no call, Jill's boss had agreed whilst comforting his employee with an iced Malibu, to take that tone. Politeness cost nothing.
manners;
Politeness
clean
CLEANLINESS is next to godliness
Next
in this proverb means ‘immediately following’, as in serial order. Cf.
1605
BACON
Advancement of Learning
II. 44 Cleannesse of bodie was euer esteemed to proceed from a due reuerence to God.
a
1791
Works
(1872) VII. 16
Slovenliness is no part of religion …‘Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.’
1876
Ride to Khiva
x.
‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ The latter quality, as displayed in a Russian devotee, is more allied with dirt than anything else.
1935
Judgement Day
xvii.
His sister Loretta .. called: Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
1979
Backfire
i.
The hospital staff had a thing about personal cleanliness, next to godliness, you might say.
1994
Too Many Cooks Spoil Broth
xii. 118
If cleanliness is next to godliness, as they say, Susannah's best quality is automatically third-rate.
cleanliness
in this proverb means ‘immediately following’, as in serial order. Cf.
1605
BACON
Advancement of Learning
II. 44 Cleannesse of bodie was euer esteemed to proceed from a due reuerence to God.
a1791
Works
(1872) VII. 16
Slovenliness is no part of religion …‘Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.’
1876
Ride to Khiva
x.
‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ The latter quality, as displayed in a Russian devotee, is more allied with dirt than anything else.
1935
Judgement Day
xvii.
His sister Loretta .. called: Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
1979
Backfire
i.
The hospital staff had a thing about personal cleanliness, next to godliness, you might say.
1994
Too Many Cooks Spoil Broth
xii. 118
If cleanliness is next to godliness, as they say, Susannah's best quality is automatically third-rate.
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