There is that buyeth much for a little and payeth for it again sevenfold (E. 2012).
In the city my Name, out of the city my Dress (C. 265).
Sixty runners may run, but they will not overtake the man who has breakfasted early (C. 86);
Thy friend hath a friend, and thy friend’s friend hath a friend (C. 258)—a canny hint on Gossip.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint (Pr. 2519).
If one person tell thee thou hast ass’s ears, take no notice;
Should two tell thee so, procure a saddle for thyself (C. 191).
If our predecessors were angels, we are human; if they were human, we are asses (C. 141)!
As for this last observation, it may have been well enough once upon a time, but of course one would not dream of asserting it now-a-days—as regards the present generation it would be, yes, altogether inappropriate. Well, let us not dispute the matter. Ancient and modern, East and West, we can all unite to enjoy the honest fun and good counsel of Ben Sirach’s advice (E. 1910) to that distracted individual the man with a secret:
Hast thou heard a word? Let it die with thee. Be of good courage, it will not burst thee!