A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

R

The RACE is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong

With allusion to ECCLESIASTES ix. 11 (AV) The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to
the strong.

1632 BURTON Anatomy of Melancholy (ed. 4) II. iii. It is not honesty, learning,

worth, wisdome, that preferres men, The race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the

stronger [1638 strong]. 1873 C. M. YONGE Pillars of House III. xxxii. Poor child! she

lay.. trying to work out.. why the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. 1901

G. B. SHAW Caesar & Cleopatra in Three Plays for Puritans 96 The descendants of the

gods did not stay to be butchered, cousin. The battle was not to the strong; but the race

was to the swift. 2002 Washington Times 7 Mar. A16 The race is not to the swift, nor the

battle to the strong—but how come? One good reason: Ours is an imperfect world, full to

the brim with imperfect people. success

race see also SLOW and steady wins the race.

ragged see there’s many a GOOD cock come out of a tattered bag.

RAIN before seven, fine before eleven

1853 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. VIII. 218 Weather Proverbs. ..Rain before seven, fine

before eleven. 1909 Spectator 20 Mar. 452 ‘Rain before seven, shine before eleven,’ is

one of the most trustworthy of all country saws. 1940 B. DE VOTO (title) Rain before

seven. 1961 THIRKELL & LEJUNE Three Score & Ten vii. The morning of the

Agricultural dawned fair and bright. Naturally there were wisebeards who shook their

heads over this and said Ar, that were a bad sign for certain sure, rain before seven, fine

before eleven, and stands to reason the contrairy [sic] holds. weather lore

rain see also blessed are the DEAD that the rain rains on; if in FEBRUARY there be no
rain, ‘tis neither good for hay nor grain; SAINT Swithun’s day if thou be fair for forty days it
will remain.

It never RAINS but it pours