Pry not into other people's affairs.
Meaning: Meddling in others' business breeds conflict and wastes energy better spent on your own concerns.
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
- Many without punishment, none without sin. — Without accountability, wrongdoing flourishes; perfection remains impossible for all mort…
- A ragged colt may make a good horse. — Unpromising beginnings don't determine a creature's potential; proper care and time can t…
- The receiver is as bad as the thief. — Accepting stolen goods makes you complicit in the crime, not merely a passive bystander.
- A good recorder sets all in order. — Skilled documentation prevents chaos by creating a clear, retrievable record of facts and…
- Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth. — Genuine charity requires secrecy; publicizing generosity corrupts its moral purpose into…
- The fairest rose at last is withered. — Even the most beautiful things inevitably decline and fade with time.
From our idioms
- bottoms up! — A call to drink; to empty one's glass.
- box someone in — Restricted; to restrict someone.
- brainstorm — To generate many ideas quickly.