This is the northern form of the proverb which Launcelot Gobbo speaks of as being well parted between Bassanio and Shylock. "You [Bassanio] have the grace of God, and he [Shylock] has enough."
Too much is stark nought.—Welsh.
Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
"One may be surfeited with eating tarts" (French).[324] "Nothing too much!" (Latin.)[325]
Better a wee fire to warm us than a meikle fire to burn us.—Scotch.
It is better to be content with a moderate fortune than attempt to increase it at the risk of being ruined. "Give me the ass that carries me, rather than the horse that throws me" (Portuguese).[326]
Little sticks kindle a fire, but great ones put it out.
Fair and softly goes far in a day.
Hooly and fairly men ride far journeys.—Scotch.
"Who goes softly goes safely, and who goes safely goes far" (Italian).[327] "Take-it-easy and Live-long are brothers" (German).[328]
Fools' haste is no speed.
The more haste the worse speed.
This seems to be derived from the Latin adage, Festinatio tarda est ("Haste is slow"). It defeats its own purpose by the blunders and imperfect work it occasions. A favourite saying of the Emperors Augustus and Titus was, Festina lente ("Hasten leisurely"), which Erasmus calls the king of adages. The Germans have happily translated it,[329] and it is well paraphrased in that saying of Sir Amyas Paulet, "Tarry a little, that we may make an end the sooner." A thing is done "Fast enough if well enough" (Latin).[330]
Naething in haste but gripping o' fleas.—Scotch.
Nothing should be done in haste except catching fleas.
Haste trips up its own heels.