A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

With allusion to TITUS i. 15 (AV) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are
defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure.

1854 S. M. HAYDEN Early Engagements ii. Would that our earth were more

frequently brightened and purified by such spirits. .. ‘To the pure all things are pure.’

1895 G. ALLEN Woman who Did vii. Herminia, for her part, never discovered she was

talked about. To the pure all things are pure. 1996 ‘C. AIRD’ After Effects xiv. 161

Sloan’s mother, a great churchwoman in her day, always insisted that to the pure all

things were pure. virtue

purgatory see ENGLAND is the paradise of women.

purpose see the DEVIL can quote Scripture for his own ends.

purse see you can’t make a SILK purse out of a sow’s ear.

Don’t PUT the cart before the horse

Most commonly as the phrase (putting) the cart before the horse.

c 1520 R. WHITTINGTON Vulgaria (1527) 2 That techer setteth the carte before the

horse that preferreth imitacyon before preceptes. 1589 G. PUTTENHAM Arte of English

Poesie (Arber) 181 We call it in English prouerbe, the cart before the horse, the Greeks

call it Histeron proteron. 1801 M. EDGEWORTH Belinda iii. Esteem ever followed

affection, instead of affection following esteem. Woe be to all who in morals

preposterously put the cart before the horse! 2002 CAI TRANSCRIPTION (web site) 17

May We at CAI say not to put the cart before the horse. Don’t invest heavily in reference

materials that you most probably will not even use in the future during your career as a

Medical Transcriptionist. patience and impatience; ways and means

Never PUT off till tomorrow what you can do today

The proverb is often humorously reversed (see quots. 1869 and 1980). Cf. mid 14th-cent.
Fr. le bien que tu peus faire au matin, n’attens pas le soir ne l’endemain, do not wait for the
evening or the next day (to do) the good which you can do in the morning.