The collection / 22,493 fragments
Explore passages mentioning truth, true. Topic suggestions use transparent word matching, not scholarly classification. Reviewed editorial meanings may also connect entries to this topic; those assignments are labelled separately from word matching.
Meaning: A damaged reputation may outlast the original injury or event. The saying contrasts recovery with the persistence of a bad name, while its absolute wording should not deny repair, presume blame or suggest that a reputation can never change.
Meaning: Something obtained through wrongdoing may be used or lost just as carelessly. The saying links a bad beginning with an unhappy result, without proving that every dishonest gain receives a matching punishment.
Meaning: Poor foundations are unlikely to produce a good result. Grain and seed turn the connection between a starting point and its outcome into a growing image.
Meaning: An inadequate explanation may seem preferable to offering none. The proverb values some response over silence, but a bad excuse can also mislead or weaken trust; it is not permission to invent a justification.
Meaning: A direct account may be more useful than many repeated second-hand reports. Check where information comes from instead of treating the number of people repeating it as independent evidence.
Meaning: A relevant, well-established fact can settle a question more effectively than much unsupported reasoning. The ship-load exaggerates the quantity of talk, without suggesting that facts need no interpretation or that one isolated observation proves everything.
Meaning: Praise so weak or qualified that it seems reluctant can convey criticism. The saying notices the message around the compliment, without proving that every brief or reserved acknowledgement is intended to disparage.
Meaning: Attractive presentation can make something look more appealing. The fine feathers explain the favourable impression, while leaving open whether what is being presented also has the qualities someone needs.
Meaning: A false report can travel quickly as people repeat it. Speed or widespread repetition does not establish accuracy, so check the basis of a claim before passing it on.
Meaning: A strong preference can make something seem better than it is. Imagining bran as flour pictures wishful judgement, without proving that every hope or favourable opinion is mistaken.
Meaning: Denying a known mistake can add dishonesty to the original fault. Trying to avoid responsibility may deepen the harm and make repair more difficult.
Meaning: Someone who knows they are at fault may become watchful or defensive. The proverb describes one possible reaction, but guarded behaviour alone cannot establish wrongdoing or reveal why a person is uncomfortable.
Meaning: When people trust and understand one another, a brief exchange may carry a great deal. Shared understanding can reduce the need for elaborate assurances without removing the need for clear communication.
Meaning: A conversation that seems private may still be overheard. Do not assume an open or apparently empty place guarantees that sensitive words will remain confidential.
Meaning: An obvious sign of trouble is unsurprising when someone is directly affected by its cause. A burning gown explains why its wearer smells of fire.
Meaning: Do not apply unequal standards to people in comparable situations without a fair reason. Notice when similar contributions or mistakes are being treated very differently.
Meaning: A person may hear their own expectations in an ambiguous signal. Check whether an interpretation comes from the evidence or from what you already want to believe.
Meaning: Persuasive or virtuous-sounding words can conceal a self-serving purpose. Consider the speaker’s conduct and interests before entrusting them with what their proposal puts at risk.
Meaning: People may dismiss something they cannot obtain to make disappointment easier to bear. Check whether the criticism reflects the thing itself or a response to being denied it.
Meaning: Pleasant words do not by themselves establish friendship. Look for dependable and considerate conduct rather than assuming that flattery or an agreeable manner proves someone cares for you.
Meaning: Judge something by its substance rather than by the setting around it. The gem and its mount distinguish underlying quality from presentation, without making context irrelevant to how something is used or understood.
Meaning: A dependable friend treats your reputation with care even when you are not there. Loyalty includes refusing unfair gossip rather than offering kindness only in your presence.
Meaning: Pleasant promises are insubstantial when no useful action follows. Look for the work that supports an assurance rather than treating an agreeable statement as enough.
Meaning: Someone who knows they acted wrongly may judge themselves before another person speaks. The saying describes inward accountability, but feelings of guilt alone do not prove wrongdoing or settle responsibility.