The Proverbs of Scotland Part 102

Use maks perfyteness.

The Scottish version of the very common saying, "Practice makes perfect."

Wad ye gar us trow that the mune's made o' green cheese, or that spade shafts bear plooms?

That is, Would you really try to make us believe anything so false or absurd as we know such a thing to be?

Waes the wife that wants the tongue, but weel's the man that gets her.

Waes unite faes.

Wae tae him that lippens to ithers for tippence.

Or, who trusts to another for a small obligation.

Wae tae the wame that has a wilfu' maister.

"Wae worth ill company," quo' the daw o' Camnethan.

"Spoken when we have been drawn by ill company into an ill thing. A jack-daw in Camnethan (Cambusnethan) learned this word from a guest in the house when he was upon his penitentials after hard drinking."--_Kelly._

Walk as your shoes will let ye.

Waly, waly! bairns are bonny; ane's enough and twa's ower mony.

Want o' cunning's nae shame.

Wanton kittens mak douce cats.

Want o' warld's gear aft sunders fond hearts.

Want o' wit is waur than want o' gear.

Want siller, want fish.

Wark bears witness wha does weel.

War maks thieves and peace hangs them.

War's sweet tae them that never tried it.

"'A soldier! then you have slain and burnt, and sacked, and spoiled?' 'I winna say,' replied Edie, 'that I have been better than my neighbours--it's a rough trade--war's sweet to them that never tried it.'"--_The Antiquary._

Waste water, waste better.

Watch harm, catch harm.

Wealth has made mair men covetous than covetousness has made men wealthy.

Wealth, like want, ruins mony.

Wealth maks wit waver.

"'Weel, weel,' said the banker, 'that may be a' as you say, sir, and nae doubt wealth makes wit waver; but the country's wealthy, that canna be denied, and wealth, sir, ye ken----' 'I know wealth makes itself wings,' answered the cynical stranger; 'but I am not quite sure we have it even now.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Weapons bode peace.

We are a' life-like and death-like.

We are aye tae learn as lang as we live.

We are bound to be honest, and no to be rich.

We can live without our kin, but no without our neighbours.

We canna baith sup and blaw.

That is, we cannot do two things at once.

We can poind for debt, but no for unkindness.

We can shape their wylie-coat, but no their weird.

Literally, we can shape a person's article of clothing, but cannot foretell his destiny.

Wedding and ill wintering tame baith man and beast.

Wee things fley cowards.

Weel begun is half done.

Weel is that weel does.

Weel kens the mouse when p.u.s.s.ie's in.

"When the cat's away the mice will play."--_English._

"The farmer now comes ben the house, Whilk o' their gabbin' makes a truce, The lads and la.s.sies a' grow douce, And spare their din; For true's the tale, 'Weel kens the mouse When p.u.s.s.ie's in!'"--_The Farmer's Ha'._

"Weel!" quo' Willie, when his ain wife dang him.

We presume that this was intended by Willie as an expression of indifference at the punishment which was being administered to him.

Weel's him and wae's him that has a bishop in his kin.