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423 entries for proverbs

ε3141Ἐσθλά[things] good [of their kind]… L. Bachmann 1.237.5 and Anecdota Oxoniensia 2.435.30. [1] For this proverb (from an unknown elegiac epigram similar to those in the collection ascribed to Theognis) see epsilon 2239, note 2. [2] Polybius 15.16.6, here …Matched in noteshighshort
ε11Ἔαρος χρῄζειis in want of spring… present headword phrase comes from those scholia, but appears as proverbial in its own right in Appendix Proverbiorum 2.3. The proverb "One swallow does not make a spring" (we would say "summer"), Cratinus fr. …Matched in noteshighshort
α3471Ἀπὸ πέντε ἅλλεσθαι πετρῶν εἰς κῦμαto leap from five rocks into a wavecf. Diogenianus 1.80, where however the proverb itself ends (improbably) "into a cudgel".Matched in noteshighshort
μ1343Μωρότερος Μωρύχουmore stupid than Morychos; more stupid than MorychusFor this proverb -- m-alliterative in the Greek -- see also Photius, Lexicon mu652 Theodoridis (the precursor of the present entry), Zenobius 5.13, and Michael Apostolius 11.91; cf. Plutarch, *paroimi/ai ai(=s *)Alecandrei=s e)xrw=nto 1.40 …Matched in noteshighmedium
ε3214Ἑστίᾳ θύομενwe are sacrificing to Hestia… take nothing away from a sacrifice to Hestia. For another proverb involving Hestia see alpha 4590; and generally W. Burkert, Greek Religion (1985) 170.Matched in noteshighshort
α2536Ἄνθρωπος ἀνθρώπου δαιμόνιονman (is) man's divinity… delta 674 and tau 1234; and also in Photius. On proverbial uses (of this kind) of the Euripos straits, between Euboia (epsilon 3696) and Boiotia/Attica, see generally D. Whitehead, Hypereides: the forensic speeches (Oxford …Matched in noteshighshort
κ2691Κύνα δέρειν δεδαρμένηνto flay flayed skin… skin" (see web address 1). The general import of the proverb (Apostolius 10.29), on the lines of flogging a dead horse, seems clear enough (cf. epsilon 384), but a sexual meaning is required in …Matched in noteshighshort
αι114Αἰθέρα νήνεμον ἐρέσσειςyou are rowing the windless aetherZenobius 1.39. For this type of proverb cf. (e.g.) alpha 1399, alpha 1400, alpha 2261, gamma 508, alphaiota 125, epsilon 384, epsilon 591, epsilon 3207, epsilon 3238, epsiloniota 326, epsiloniota 327, kappa 129, pi …Matched in noteshighshort
ε3238Ἐς ὕδωρ γράφεινto write on waterApostolius 6.80, etc. Literary references to this proverb include ones in Sophocles (fr. 811 Radt) and Plato (Phaedrus 276C); cf. also Catullus 70.3-4 (mulier cupido quod dicit amanti ...rapida scribere oportet aqua). See generally …Matched in noteshighshort
κ1968Κολοιὸς ποτὶ κολοιὸν ἱζάνειjackdaw settles to jackdawFor this proverb (first attested in Aristotle) see Zenobius 2.47 and other paroemiographers; Tosi [cited under alpha 378] no.470. For koloios see also kappa 1969.Matched in noteshighshort
η231Ἥλιξ ἥλικα τέρπειage-mate delights age-mate… and now 42E Athanassiadi). For earlier appearances of this 'old proverb' see e.g. Plato, Phaedrus 240C (with this very phrase), several times in Aristotle, and the paroemiographers; Tosi (cited under alpha 378) no.1066. It …Matched in noteshighshort
α4438Αὐλητοῦ βίον ζῇςyou are living a piper's life… a particular variety of piper is (disparagingly) envisaged in this proverb; certainly not (e.g.) the kind who, from 586 BCE, won the prestigious solo piping competition at the Pythian Games (see West 337). For …Matched in noteshighshort
δ619Διαλλάττεινto reconcile… resumption of the Peloponnesian War. [2] Evidently in a different proverb; cf. Aristophanes Acharnians 10 (web address 2; kappa 1465), and generally kappa 1463, kappa 1466, kappa 1467.Matched in noteshighshort
μ1479Μυσῶν λείαMysians' booty… the Mysians of NW Asia Minor being (in Greek eyes) proverbially weak fighters. The phrase is used e.g. by Demosthenes 18.72 (web address 1), of the danger that Hellas would be easy prey for …Matched in noteshighshort
α1391Ἀλώπηξ οὐ δωροδοκεῖταιa fox does not take bribes… 1.71. (Note, however, that in Photius, Lexicon alpha1088 Theodoridis, both proverb and gloss have no negative.) [2] Cratinus fr. 128 Kock, now 135 K.-A.Matched in noteshighshort
