WIST Quotations

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία], or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:52:08 +0000

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία], or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

First recorded instance of this adage, though in context it predates Howell's collection.

The phrase was popularized for modern audiences by its use in Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining (1980) (the phrase is not in Stephen King's book; Kubrick used different adages in the different languages the movie was released in). That use, in turn, derived from the phrase being a common one for repetitive work in typing classes.

An additional line is given in Maria Edgeworth, Harry and Lucy (1801), where she refers to this as an "ancient British adage":

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία], or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings” (1659)

Dave — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:23:20 +0000

Burn not thy fingers to snuff another man’s candle.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία], or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings” (1659)
(Source)

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:05:56 +0000

A hungry man [is] an angry man.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:27:26 +0000

He that wrestleth with a turd shall be beshitt fall he over or under.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:04:07 +0000

He that gropes in the dark, finds that which he would not.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Look high and fall into a Cow-turd.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:54:16 +0000

Too much money makes one madd.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:10:06 +0000

When thou dost hear a toul or knell,
Then think upon thy passing-bel.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 13 May 2026 20:03:06 +0000

One may live and learn, and be hang’d and forget all.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:34 +0000

Words cutt more than swords.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

A common proverbial concept before and after. See also the Bible, Shakespeare (1590), Shakespeare (1598), Herbert (1640), Franklin (1744), Irving (1820), Lowell (1914), Sarton (1973), Fry (1997), Ginott (2003).

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:08:02 +0000

When Adam delv’d and Eve span,
Who was then a Gentleman?

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:41:41 +0000

If the Sky fall we shall have Larks.

When the Sky falls we shall catch Larks.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:09:00 +0000

Little difference twixt a feast and a belly-ful.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:16:09 +0000

Better half a loaf then no bread.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Howell also lists this proverb on an earlier page. A similar proverb, "Better half a loaf than none at all," appears on two pages as well, the second showing how to render the phrase in French, Italian, and Spanish.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:51:24 +0000

He who will thrive, must rise at five;
He who hath thriven, may sleep till seven;
Who will not thrive at all, may sleep till eleven.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:56:30 +0000

In every Countrey the Sun riseth in the morning.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

In a later section ("English Proverbs Rendered into French, Italian & Spanish"), this is rendered "In every Countrey the Sun riseth still in the morning."

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:32 +0000

Time and Tyde stayes for no man.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Modern: "Time and tide wait for no man."

This phrase actually dates back at least as far as St. Marher (1225): "And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet [The tide nor time abides for, tarrieth for no man]." A version appears in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (late 14th C): Though we sleep, or wake, or roam, or ride / Aye fleeth time, it will no man abide." Variations become common in the 16th Century, e.g., "Time nor tide tarrieth no man."

Though tide works here as most interpret it (the tide comes in, the tide goes out), the original usage of the word in this phrase meant more broadly "season" or "period" or any recurring interval (including oceanic tides). It could be found in terms like "Christmastide" and "eventide," and remains in modern English in words like "tidings" and "tidy."

For more info, see:

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:10:58 +0000

As I brew, so must I drink.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:05:19 +0000

Better tooth out then alwayes ake.

[Better tooth out than always ache.]

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs”” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:57:01 +0000

The more haste, the worse speed.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs”” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

A few pages later, Howell quotes John Heywood (1546) the analogous "The more haste, the less speed."

See also See Augustus and Publilius Syrus.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings,” 2nd Century (1659)

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:55:04 +0000

Do thou thy best, and leave to God the rest.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings,” 2nd Century (1659)
(Source)

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings,” 3rd Century (1659)

Dave — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:55:38 +0000

Necessity never made good bargain.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “New Sayings,” 3rd Century (1659)
(Source)

See Franklin (1735).

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in French” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:00:53 +0000

The Gluttons dig their own graves with their teeth.

[Le gourmans, sont leurs fosses avec leurs dents.]

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in French” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in Italian” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:29:40 +0000

To have gold brings fear, to have none brings grief.

[L’haver oro è un timore, il non haver un dolore.]

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in Italian” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia, “French” (1659)

Dave — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:28:03 +0000

The Gluttons dig their own graves with their teeth.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia, “French” (1659)