A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

his own case was generally accepted. The chairman of a meeting was in a quasi-judicial

capacity. 1981 Daily Telegraph 16 May 18 The maxim that no one should be judge in his

own cause. law and lawyers

JUDGE not, that ye be not judged

With allusion to MATTHEW vii. 1 (AV) Judge not, that ye be not judged.

1481 CAXTON Reynard (1880) xxix. Deme [judge] ye noman, and ye shal not be

demed. 1509 H. WATSON Ship of Fools H1 Judge not but yf that ye wyl be judged. 1925

A. CLUTTONBROCK Essays on Life x. The saying, Judge not, that ye be not judged,’ is..

a statement of fact. Nothing makes us dislike a man so much as the knowledge that he is

always judging us and all men. 2001 Washington Times 27 Nov. A12 The purpose is

neither to gloat, nor to deride nor to humiliate our enemies and adversaries. Indeed, much

wisdom and prudence is captured in the biblical injunction, ‘Judge not, that ye be not

judged.’ reciprocity; tolerance

judge (verb) see also you can’t tell a BOOK by its cover.

June see a DRIPPING June sets all in tune.

Be JUST before you’re generous

1745 E. HAYWOOD Female Spectator II. VII. 35 There is, I think, an old saying,

that we ‘ought to be just before we are generous’. 1780 SHERIDAN School for Scandal

IV.i. Be just before you are generous. 1834 MARRYAT Peter Simple I. xi. I owe every

farthing of my money. .. There’s an old proverb—be just before you’re generous. 1908

Spectator 4 Apr. 529 A likeable man is tempted to be generous before he is just. 1922

JOYCE Ulysses 521 Bloom—You had better hand over that cash to me to take care of.

Why pay more? Stephen—Be just before you are generous. fair dealing

JUSTICE delayed is justice denied

The idea of a link between delay and denial of justice is an old one (cf. 1215 MAGNA
CARTA To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay right or justice), but this formulation
appears to be modern and mainly US.

1999 Daily Nation (Nairobi) 9 Dec. 6/1 As they say, justice delayed is justice denied,