A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

NIGHT brings counsel

Cf. MENANDER Sententiae no. 222 at night comes
counsel to the wise; L. in nocte consilium, in night is counsel.

1590 SPENSER Faerie Queene I. i. 291 Vntroubled night.. giues counsell best. 1640

G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 746 Night is the mother of Councels. 1660

DRYDEN Astrœa Redux 1. 93 Well might the Ancient Poets then confer On Night the

honour’d name of Counseller. 1928 L. THAYER Darkest Spot xviii. The saying that night

brings counsel is often true... Peter.. woke next morning with a plan of campaign fully

developed. 1967 N. FREELING Strike out where not Applicable 184 ‘Home you go, boy.

Night brings counsel.’ Night did bring counsel. Or rather Verbiest, the young inspector,

brought it. advice

night see also BARNABY bright, Barnaby bright, the longest day and the shortest night;
all CATS are grey in the dark; RED sky at night shepherd’s delight; SING before breakfast,
cry before night.

NINE tailors make a man

The literal meaning is that a gentleman must select his attire from various sources. It is
now sometimes specifically associated with bell-ringing (see quots. 1908 and 1934).

1613 Tarlton’s Jests C1 Two Taylors goes to a man. 1647 N. WARD Simple Cobbler

26 It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylers make a man; it were

well if nineteene could make a woman to her minde. 1776 Poor Robin’s Almanack II. C6V

Do ye know how many Taylors make a Man? Why Nine—Nine Taylors make a Man.

1819 SCOTT Letter 26 July (1933) V. 427 They say it take nine tailors to make a man—

apparently, one is sufficient to ruin him. 1908 H. B. WALTERS Church Bells v. When the

Knell is rung, it is a frequent practice to indicate the.. sex of the deceased. .. The old

saying ‘nine tailors make a man’ is really ‘nine tellers’ [strokes], or three times three.

1912 A. BRAZIL New Girl at St. Chad’s i. There’s a saying that it takes nine tailors to

make a man, so if your name is Taylor you can only be the ninth part of a lady! 1934 D.

L. SAYERS Nine Tailors IV. iii. The voice of the bells of Fenchurch St. Paul. .. Nine

Tailors Make a Man. dress

nine see also PARSLEY seed goes nine times to the Devil; POSSESSION is nine points of