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- χ191Χελώνη μυιῶνa tortoise [uncaring] of flies[sc. a proverbial phrase] in reference to those who think little of someone/something. Also [sc. attested is] 'to a tortoise'. "You think your frankness is 'worth four obols', as the saying goes. You do …Matched in translationhighmedium
- β186Βάττου σίλφιονBattos' silphium, Battus' silphium[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those receiving rare honors. For the Cyrenaeans gave a special silphium to one of the Battoi, and on one side of the coin they stamped [a picture …Matched in translationhighshort
- α2819Ἄξιος λαβεῖν ὁ μισθόςthe wage [is] worth taking… hiding the anger with silence. Also [sc. attested is the proverbial phrase] "worth a hair"; in reference to something cheap and commonplace; inasmuch as hair is worth nothing. Aristophanes [writes]: "if I stole something …Matched in translationhighmedium
- αι86Αἰδώςshame[Meaning] honor. And [there is] a proverb: "shame is not good for a man who is a beggar in need." In reference to those whose pleasantness harms them. Homer [says this]. Hesiod [writes]: "shame …Matched in translationhighmedium
- α2263Ἀνέμῳ διαλέγῃyou are talking to a wind[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those who are not heard. [Another] proverb [is]: "directions of winds"; "for locals know best not only the directions of the winds, according to the proverb, but …Matched in translationhighshort
- β261Βὴξ ἀντὶ πορδῆςa cough instead of a fart[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who, in a predicament, pretend to do something; since when people fart they pretend to cough in an attempt to avoid detection. And [there is] a …Matched in translationhighshort
- δ400Δηλίου κολυμβητοῦDelian diverThis [sc. proverbial phrase] was uttered in reference to a book of Heraclitus, because it was hard to understand, that it needed a Delian diver who would not be drowned in it. Some entitle …Matched in translationhighmedium
- χ478Χρήματα χρήματ' ἀνήρmoney money (is the) manThis is proverbial, like the sayings of the Seven Sages. Pindar and Alcaeus mention it. Similar to it [are] "the office reveals the man", "steer your own course" and "know thyself". Alcaeus says it …Matched in translationhighshort
- α249Ἀγκώνelbow… the evil exit of the man." And [there is] a proverbial expression: wiping one's nose with the elbow. Bion the philosopher said: "my father was a freed slave, wiping his nose with his elbow;" …Matched in translationhighmedium
- β293Βίοςlife… sometimes the act of living itself. And [there is] a proverb: "a ready-kneaded life," in reference to those who are living prosperously in an extravagant and sweet life. And [there is] a[nother] proverb: "a …Matched in translationhighshort
- α574Ἀετὸν κάνθαρος μαιεύσομαιI a dung-beetle will hatch an eagle[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those avenging themselves on their betters, with whom the bad thing started. For it is said that the dung-beetle steals the eggs of the eagle.Matched in translationhighshort
- α1510Ἅμματα[Kasiotic] knots[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are crooked in their ways. [So called] from the Pelousians in Kasion, who by natural skill used to weave knots in order to attach one …Matched in translationhighmedium
- α4472Αὐτὴ κάμινος αὐτὸς εἵλκυσε καπνὸς ἢ τροχόςthe oven itself, the smoke itself or the wheel dragged on[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those doing the same or similar things.Matched in translationhighshort
- β190Βάτραχος ἐκ Σερίφουa frog out of Seriphos[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those without a voice. Inasmuch as when the frogs in Seriphos were carried to Skyros they did not make a sound.Matched in translationhighshort
- χ610Χύτραν ποικίλλεινto decorate a cooking-pot[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to things that are impossible. And things that are endless.Matched in translationhighshort
- α842Ἀκεσίας ἰάσατοAkesias healed[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who heal for the worse. It seems that Akesias treated someone for the worse.Matched in translationhighshort
- α4438Αὐλητοῦ βίον ζῇςyou are living a piper's life[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those living from means not their own; insofar as pipers live for free by watching out for those who are sacrificing.Matched in translationhighshort
- αι125Αἰθίοπα σμήχεινto wash an Ethiopian white[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those exerting vain efforts.Matched in translationhighshort
- α1183Ἀληλεσμένονground-up… worked on, ready to eat. Also [sc. attested is the proverbial phrase] a)lhlesme/nos bi/os, in reference to those with an ample supply of what they need. But another proverb says: "for [there are] no …Matched in translationhighmedium
- α1194Ἄλλην δρῦν βαλάνιζεshake acorns from another oak[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those continually begging something or always borrowing from the same people. And [there is] another proverb: enough of oak. In reference to those eating something with difficulty …Matched in translationhighshort
- α3668Ἀπώλεσας τὸν οἶνον ἐπιχέας ὕδωρyou ruined the wine by pouring in water[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those who make a mess of things that were previously going well by means of some small fault. Or in reference to those who get what they …Matched in translationhighshort
- αι69Αἰγὸς τρόπονgoat-fashion, like a goat[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who bring an evil on themselves. From a Corinthian proverb, "The nanny-goat giving the knife."Matched in translationhighshort
- β457Βοῦς ἕβδομοςseventh ox[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those without feeling. For paupers when they did not have anything living to sacrifice used to mould [an ox] out of dough. When the 6 living [beasts] …Matched in translationhighmedium
- β458Βοῦς ἕβδομοςseventh ox… in Euripides in Erechtheus and in Achaeus in Iris. The proverb is applied to those who are excessively unfeeling. Also [sc. attested is the proverbial phrase] "sea ox" [bous enalios], in reference to people/things …Matched in translationhighmedium
- δ319Δειλότερος τοῦ παρακύπτοντοςmore cowardly than a peeper[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference those who are extremely cowardly. For there was a certain cowardly man who, peeping out of a cave and seeing Heracles, was turned to stone; and the stone …Matched in translationhighmedium
- δ1076Δικαιότερον σταχάνηςmore just than a stachane[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who love justice; for stachane is what the Dorians call a pair of scales, perhaps by a link with stasis. And [there is] another [version of …Matched in translationhighshort
- χ16Χαλεπὰ τὰ καλάexcellent things are difficult… things are difficult." For this reason both sayings have become proverbial. "Excellent things are difficult": they say that Periander of Corinth in the beginning was a popular leader, but later he changed his political …Matched in translationhighmedium
- α1388Ἀλωπεκίζεινto play the fox… 1), where it is presented as an already-existing song or proverb. Zenobius (1.70) and other paroemiographers present both proverb and gloss more fully: "to play the fox to another fox: in reference to those …Matched in noteshighshort
- β175Βάτα ΚάραςBata Karas, BatakarasLikewise in Apostolius 4.75. Hesychius (beta312) and Appendix Proverbiorum 1.49 provide more detail: this proverbial expression was reportedly inscribed on a votive offering in the temple of Hera on Samos. All four sources allude …Matched in noteshighshort
- β266Βησᾶς ἕστηκεν οἷον ἀχανήςBesas stands as if gapingVersions of this proverb appear in several of the paroemiographic collections e.g. Appendix Proverbiorum 1.54 ( = E.L. Leutsch and F.G. Schneidewin, Paroemiographi Graeci, vol. 1, appendix, p. 387, no. 54), where the verb …Matched in noteshighshort