A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

sinner see the GREATER the sinner, the greater the saint.

If you SIT by the river for long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by

Modern saying, said to derive from a Chinese or Japanese proverb, advocating patience
rather than active revenge.

1995 S. FRENCH in New Statesman Aug. (online) My other favourite Confucius

saying goes as follows: ‘If you sit by the river for long enough, you will see the body of

your enemy float by.’ 2000 New York Times 10 May (online) A high-stakes gambler..,

Mr. Edwards then acknowledged that his luck might finally have run dry. ‘The Chinese

have a saying that if you sit by the river long enough, the dead body of your enemy will

come floating down the river,’ he said.. ‘I suppose the feds sat by the river long enough,

and here comes my body.’ 2004 ‘The long, slow painful death of Film Festivals’ posting

28 Dec. on http://www.filmthreat.com Remember the old Japanese proverb ‘If you sit by the

river long enough, sooner or later the body of your enemy will go floating by.’ action

and inaction; patience and impatience; revenge

sit see also where MACGREGOR sits is the head of the table.

It is ill SITTING at Rome and striving with the Pope

a 1628 J. CARMICHAELL Proverbs in Scots no. 1847 Ye may not sit in Rome and

strive with the Pape. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 194 It is hard to sit in Rome, and

strive against the Pope. It is foolish to strive with our Governours, Landlords, or those

under whose Distress we are. 1908 A. MACLAREN Ezekiel 58 ‘It is ill sitting at Rome

and striving with the Pope.’ Nebuchadnezzar’s palace was not precisely the place to

dispute with Nebuchadnezzar. conduct; prudence

sitting see also it is as CHEAP sitting as standing.

situation see DESPERATE diseases must have desperate remedies.

SIX hours’ sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool