A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A proverb advising economy or restraint. Cf. HESIOD Works & Days 40

half is more than the whole.

1550 H. LATIMER Sermon before King’s Majesty G3 Ther is a proverbe .. Dimidium

plus toto: The halfe somtymes more then the hole. The meane lyfe is the best lyfe and the

most quyet lyfe of al. 1828 I. DISRAELI Curiosities of Literature 2nd Ser. 1.419 The half

is better than the whole. 1906 A. C. BENSON From College Window v. It is true of

conversation as of many other things, that the half is better than the whole. People who

are fond of talking ought to beware of being lengthy. moderation

One HALF of the world does not know how the other half lives

Cf. 1532 RABELAIS PantagruelII. xxxii. la moytié du monde ne sçait comment I’autre vit,
one half of the world knows not how the other lives.

1607 J. HALL Holy Observations xvii. One half of the world knowes not how the

other liues: and therefore the better sort pitty not the distressed .. because they knowe it

not. 1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 907 Halfe the world knowes not how the

other halfe lives. 1755 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (Preface) It is a common

saying, that One Half of the World does not know how the other Half lives. 1830

MARRYAT King’s Own I. x. It is an old proverb that ‘one half the world do not know

how the other half live’. Add to it, nor where they live. 1945 C. S. LEWIS That Hideous

Strength i. ‘I didn’t even know this was Bracton property.’ ‘There you are! .. One half of

the world doesn’t know how the other half lives.’ 1979 A. MORICE Murder in Outline vi.

It just proved how true that saying is about one half knowing so little of the other, even

when both halves are living under the same roof. ignorance; society

HALF the truth is often a whole lie

1758 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (July) Half the Truth is often a great

Lie. 1859 TENNYSON Poems (1969) 1107 That a lie which is half a truth is ever the

blackest of lies, That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright, But a lie

which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight. 1875 A. B. CHEALES Proverbial

Folklore 166 Half the truth is often a whole lie .. is a proverb which Tennyson has most

admirably versified. 1979 H. HOWARD Sealed Envelope xiii. ‘You’ve been lying.’ ..

‘Half the truth can be worse than a straight lie.’ lying