Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
Berry by berry, a basket will be full.
Best is the enemy of good.
Best to be aff wi the auld love afore we be on
wi the new.
Best to be off wi’ the auld love before we be
on wi’ the new.
Best to bend while it is a twig.
Better a bad harvest than a bad neighbor.
Better a bad wife than an empty house.
Better a bare foot than none.
Better a bed of wood than a bier of gold.
Better a big belly than starvation.
Better a big fish in a little puddle than a little
fish in a big puddle
Better a bird in the hand than ten in the air.
Better a bit in the morning than fast a’ day.
Better a bite from a friend than a caress from
an enemy.
Better a blind horse than an empty halter.
Better a blush in the face than a spot in the
heart.
Better a calamity to be far away.
Better a calf of one’s own than a jointly
owned cow.
Better a chigging mother, nor a riding father.
Better a clout nor a hole out.
Better a daughter that has been slept on than
a son who has been hanged.
Better a devil you know than a hundred
strangers.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble
without one.
Better a dictator than a Mullah.
Better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox
where hate is.
Better a dinner of herbs where love is, than a
stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Better a distant good than a near evil.
Better a dog faun nor bark on you.
Better a dog fawn on you than bark at you.
Better a dog fawn on you than bite you.
Better a donkey that carries me than a horse
that throws me.
Better a donkey that tarries than one that
won’t carry its load.
Better a dove on the plate than a
woodgrouse in the mating place.
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Better a drop of wisdom than an ocean of
gold.
Better a fair pair of heels than a halter.
Better a finger aff than aye wagging.
Better a fowl in hand nor twa flying.
Better a free bird than a king in captivity.
Better a friend at court than gold on the
finger.
Better a friend than money to spend.
Better a friend’s bite than an enemy’s caress.
Better a friendly denial than an unwilling
compliance.
Better a friendly refusal than an unwilling
consent.
Better a friendly refusal than an unwilling
promise.
Better a goat that can give milk than a cow
that cannot.
Better a good conscience without wisdom
than wisdom without a good conscience.
Better a good cow than a cow of a good
kind.
Better a good dinner than a fine coat.
Better a good hanging than a bad marriage.
Better a good hope than a bad possession.
Better a good neighbour than a distant
friend.
Better a good shilling than a dud sovereign.
Better a gude fame than a fine face.
Better a handful of dried figs and content
with that, than to own the gate of
peacocks and be kicked in the eye by a
broody camel.
Better a healthy donkey than a consumptive
philosopher.
Better a hundred enemies outside the house
than one inside.
Better a Jew without a beard than a beard
without a Jew.
Better a kindly fool than a proud wise man.
Better a laying Hen nor a lyin Crown.
Better a lean accord than a hefty sentence.
Better a lean agreement than a fat lawsuit.
Better a lean agreement than a fat sentence.
Better a lean peace than a fat victory.