A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

iii. ‘Let me get you another drink,’ said David, taking the glass. ‘I know one ought to

know people seven years to poke their fires, but I believe it’s less for cocktails.’ 1945 M.

SARSFIELD Green December Fills Graveyard iv. 35 ‘I haven’t known you ten years, or

whatever the period is, but I’m going to poke your fire.’ familiarity

What you don’t KNOW can’t hurt you

1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 168 Why should I seeke to take him in it?.. So long as

I know it not, it hurteth mee not. 1908 E. WALTER Easiest Way III. 66 What a fellow

doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him, and he’ll love you just the same. 1979 ‘S. WOODS’ This

Fatal Writ 54 ‘No, this is interesting... I didn’t know—’ ‘What you don’t know can’t

hurt you,’ said Maitland. 1992 A. LAMBERT Rather English Marriage (1993) vi. 115

Everyone’s entitled to their privacy and what you don’t know can’t hurt you. 2001 Times

23 Nov. 20 A little ignorance can go a long way. But what you don’t know will always

hurt you. Cleverness is the saving grace of our humanity. ignorance

KNOW thyself

Cf. Gr. the motto inscribed on the 6th-cent. BC temple of Apollo
at Delphi and quoted by several ancient writers (some attributing it to Solon): see esp.
Pausanias x. 24 and Juvenal Satires xi; L. nosce teipsum.

1387 J. TREVISA tr. Higden’sPolychronicon (1865) 1.241 While the cherle

smootthe victor, he schulde of te seie to hym in this manere:.. Knowe thyself. 1545 R.

ASCHAM Toxophilus II. 36 Knowe thy selfe: that is to saye, learne to knowe what thou

arte able, fitte and apt vnto, and folowe that. 1732 POPE Essay on Man II. 1 Know then

thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. 1849 BULWER-

LYTTON Caxtons III. XVI. X. ‘Know thyself,’ said the old philosophy. ‘Improve

thyself,’ saith the new. 2002 Washington Times 7 Feb. A21 The self-esteem movement is

based on simple-minded shibboleths such as ‘Love thyself,’ rather than ‘Know thyself.’

human nature; wisdom

You never KNOW what you can do till you try

1818 COBBETT Year’s Residence in USA II. vi. A man knows not what he can do

‘till he tries. 1890 M. WILLIAMS Leaves of Life I. xiii. On hearing the verdict he..

shouted out: ‘I told you so! You never know what you can do till you try’. 1968 D.

FRANCIS Forfeit xiv. ‘Ty, you aren’t fit to drive.’ ‘Never know what you can do till you

try.’ boldness