δ1207Διὸς ΚόρινθοςZeus' [son] Korinthos… and Plato, Euthydemus 292E (both of which passages mention the proverb); and Zenobius 3.21. For an alternative explanation to the one given here see omicron 40. [1] Other versions have Corinth and Corcyra.Matched in noteshighmedium
κ2290Κῷος πρὸς ΧῖονCoös against Chios, Coan against Chian… wrong; it represents a misunderstanding or miscopying of the normal proverb as given by e.g. Hesychius kappa4861. The dice-throw Coös (the six of astragaloi or knucklebones; cf. alpha 4250) beats the throw Chios (the …Matched in noteshighshort
α4043Ἄρτι μῦς πίττης γεύεταιfinally the mouse is tasting pitch… to the same general effect.) The earliest occurrence of this proverb is in [Demosthenes] 50.26; see also Theocritus, Idylls 14.51.Matched in noteshighshort
ε3890Ἔφηβοςadolescent, ephebe… [1] Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana 1.8. (No such proverb, in fact, appears in the paroemiographers.) [2] Artemidorus 1.54 (beginning).Matched in noteshighmedium
μ1251Μορμολύττεταιscares, spooks… [2] Only here in this precise form, but cf. Appendix Proverbiorum 4.46 (from Crates); and see under alpha 4177. [3] Quotation unidentifiable. (Adler suggests Aelian.)Matched in noteshighshort
λ529Λίθων χοαίstreams of stones, outpourings of stones… references at Photius lambda307 Theodoridis. [1] Euripides fr.1007; cf. Appendix Proverbiorum 3.69, and see already at lambda 336 with note there. (How precisely Euripides' phrase connects with the proverb is not clear.)Matched in noteshighshort
α749Ἄθως καλύπτει πλευρὰ Λημνίας βοόςAthos conceals the flank of a Lemnian cowA differently-worded version of this proverb was given by Sophocles, fr. 776 Pearson (= 709 Radt): *)/aqws skia/zei nw=ta *lhmni/as boo/s, "Athos shades the back of a Lemnian cow". LSJ (s.v. Athos; web address …Matched in noteshighshort
α281Ἁγνότερος πηδαλίουpurer than a steering-oarDiogenianus 1.11 and other paroemiographers. Presumably this proverb's effect turns on the purificatory properties of salt. On the steering oars -- always in pairs -- of ancient ships, see pi 1493 and pi 1494, …Matched in noteshighshort
μ116Μᾶλλον ὁ Φρύξrather the PhrygianThis proverb is also in Photius (mu78 Theodoridis, from Pausanias the Atticist) and the paroemiographers (e.g. Zenobius 5.16). For "Aesop the Phrgyian", and Croesus, see generally alphaiota 334. For the Seven Sages see OCD(4) …Matched in noteshighmedium
μ1360Μοιχόςseducer… (and more generally mu 1359). The correct version of the proverb, however, has the noun in the accusative case (and the verb as an imperative): "drag the moichos into a muchos!" [4] Quotation unidentifiable. …Matched in noteshighmedium
κ2482Κρότωνος ὑγιέστεροςsounder than a tick; sounder than CrotonFor the two different interpretations of this proverb see upsilon 28, upsilon 29. This lemma (with upsilon 29) gives the more probable. Its first full sentence is taken from Photius, Lexicon kappa1114 Theodoridis, but …Matched in noteshighshort
μ904Μὴ κίνει Καμάρινανdo not move Kamarina… other sources in Fontenrose, below. For other 'do not move' proverbs see mu 905, mu 906. [1] On the SW coast of Sicily; see kappa 275. [2] Apollo, evidently. See Fontenrose, pp.85-6 and 328 …Matched in noteshighshort
α518Ἄδων τὴν σπιθαμὴν τοῦ βίου πρὸς ἄνηθονsinging of the span of life to a dill-plantThe phrase 'span of life' appears as, seemingly, proverbial in its own right in some of the paroemiographers (with a gloss like the one at sigma 942), but as a whole this proverb-like headword …Matched in noteshighshort
λ817Λύκος περὶ φρέαρ χορεύειa wolf is dancing round a well… Photius lambda453 Theodoridis; also in Apostolius 10.86, etc. For another proverb about dancing see gamma 432.Matched in noteshighshort
ε49Ἐγένετο καὶ Μάνδρωνι συκίνη ναῦςeven Mandron got a fig-wood ship… 255 (Mulierum Virtutes #18); Polyaenus 7.31. The Mandros of the proverb can hardly be him; nevertheless there is a tantalizing link between the geographical location of his kingdom and the fact that Zenobius (above) …Matched in noteshighshort