No cut like unkindness.
Meaning: Harsh words wound deeper than any blade because emotional pain leaves invisible but lasting scars.
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
- Nothing is surer than death. — Mortality is the one absolute certainty all humans must accept, making it foolish to deny…
- First deserve and then desire. — Merit earned precedes rightful ambition; establish capability before claiming reward.
- Desires are nourished by delays. — Postponing what you want intensifies your craving rather than diminishing it.
- The first dish pleaseth all. — Initial offerings gain acceptance because people haven't yet formed judgments or grown we…
- Dogs bark before they bite. — Aggression is usually preceded by warning signs if you pay attention to them.
- Do well, and have well. — Virtuous actions naturally produce good outcomes; integrity yields its own rewards.
From our tongue twisters
- Als vliegen achter vliegen vliegen, vliegen vliegen vliegen achterna. — The same noun/verb homograph trap as the German version — vliegen does triple duty.
- 간장 공장 공장장은 장 공장장이고 된장 공장 공장장은 강 공장장이다. (Ganjang gongjang gongjangjang eun Jang gongjangjang igo, doenjang gongjang gongjangjang eun Gang gongjangjang ida.) — A 'gong/jang/gang' syllable storm — the two surnames (Jang/Gang) swap while the rest stay…
- 경찰청 철창살은 외철창살이고 검찰청 철창살도 외철창살이다. (Gyeongchalcheong cheolchangsal eun oe cheolchangsal igo, geomchalcheong cheolchangsal do oe cheolchangsal ida.) — A 'cheong/cheol/chal' onslaught — Korean's aspirated stops and affricates in relentless s…