A single fact is worth a ship-load of argument.
Meaning: Concrete evidence settles disputes more effectively than prolonged debate or rhetoric alone.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Morality
- Fair and softly go far in a day. — Steady, moderate effort sustains progress better than rushed, forceful action that exhaus…
- A fair face may hide a foul heart. — Physical beauty deceives; assess character through actions and behavior, not appearance a…
- As good to be out of the world as out of the fashion. — Social irrelevance destroys one's sense of existence as thoroughly as physical death.
- Tis good fish if it were but caught. — Potential alone means nothing without the effort and skill required to seize actual oppor…
- There's as good fish in the sea as were ever caught. — Lost opportunities aren't final; future chances remain equally promising if you persevere.
- To forget a wrong is the best revenge. — Holding onto grievance poisons the grudge-bearer while freeing the offender from further…
From our tongue twisters
- Шла Саша по шоссе и сосала сушку. (Shla Sasha po shosse i sosala sushku.) — A merciless 'sh/s/ss' collision — Sasha walking, sucking, and all those sibilants.
- Карл у Клары украл кораллы, Клара у Карла украла кларнет. (Karl u Klary ukral korally, Klara u Karla ukrala klarnet.) — A 'kl/kr/r' drama — crime, countercrimes, and consonant clusters all at once.
- Корабли лавировали, лавировали, да не вылавировали. (Korabli lavirovali, lavirovali, da ne vylavirovali.) — One verb, three inflections, pure 'lav/vir' torture — the word grows with every repetitio…