Better be sonsy than soon up.
Better be the head o' the commons than the tail o' the gentry.
"To reign is worth ambition, though in hell;
Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."
—Milton.
Better be the lucky man than the lucky man's son.
Better bow to my faes than beg frae my friends.
Better buy than borrow.
Better cry "Feigh, saut," than "Feigh, stink."
The first can be remedied or improved in cooking; but a putrid article cannot.
Better day the better deed.