Proverbs... Platitudes... "The Moral of the Story"...

All designed to teach us a lesson, but did you ever notice that they're sometimes quite conflicting? Things like. . . . .

Actions speak louder than words.
But...
The pen is mightier than the sword.

Look before you leap.
But...
He who hesitates is lost.

Many hands make light work.
But...
Too many cooks spoil the broth.

A silent man is a wise one.
But...
A man without words is a man without thoughts.

Clothes make the man.
But...
Don't judge a book by its cover.

It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
But...
The nail that sticks out gets hammered.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
But...
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
But...
Better safe than sorry.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
But...
Out of sight, out of mind.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
But...
It's never to late to learn.

Two wrongs don't make a right.
But...
Turnabout is fair play.

He who hesitates is lost.
But...
Haste makes waste.
OR
Look before you leap.

You can't judge a book by its cover.
But...
What you see is what you get.

Birds of a feather flock together.
But...
Opposites attract.

Ask no questions and hear no lies.
But...
Ask and you shall receive.

Variety is the spice of life.
But...
Don't change horses in midstream.

The pen is mightier than the sword.
But...
Actions speak louder than words.

Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.
But...
Forewarned is forearmed.

Silence is golden.
But...
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Clothes make the man.
But...
You can't judge a book by its cover.

The best things come in small packages.
But...
The bigger the better.

A miss is as good as a mile.
But...
Half a loaf is better than none.

An old fox is not easily snared.
But...
There's no fool like an old fool.

Practice makes perfect.
But...
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.
But...
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
But...
A man's reach should exceed his grasp.

There's safety in numbers.
But...
Better to be alone than in bad company.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
But...
Don't beat a dead horse.

Hold fast to the words of your ancestors.
But...
Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them.