A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The BETTER the day, the better the deed

Frequently used to justify working on a Sunday or religious festival. Cf. early 14th-cent.
Fr. a bon jour bone euvre, for a good day, a good deed.

1607 MIDDLETON Michaelmas Term III. i. Why, do you work a’ Sundays, tailor?

The better day the better deed, we think. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 328 The better

Day, the better Deed. I never heard this used but when People say that they did such an ill

thing on Sunday. 1896 J. C. HUTCHESON Crown & Anchor xiii. The better the day, the

better the deed.. It was only the Pharisees who objected to any necessary work being done

on the Sabbath. 1995 D. WILLIAMS Death of Prodigal ‘And he was coming back here

with us after, for Sunday lunch. I’ve just cleaned the car in his honour, too. The better the

day, the better the deed, like.’ action and inaction

BETTER the devil you know than the devil you don’t know

Cf. 1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 48 Nota res mala, optima. An euyl thynge
knowen is best. It is good kepyng of a shrew [a scolding or ill-tempered woman] that a man
knoweth; 1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 84 You had rather keepe those whom you know,
though with some faultes, then take those whom you knowe not, perchaunce with moe faultes;
1586 D. ROWLAND tr. Lazarillo de Tormes H6V The olde prouerbe: Better is the euill
knowne, than the good which is yet to knowe.

1857 TROLLOPE Barchester Towers II. vii. ‘Better the d—you know than the d—

you don’t know,’ is an old saying.. but the bishop had not yet realised the truth of it. 1937

W. H. SAUMAREZ SMITH Letter 16 May in Young Man’s Country (1977) ii. Habit has

practically made me resigned to Madaripur—’Better the devil you know than the devil

you don’t.’ 1987 S. STEWART Lifting the Latch 166 I knowed he’d never change, it ‘ud

always be ‘Don’t-be-so-daft’ and no appreciation; but better the Black ‘un thee knows

than the devil thee don’t. 2007 Times 14 Sept. 28 More than half (54 per cent) think that it

is time for a change, while about two fifths (43 per cent) say that it is ‘better to stick with

the devil you know’. familiarity

It is BETTER to be born lucky than rich

1639 J. CLARKE Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina 49 Better to have good fortune then be

a rich mans child. 1784 New Foundling Hospital for Wit (new ed.) IV. 128 Estate and