English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases: A Historical Dictionary

Locator: p. 427, s.v. "More haste, worse speed, The"

The English source describes haste producing worse speed, supporting one side of the functional comparison.

Someone is hurrying a task or journey whose finish they do not fully control.

Locator: p. 634, s.v. "Time", no. 15

The English source records the proverb that time and tide wait for nobody, which is the side of the contrast that argues against waiting.

Someone is deciding whether a delay is something to endure or something that will cost them the chance to act.

Locator: p. 427, s.v. "More haste, worse speed, The"

Apperson records the exact expression “The more haste, worse speed.” as an English proverb.

The more haste, worse speed.

Locator: p. 288, s.v. "Haste", no. 3

Apperson records the exact expression “Haste makes waste.” as an English proverb.

Haste makes waste.

Locator: p. 600, s.v. "Stay, verb", no. 1

Apperson records the exact expression “He that can stay obtains.” as an English proverb.

He that can stay obtains.

Locator: p. 600, s.v. "Stay, verb", no. 5

Apperson records the exact expression “Stay awhile that we may end the sooner.” as an English proverb.

Stay awhile that we may end the sooner.

Locator: p. 669, s.v. "Watched pot never boils, A"

Apperson records the exact expression “A watched pot never boils.” as an English proverb.

A watched pot never boils.

Locator: p. 585, s.v. "Soft fire makes sweet malt"

Apperson records the exact expression “Soft fire makes sweet malt.” as an English proverb.

Soft fire makes sweet malt.

Locator: p. 634, s.v. "Time", no. 14

Apperson records the exact expression “Time and straw make medlars ripe.” as an English proverb.

Time and straw make medlars ripe.

Locator: p. 537, s.v. "Rome", no. 2

Apperson records the exact expression “Rome was not built in a day.” as an English proverb.

Rome was not built in a day.

Locator: p. 634, s.v. "Time", no. 15

Apperson records the exact expression “Time and tide wait for no man.” as an English proverb.

Time and tide wait for no man.

Locator: p. 288, s.v. "Haste", no. 3

Recorded from 1546; extended forms are documented through 1864.

Haste makes waste.

Locator: p. 585, s.v. "Soft fire makes sweet malt"

Recorded before 1500, with variants through 1823.

A gentle fire makes sweet malt.

Locator: p. 634, s.v. "Time", no. 15

Recorded from c. 1386, with later forms through 1850.

Time and tide wait for nobody.

Locator: p. 427, s.v. "More haste, worse speed, The"

Recorded from 1542; less-speed variants are documented in 1829 and 1919.

The more you hurry, the slower the overall result.

Locator: p. 634, s.v. "Time", no. 14

Recorded from 1578, with variants through 1732.

Time and straw make medlars ready to eat.

Locator: p. 600, s.v. "Stay, verb", no. 1

Recorded from 1611, with related forms through c. 1736.

The person who can wait obtains the goal.

Locator: p. 600, s.v. "Stay, verb", no. 5

Recorded from 1580, with related forms through 1859.

Pause for a while so that we can finish sooner.

Locator: p. 537, s.v. "Rome", no. 2

Recorded in English from 1546.

Rome was not built in a day.

Locator: p. 669, s.v. "Watched pot never boils, A"

Recorded from 1848, with a dialect form documented in 1884.

A watched pot never boils.