A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. X. D1 Folke say alwaie, beggers shulde

be no choosers. 1728 VANBRUGH Journey to London III. i. My Lords, says I, Beggars

must not be Chusers; but some Place about a thousand a Year.. might do pretty weel.

1888 N. J. CLODFELTER Snatched from Poor House iv. Crawl out O’ that bed! I’spose

you do feel a little bad, but ‘beggars can’t be choosers!’ 1939 J. SHEARING Blanche

Fury 72 ‘I suppose.. you would marry any man with a good character and a fine

estate.’..‘Beggars can’t be choosers, you mean!’ 2000 J. ALTMAN Gathering of Spies ix.

150 It would ruin the dress, no doubt about that. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. She

drew a breath and then jumped, tucking and rolling as she came out of the train.

necessity; poverty

begin see CHARITY begins at home; LIFE begins at forty; the LONGEST journey begins
with a single step; when THINGS are at the worst they begin to mend; also BEGUN.

beginning see a GOOD beginning makes a good ending.

begun see the SOONER begun, the sooner done; WELL begun is half done.

beholder see BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder.

BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see

Cf. a 1300 Proverbs of Alfred (1907) 35 Gin thu neuere leuen alle monnis spechen, Ne alle
the thinge that thu herest singen; 1770 C. CARROLL Letter 4 Sept. in Maryland Hist. Mag.
(1918) XIII. 58 You must not take Everything to be true that is told to you.

1845 E. A. POE in Graham’s Mag. Nov. 194 You are young yet.. but the time will

arrive when you will learn to judge for yourself. .. Believe nothing you hear, and only one

half that you see. 1933 ‘R. ESSEX’ Slade of Yard xix. It’s a good plan to believe half you

see and nothing you hear. 1979 D. KYLE Green River High ii. I listened with the old

magician’s warning lively in my mind; believe nothing of what you hear—and only half

of what you see! 2002 Washington Times 16 Aug. A19 The Democratic candidates are

lined up, and they are making hot and heavy pitches for our votes. But, as the old saying

goes, believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. rumour; trust and

scepticism

believing see SEEING is believing.