Reminder that our CfP deadline is the end of the month! Email us at proverbs@hull.ac.uk with your abstract and join us in July at Proverbs & Popular Wisdom in Early Modern Literature and Culture.
Bursaries will be available for ECRs - more info to follow soon!
“Many hands make light work” – and many papers make a great conference.
CFP now open for Proverbs & Popular Wisdom in Early Modern Literature and Culture, University of Hull, 1–3 July 2026.
Abstracts due 30 Jan → proverbs@hull.ac.uk
More info: earlymodernproverbs.co.uk/events/confe...
[This adage refers to the proverbial cat who wants to eat fish, but is afraid to get its feet wet.]
'Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ” like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?'
This adage hasn't survived into modern usage (perhaps because Shakespeare didn't quote it in full?)
Our second workshop, "Materials", is coming up soon at the University of Leeds. More information available here: earlymodernproverbs.co.uk/events/works...
"Tie it well and let it go" (Tilley T287).
Do your best, then release it. A fine proverb and terrible advice for posting online. 🎀💨📱
“When the devil is a hog you’ll eat bacon” (Tilley D306).
Translation: same day England wins Eurovision. 🐖🎤🥓
"He claws it as Clayton clawed the pudding when he ate bag and all" (Tilley C407).
The modern version: “He bought Twitter.” 🍮👜🐦
"When the fox sleeps nothing falls into his mouth" (Tilley F657). Even the sly need to hustle. No snacks for a snoozing fox.
"When the frog has hair thou wilt be good" (Tilley F766). You’ll be good when frogs grow beards—i.e., never.
“All women are good – either good for something or good for nothing” (Tilley W680).
A 17th-century zinger that shows its age—and its sexism. History, not advice.
"A good meal, a bad meal, and a middling meal preserves a man in health" (Tilley M786).
Tudor wellness plan: feast, flop, average—repeat. Balance is the real superfood.
"All things grow worse and worse" (T168).
Read the news lately? Some things never change.
"A stitch in time saves nine" - from 1732, but the idea? Timeless. Why do some proverbs survive centuries while others vanish? What makes wisdom stick? #ProverbialWisdom #History
"All that glisters is not gold" - Shakespeare borrowed this proverb for Merchant of Venice, perfect for awards season! Medieval wisdom about appearances vs reality, still relevant as we debate what makes "peak TV" actually good. #Emmys #Shakespeare #Proverbs
“No good attorney will ever go to law.” ⚖️ (Tilley A393)
Tudor wisdom: the only people who enjoy lawsuits are the lawyers. Still true.
“The more the merrier, the fewer the better cheer.” (Tilley M1153)
The Tudors knew: small dinner, good conversation; big dinner, shouting match. Never realised I'd been passive aggressive when I said "the more the merrier" until now... #oops
🐴 “Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.” (Tilley A361)
Reliable donkey, or dramatic stallion?
Give me the one that gets me home alive.
Same goes for cars, jobs, software, and dating apps.
#TeamDonkey #StableWins
“The physician is more dangerous than the disease.” ⚕️ (Tilley P267a)
Medieval doctors: leeches for a headache.
Us: side effects may include everything but relief.
#ReadTheLabel #ProverbialPrescription
"Shunning the smoke he fell into the fire" (Tilley S570) - the eternal human tendency to overcorrect straight into worse problems. Avoiding one social media platform by joining three others. Medieval frying pan → fire dynamics still perfectly relevant. #OutOfTheFryingPan #EarlyModernOops
"A dwarf on a giant's shoulder sees farther of the two" (Tilley D659) - Newton's "standing on shoulders of giants" but make it medieval and honest about the height dynamics. #Teamwork
“The way to be gone is not to stay here.” 🏃 (Tilley W151)
Sixteenth-century productivity hack: if you want to leave… actually leave.
Still relevant for meetings, bad parties, and doomscrolling.
#ExitStrategy #TimelessAdvice
“You cannot take a trout with dry breeches.” (Tilley T538)
No risk, no reward: the Renaissance edition. If you want results, you’ll have to wade in—figuratively or otherwise. #WadersOn
“All his geese are swans.” (Tilley G369)
Everything he touches is “brilliant,” “genius,” or “disruptive.” Translation: he has no idea it’s just a goose. #DelusionsOfExcellence #EveryIdeaIsNotASwan
“Two dogs never agree about one bone.” (Tilley D544)
Put one cookie on the table and watch civility vanish.
Whether it’s siblings, colleagues, or nations — one bone, two egos, no peace.
#ProverbialWisdom #EarlyModernTruth
“We shall live til we die.” (Tilley L385)
Early modern existentialism, plain and undefeated. Stoic, blunt, and suspiciously applicable to the academic job market. #ProverbialRealism #LifeGoals
“They are scarce of horses where two ride on a dog.” (H716)
If you're pushing a plan that clearly doesn’t work—maybe it's not the dog’s fault. #DoingTooMuch #TeamworkFails
“Kings and bears often worry their keepers.” (K85)
Lesson: if you're in charge of something powerful and unpredictable, don't turn your back. Applies to monarchs, CEOs, and toddlers. #BearWithIt #ThroneAndDanger
“Look high and fall low.” (Tilley L431)
Ambition meets gravity. Aim for tenure, land unemployed. The proverb saw it coming. #CareerTrajectories #TheFallIsReal
“Better a louse in the pot than no flesh at all.” (L468)
Early modern comfort food: something between “protein-rich” and “please don’t ask.” Culinary optimism at its grimmest. #EarlyModernMealPrep
