The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Proverb

You never miss the water till the well runs dry.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Highland

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; WATER ; Well

View just this record

Proverb

One bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BIRD ; Bush ; Maxim ; NUMBER ; One ; PROVERB ; Two ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

A closed mouth catches no flies.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CATCH ; FLIES ; Maxim ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; Trap ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

The axle that squeaks gets the most grease.

Submitter comment:

Proverbial Metaphor

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Axle ; Grease ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Squeak ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

You can't judge a book by its cover.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BOOK ; Cover ; Judge ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Superficial ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

A watched kettle never boils.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Anticipate ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Boil ; Kettle ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Watch

View just this record

Proverb

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Submitter comment:

My mother would always tell me this whenever I would plan on something before it happened.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Chickens ; Eggs ; Gamble ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

If you lay down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.

Submitter comment:

The informant warns many female teens to be careful about freely engaging in sex because they may wind up "caught" (pregnant). She says this all the time.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V300] crossed out, Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Company ; Dogs ; Fleas ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Relationships ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

You can't tell a book by its cover.

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this many times in the late 1950's from his uncle.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Judgment ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Superficial ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

If the goat did not jump she would not break her leg.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; Sulinski

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Break ; Goat ; Jump ; leg ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; RISK ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

As the twig is bent so grows the tree.

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this from his mother in the year 1929

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): AGE ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHARACTER ; Grow ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Tree ; Twig ; VERSE ; YOUTH

View just this record

Proverb

Beggars cannot be choosers.

Submitter comment:

Informant remembers her mother telling her this in Detroit in the early 1930's.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Beggar ; Chooser ; Greedy ; Maxim ; Picky ; PROVERB ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

A stitch in time saves nine.

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this from her mother when she was a child.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Forethought ; Maxim ; Nine ; NUMBER ; PROVERB ; Save ; Stitch ; THRIFT ; TIME ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; COIN ; Earn ; Maxim ; MONEY ; Penny ; PROVERB ; Save ; THRIFT ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; GLASS ; House ; Hypocrite ; Judgment ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; STONE ; Throw ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

An idle mind is the Devil's workshop.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; DEVIL ; Idle ; INFLUENCE ; Maxim ; Mind ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Workshop

View just this record

Proverb

People who live in glass houses shouldn't get stoned.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; DRUGS ; HUMOR ; Judgment ; Marijuana ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; STONE ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

Variety is the spice of life.

Submitter comment:

Told at the informant's home on November 2, 1969

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; LIFE ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; SPICE ; VARIETY ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; TROUBLE ; VERSE

View just this record

Proverb

Happy is the bride the sun shines upon.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Bride ; Happy ; LUCK ; Maxim ; OMEN ; PROVERB ; Shine ; Sun ; VERSE

View just this record