Ceux qui n’ont point d’affaires s’en font = Those who have no troubles invent them; Idle people make business for themselves.
Les affaires sont les affaires = Business is business; One must be serious at work.
Ce scandale sera l’affaire de huit jours = That scandal will be a nine days’ wonder.
Dieu nous garde d’un homme qui n’a qu’une affaire = God save us from the man of one idea.
[Because he is always talking of it, and tires every one. Compare “Beware of the man of one book.”]
Chacun sait ses affaires = Every one knows his own business best.
*A demain les affaires sérieuses = I will not be bothered with business to-day; Time enough for business to-morrow.
[The saying of Archias, governor of Thebes, on receiving a letter from Athens warning him of the conspiracy of Pelopidas; he would not even open the letter. Soon after, the conspirators rushed in and murdered him and his friends as they were feasting.]
Il vaut mieux avoir affaire à Dieu qu’à ses saints = It is better to deal with superiors than subordinates.
[Two quotations from La Fontaine are proverbial:— “On ne s’attendait guère
A voir Ulysse en cette affaire.”
La Tortue et les deux Canards.