An ill custom is like a gude bannock—better broken than kept.
An ill lesson is easy learned.
An ill life maks an ill death.
An ill plea should be weel pled.
An ill servant ne'er made a gude maister.
An ill shearer ne'er got a gude heuk.
"And now some learner tries to shear,
But comes right little speed, I fear;
'The corn lies ill,' and aye we hear
'The sickle's bad:'
The byeword says, 'Ill shearer ne'er
A gude hook had.'"
—The Har'st Rig.
An ill turn is soon done.
An ill wife and a new-kindled candle should hae their heads hadden down.