A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

forwardnesse, called them hastings, soone ripe, soone rotten. 1887 S. SMILES Life &

Labour vi. Very few prize boys and girls stand the test of wear. Prodigies are almost

always uncertain; they illustrate the proverb of ‘soon ripe, soon rotten’. 1976 L. ROSTEN

O KAPLAN! My KAPLAN! II. iii. ‘Parkhill,’ Mr. Robinson steelily murmured, ‘we may

all profit from the ancient adage: “Presto maturo, presto marcio?!” Yes: “The sooner

ripe, the sooner rotten!” That applies to pupils no less than fruit!’ youth

The SOONER begun, the sooner done

1578 T. GARTER Most Virtuous Susanna (1937) 1. 948 The sooner that we do begin,

the sooner is it done. 1872 TROLLOPE Golden Lion xx. ‘I suppose I might as well go to

him alone,’ said Michel, groaning. ‘Well, yes. ..Soonest begun, soonest over.’ 1955 M.

BOROWSKY Queen’s Knight 46 Sooner task’s begun, sooner task is done—so it’s said.

1987 B. J. MORISON Voyage of Chianti vii. ‘Would you like Viola and me to begin on

her book tomorrow?’ Amy asked him. ‘The sooner begun, the sooner done.’ beginnings

and endings; efficiency and inefficiency

sore see the TONGUE always returns to the sore tooth.

sorrow see ONE for sorrow, two for mirth; help you to SALT, help you to sorrow.

sorrowing see he that GOES a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.

sorry see BETTER be safe than sorry.

sort see it takes ALL sorts to make a world.

soul see BREVITY is the soul of wit; CONFESSION is good for the soul;
CORPORATIONS have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned; the EYES are
the window of the soul; a NATION without a language is a nation without a heart;
PUNCTUALITY is the soul of business.

sound see EMPTY vessels make the most sound.

If it SOUNDS too good to be true, it probably is