“Do not wait until the drum beats before you grind your axe.”

The new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows all the corners.

Do not take pleasure in the misfortunes of others as the same could happen to you.

You cannot sit on the back of the cow and curse the skin of the cow.

The dog does not howl if he has a bone.

A penny-halfpenny (1 1/2d) buys trouble, one hundred pounds (£100) cannot pay for it.

Young John crows are white when hatched, but do not remain white.

You tend to stick to people of the same nature.

Don’t get involved in things that don’t concern you.

Things are not always as they seem.

The chicken, unaware of the danger posed by the hovering hawk, makes merry.

If you want everything you see, you will eventually lose all.

When you find yourself in trouble, a child’s shirt fits you.

What tastes sweet in the mouth burns the belly.

Shoes alone know if the stocking have holes.

Don’t let one donkey choke you.

A good friend is better than money in the pocket.