They look one way and row another.
Meaning: Deceptive intentions hidden beneath outward appearances guide people toward false destinations.
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
- Long looked for comes at last. — Patience with delayed expectations eventually yields results; persistence through waiting…
- He that longs most lacks most. — Constant desire reveals scarcity within oneself; craving signals deprivation rather than…
- Tis not lost that comes at last. — Delayed arrival doesn't constitute loss; what eventually reaches you remains gained despi…
- Lowly sit and be richly warm. — Humble comfort surpasses prideful exposure to hardship and cold.
- It is better to be born lucky than rich. — Fortune's favor opens doors that money alone cannot, offering unexpected advantages beyon…
- It's better to be lucky than wise. — Fortune often achieves what intellect cannot, suggesting preparation matters less than fa…
From our compliments & insults
- Schlauberger — A know-it-all smartass who never misses a chance to show off their cleverness.
- Dickkopf — A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
- 空気が読めない (kūki ga yomenai) — Completely oblivious to the unspoken social mood — the person who kills the atmosphere wi…