The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (356 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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MARRIAGES are made in heaven
1567
Palace of Pleasure
xxiii.
True it is, that marriages be don in Heaven and performed in earth.
1580
Euphues & his England
II. 223
Mariages are made in heauen, though consumated in yearth.
1738
Polite Conversation
I
. 78
They say, Marriages are made in Heaven; but I doubt, when she was married, she had no Friend there.
1932
Cold Comfort Farm
i.
I prefer the idea of arrangement to that other statement, that marriages are made in Heaven.
1980
Weep for Her
187
She's a sentimental sort who believes marriages are made in heaven.
marriage
Never MARRY for money, but marry where money is
1870
Northern Farmer, New Style
in
The Holy Grail
163
Doänt thou marry for munny, but goä wheer munny is!
1968
Cool Day for Killing
ii.
He'd have heard the ancient saw. Never marry for money, but marry where money is.
1991
Bookseller
16 Aug. 403
‘Never marry money but go where money is.’ For the book as an entity to make news consistently, it must go where news is consistently made—as with the royal family.
marriage
;
money
MARRY in haste and repent at leisure
This formula can be applied to rash steps other than marriage: e.g.
1998
Spectator
10 Jan. 6 All modern governments legislate in haste and repent at leisure. A frequent recent variant is
Act in haste, repent at leisure:
e.g.
1998
Times
26 Jan. 21 ‘Act in haste, repent at leisure’ would be a poor epitaph for the UK's presidency [of the EU].
1568
Duties in Marriage
B4
Some haue loued in post hast, that afterwards haue repented them at leysure.
1615
Festivals
x.
Marrying in hast, and Repenting by leasure.
1734
Poor Richard's Almanack
(May)
Grief often treads upon the heels of pleasure, Marry'd in haste, we oft repent at leisure.
1872
Works
(1891) VI. xvii.
‘Marry in haste and repent at leisure’ is a proverb that may be borne in mind with advantage in the choice of a party as well as of a wife.
1979
Tomorrow's Ghost
ix.
It stands to reason you know better what to look for the second time round—‘Marry in haste and repent at leisure.’
haste
;
marriage
;
regrets
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
9.48Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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