All are not thieves that dogs bark at.
Meaning: Not everyone accused or suspected deserves condemnation; accusations alone don't prove guilt.
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 Wisdom
- The horse thinks one thing, and he that rides him another. — Intentions diverge between those who control and those controlled; agreement cannot be as…
- He that sows nothing plants thistles. — Idleness naturally produces harmful consequences; neglecting to cultivate goodness invite…
- The thorn comes forth with his point forwards. — Wickedness announces itself boldly through its inherent nature rather than concealing har…
- He that handles thorns shall prick his fingers. — Careless engagement with dangerous things inevitably causes self-inflicted harm.
- There are more threatened than struck. — More people fear danger than actually experience it; anxiety often exceeds real harm.
- If you make not much of threepence you'll ne'er be worth a groat. — Neglecting small sums leads to poverty; careless management of modest earnings prevents a…
From our idioms
- make the grade — To meet standards; to be satisfactory.
- make tracks — To leave, usually quickly.
- mark time — To wait out one's time by doing the minimum and without progressing.