Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Thomas Tusser

English Poet and Agricultural Writer known for proverb, "A Fool and his money are soon parted"

"What greater crime than loss of time?"

"Come home, lord^, singing, ['Harvest Lord,' or foreman] Come home, corn bringing. 'Tis merry in hall, Where beards wag all."

"At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year."

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

"Go sirs, and away, to ted and make hay."

"Good husband and huswife, now chiefly be glad, Things handsome to have, as they ought to be had."

"God sendeth and giveth both mouth and meat."

"In March sow thy barley, thy land not too cold, The drier the better, a hundreth times told. That tilth harrow'd finely, set seed-time an end,"

"If a garden require it, now trench it ye may, one trench not a yard, from another go lay; Which being well filled with muck by and by, to cover with mould, for a season to lie."

"Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go."

"In March and in April from morning till night In sowing and seeding good housewives delight."

"Make hunger thy sauce, as a medicine for health."

"Naught venture, naught have."

"North winds send hail, south winds bring rain, East winds we bewail, west winds blow amain; Northeast is too cold, southeast not too warm,"

"Seek home for rest, for home is best."

"Seven times hath Janus ta'en new year by hand, Seven times hath blust'ring March blown forth his power"

"Such mistress, such Nan, Such master, such man."

"'Tis merry in hall Where beards wag all."

"Who goeth a borrowing Goeth a sorrowing. Few lend (but fools) their working tools."

"Who quick be to borrow and slow be to pay, their credit is naught, go they ever so gay."

"Thresh seed and go fan, for the plow may not lie; September doth bid to be sowing of rye. The ridges well-harrow'd, or ever thou strike,"

"Sweet April showers do spring May flowers."