A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1896 J. C. HUTCHESON Crown & Anchor xvi. I can’t see the use of anticipating the

worst and trying to meet troubles halfway. 1940 M. SADLEIR Fanny by Gaslight III. ii.

What happens when she goes?.. Do not meet troubles half way. .. When need arises we

will see what can be done. 1980 G. THOMPSON Murder Mystery xx. Don’t go meeting

trouble half-way. There might just be something we can do. misfortune

meet see also never BID the Devil good morrow until you meet him; EXTREMES meet;
when GREEK meets Greek then comes the tug of war.

melts see the same FIRE that melts the butter hardens the egg.

memory see a LIAR ought to have a good memory.

So many MEN, so many opinions

Cf. TERENCE Phormio II. iv. quot homines tot sententiae, so many men, so many
opinions; mid 14th-cent. Fr. que tant de testes, tant de sens, so many heads, so many opinions.

c 1390 CHAUCER Squire’s Tale 1. 203 As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been.

1483 Vulgaria abs Terencio Q3V Many men many opinyons. Euery man has his guyse.

1692 R. L’ESTRANGE Fables of Aesop ccclviii. So many Men, so many Minds; and this

Diversity of Thought must necessarily be attended with Folly, Vanity, and Error. 1754

RICHARDSON Grandison VI. xx. Doctors differ. So many persons, so many minds. 1924

‘A. CARP’ Augustus Carp, Esq. xii. They were all those things, and they would remember

the old saying, so many men, so many opinions. idiosyncrasy; opinions

men see also the BEST-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley; the BEST of men
are but men at best; BRAVE men lived before Agamemnon; the BUSIEST men have the most
leisure; DEAD men don’t bite; DEAD men tell no tales; GOOD men are scarce; when
THIEVES fall out, honest men come by their own; THREATENED men live long; one
VOLUNTEER is worth two pressed men; YOUNG men may die, but old men must die.

mend see it is NEVER too late to mend; when THINGS are at the worst they begin to
mend.

mended see LEAST said, soonest mended.