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 and writer
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 and writer
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, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:34 +0000

Words cutt more than swords.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian and writer
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, 20 Oct 2010 12:57:01 +0000

The more haste, the worse speed.

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