It's good to be merry and wise.
Meaning: Balancing joy with sound judgment ensures happiness doesn't lead to foolish decisions or regrettable consequences.
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
- It is good to be merry at meat. — Nourishment tastes better and digests easier when eaten with joy rather than worry or has…
- Modesty is the handmaid of virtue. — Humble self-awareness prevents pride from corrupting your moral character and actions.
- A good name is better than riches. — Reputation and character endure longer than wealth and provide greater security across li…
- Take away my good name, and take away my life. — Loss of reputation destroys one's ability to function meaningfully in society and relatio…
- Make much of one, good men are scarce. — Valuing the good people in your life deeply matters because genuine integrity and virtue…
- Too much of one thing is good for nothing. — Excess in any single pursuit creates imbalance, diminishing its value and your overall we…
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…