A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

‘Blessed is he who expect nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.’ 1739 B.

FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (May) Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he

shall never be disappointed. 1931 A. R. & R. K. WEEKES Emerald Necklace xix. ‘When

I get back.. I shall expect to find all our luggage in the hall.’ ‘Blessed is he that expecteth

nothing,’ said Louis, ‘for he shall not be disappointed.’ 1997 Washington Times 28 Feb.

C16 My dear grandmother.. gave me a plaque many years ago that contains a motto to

live by: ‘Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they will not be disappointed.’

blessings; disappointment

blessed see also it is BETTER to give than to receive; blessed are the DEAD that the rain
rains on.

BLESSINGS brighten as they take their flight

Cf. 1732 T. FULLER Gnomologia no. 989 Blessings are not valued, till they are gone.

1742 YOUNG Night Thoughts II. 37 How blessings brighten as they take their flight.

1873 ‘S. COOLIDGE’ What Katy Did xi. Blessings brighten as they take their flight. Katy

began to appreciate for the first time how much she had learned to rely on her aunt. 1929

G. M. WHITE Square Mark i. It has been said that one never knows one’s blessings until

one has lost them. blessings; gains and losses

There’s none so BLIND as those who will not see

Parallel to there’s none so DEAF as those who will not hear. In both proverbs, will not has
the force of’does not wish to’ or ‘refuses to’.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. ix. K4 Who is so deafe, or so blynde,

as is hee, That wilfully will nother here nor see. 1551 CRANMER Answer to Gardiner 58

There is no manne so.. blynd as he that will not see, nor so dull as he that wyll not

vnderstande. 1659 P. HEYLYN Examen Historicum 145 Which makes me wonder.. that

having access to those Records.. he should declare himself unable to decide the doubt. ..

But none so blind as he that will not see. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation iii. 191 You

know, there’s none so blind as they that won’t see. 1852 E. FITZGERALD Polonius 58

‘None so blind as those that won’t see.’.. A single effort of the will was sufficient to

exclude from his view whatever he judged hostile to his immediate purpose. 2000 P.

LOVESEY Reaper xv. 185 Owen shook his head and picked up his drink. ‘There’s none

so blind as those that will not see.’ ignorance; obstinacy