Dates given are generally for the first written appearance
of the form of the proverb in English; the proverb may have been in spoken
use, in England or orther countries, much earlier and in some cases referred
to as "an old saying" prior to that time.
You can take a horse to the water,
but you can’t make him drink.
-late 12th
All that glitters is not gold.
-early 13th
Big fish eat little fish.
-early 13th
A burnt child dreads the fire.
-mid 13th
The cat would eat fish, but would
not wet her feet.
-early 13th
Constant dropping wears away
a stone.
-mid 13th; earlier in Greek
Every cock will crow upon his
own dunghill.
-mid 13th; 1st century AD in Latin
Fields have eyes and woods have
ears.
-early 13th
Good wine needs no bush.
-early 15th
If it were not for hope, the
heart would break.
-mid 13th
It’s an ill bird that fouls
its own nest.
-mid 13th
Many a little makes a mickle.
-mid 13th
One nail drives out another.
-mid 13th
Opportunity makes a thief.
-early 13th
Out of sight, out of mind.
-mid 13th
NOTE: Some of this information can be found in The Oxford
Dictionary of Quotations
