As They Say In Zanzibar. David Crystal
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best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now CHINA
23 Of all the thirty-six alternatives, running away is the best CHINA
24 Misfortunes come by forties WALES
25 Gossip lasts but seventy-five days JAPAN
26 One can study calligraphy at eighty JAPAN
27 Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration USA
28 Better one living word than a hundred dead ones GERMANY
29 A bad word whispered will echo a hundred miles CHINA
30 One bird in the dish is better than a hundred in the air GERMANY
31 A basket-maker who makes one basket makes a hundred BRAZIL
32 A hundred aunts is not the same as one mother SIERRA LEONE
33 A hundred men may make an encampment, but it needs a woman to make a home CHINA
34 A worn-out boat still has three thousand nails in it CHINA
35 A good child has several names ESTONIA
36 Beware of the door which has several keys INDIA
15 NEXT TO NOTHING
1 Take a second look; it costs you nothing CHINA
2 Little said is easy mended; nothing said needs no mending IRELAND
3 Nothing should be done in a hurry except catching fleas GERMANY
4 Nothing enters into a closed hand SCOTLAND
5 Nothing dries sooner than a tear LATIN
6 Nothing kills like doing nothing DENMARK
7 Nothing venture, nothing gain ENGLAND
8 When the sun shines the moon has nothing to do FRANCE
9 Those who are silent do not say nothing SPAIN
10 When in doubt, do nothing ENGLAND
11 Someone who stands behind a wall can see nothing else JAPAN
12 What costs nothing is worth nothing NETHERLANDS
13 One servant is a servant; two servants are half a servant; three servants are no servant at all POLAND
14 The one who hunts two rats will catch neither UGANDA
15 The one who hunts two hares will catch neither FRANCE
16 Who does not understand half a word will not be wiser for a whole word FINLAND
17 Half a loaf is better than no bread ENGLAND
16 MULTITUDE
1 A reasonable amount of fleas is good for a dog; they keep him from broodin’ on being a dog USA
2 When rats infest the palace a lame cat is better than the swiftest horse CHINA
3 Many donkeys need much straw SPAIN: BASQUE
4 You are as many a person as languages you know ARMENIA
5 Many books do not use up words; many words do not use up thoughts CHINA
6 Too many affairs are like pumpkins in water; one pops up while you try to hold down the other CHINA
7 Three are too many and two are too few BELGIUM
8 Many kiss the child for the nurse’s sake ENGLAND
9 Many lose when they win, and others win when they lose GERMANY
10 One may as well lose the game by a card too much as a card too few SPAIN
11 Much treasure, many moths ESTONIA
12 The frightened person has many voices FINLAND
13 Many speak a word which if it were a florin they would put back in their purse GERMANY
14 If pride were an art, how many graduates we should have ITALY
15 Those who read many epitaphs, lose their memory LATIN
16 Many a true word is spoken in jest ENGLAND
17 The rose that is smelt by many loses its fragrance SPAIN
18 There are many paths to the top of the mountain – but the view is always the same CHINA
19 On a green tree there are many parrots INDIA
20 Many have bees and buy wax GERMANY
21 Many drops make a puddle NETHERLANDS
22 Too many cooks spoil the broth ENGLAND
23 Too many cooks oversalt the porridge NETHERLANDS
24 Too many hands spoil the pie USA
25 There’s many a slip between cup and lip ENGLAND
26 Words will pay for most things SPAIN
27 Goods held in common mostly get lost GERMANY
28 Charity covers a multitude of sins ENGLAND
29 Numerous calls confuse the dog TANZANIA
30 Small cares make many words, great ones are mute GERMANY
31 Gossips always suspect that others are talking about them NIGERIA
32 When people praise, few believe it, but when they blame, all believe it BELGIUM
17 BETTER – WORSE
1 If he calls it a silly and childish game, that means his wife can beat him at it USA
2 ’Tis a good word that can better a good silence NETHERLANDS
3 Beyond black there is no colour IRAN
4 There is always a boss above the boss NETHERLANDS
5 Great minds think alike ENGLAND
6 They are truly superior who can look upon a game of chess in silence CHINA
7 Good painters need not give a name to their pictures; bad ones must POLAND
8 If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em USA
9 The more servants, the worse service NETHERLANDS
10 Good things sell themselves; bad things have to be advertised ETHIOPIA
11 Good is good, but better is better NETHERLANDS
12 Mediocrity is climbing molehills without sweating ICELAND
13 There is no such thing as a pretty good omelette FRANCE
14 One bad pipe ruins the entire organ NETHERLANDS
15 There are dregs in the best bottle of wine FRANCE
16 Count not what is lost but what is left CHINA
17 When one sheep is over the dam, the rest will follow NETHERLANDS
18 Pretty near ain’t quite USA
19 One rotten egg spoils the whole pudding GERMANY
20 One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel ENGLAND
21 Rotten wood cannot be carved CHINA
22 ‘If I rest, I rust’, says the key GERMANY
23 The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now CHINA
18 UNITING
1 Those who mix themselves with the mud will be eaten by the swine NETHERLANDS
2 If you get mixed with bran, you’ll soon be pecked by chickens LIBYA
3 Tangled hair needs a wide comb SERBIA
4 When the hands and the feet are bound, the tongue runs faster GERMANY
5 Oil and water will not mix ENGLAND
6 Drinking and thinking don’t mix USA
7 An ox is bound with ropes