Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
Better haud wi’ the hounds than rin wi’ the
hare.
Better have a bad ass than be your own ass.
Better have a dog for your friend than your
enemy.
Better have a mouse in the pot as no flesh.
Better have an egg to-day than a hen to-
morrow.
Better have friends in the market-place than
money in your coffer.
Better have one bee than a host of flies.
Better have to give than have to beg.
Better held out nor put out.
Better ice that melts than fire that
extinguishes.
Better in an old carriage than in a new ship.
Better in the grave than be a slave.
Better is a leap over the ditch than the
entreaties of good men.
Better is a neighbour that is near than a
brother far off.
Better is an ass that carries you than a horse
that throws you.
Better is an enemy to good.
Better is an enemy to well.
Better is better.
Better is my neighbour’s hen than mine.
Better is one “Take this,” than two “I-will-
give-you.”
Better is one lady than 4 widows.
Better is rule than rent.
Better is the branch that bends, than the
branch that breaks.
Better is the end of a thing than the
beginning thereof.
Better is the enemy of good.
Better is the evil known than the good which
is yet to know.
Better is the smoke of my own house than
the fire of another’s.
Better is the trouble that follows death than
the trouble that follows shame.
Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a
palace.
Better just repair the gutter than the whole
house.
Better keep now than seek anon.
121
Better keep peace than make peace.
Better keep the devil at the door than turn
him out of the house.
Better keep weel than make weel.
Better keep well than make well.
Better keep, than have to beg.
Better kiss a knave than cast out wi’ him.
Better lady in a cottage than serving-woman
in a castle.
Better lang little, then soon right nought.
Better lang something than soon naething.
Better late than never.
Better late thrive then never.
Better later than never.
Better learn by your neighbors skaith nor by
your own.
Better learning than wealth.
Better leave nor want.
Better leave something than eating overly
much.
Better leave something to an enemy than
borrow from a friend.
Better leave than lack.
Better leave to my faes than beg frae my
friends.
Better lie than gossip.
Better little than too little.
Better lose a jest than a friend.
Better lose a supper than have a hundred
physicians.
Better lose that lose more.
Better lose the anchor than the whole ship.
Better lose the saddle than the horse.
Better lose the wool than the sheep.
Better lose your labour than your time in
idleness.
Better make a short circuit than to wet your
hose.
Better make profit out of manure than losses
with musk.
Better master one than engage with ten.
Better mine than ours.
Better my own cottage, than the palace of
another.
Better never begun nor never endit.