Adages, the oral transfer of knowledge between generations

Adages

Bumper-Stickers

Derisive

French

Movie-Lines

Names

Proverbs

Spanish

Three

Latin

Here you will find a list of over seven hundred adages people use everyday to improve their lives. An adage is a short saying that transmits wisdom. Before people knew how to read and write, they passed knowledge by word of mouth. The word adage comes from Latin adagium (saying), formed by the prefix ad- (to, toward, about) and agium (from the verb agio, I say). ;

If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research. (Thank you Doug Eldred)
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. (Thank you: Louise)
If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got.
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. (Thank you: Beryl Thompson)
If you cannot explain it, then you probably don't understand it. (Thank you: John Myers)
If you can't be good, at least be interesting and when people are tired of you being interesting, you better be good.
If you can't be good, be careful.
If you can't be good, be good at it. (Thank you: Janice M)
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with BS. (Thank you: Paul)
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. (Thank you: Chris)
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem. (Thank you: Jimmy Kidd)
If you can't improve on silence, don't say anything at all (Thank you: zenage)
If you can't run with the big dogs, stay under the porch. (Thank you: Nellie B)
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. (Thank you: Carolyn)
If you catch a fish eat it.
If you did nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. (Thank you: MCR)
If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.
If you don't like where you are, move. You are not a tree.
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything (Thank you: Kathleen)
If you have your health, you have everything. (Thank you: Debbie)
If you haven't anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. (Thank you: D)
If you hear the sound of hoofs approaching, it is probably a Horse, not a Zebra. (Don't expect the unexpected. - Thank you: Robert LaPorta)
If you keep picking at it, it will never heal. (Thank you: Dr. Bob)
If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. (Be careful who you associate with. - Thank you: Kim)

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