Part 35

Better the nag that ambles a' the day than him that makes a brattle for a mile and then's dune wi' the road.

Better thole a grumph than a sumph.

Be troubled rather by an intelligent, though surly man, than by a stupid one.

Better tine life than gude fame.

"I might hae fled frae this Tolbooth on that awfu' night wi' ane wha wad hae carried me through the warld, and friended me, and fended for me. But I said to them, Let life gang when gude fame is gane before it."--Heart of Midlothian.

Better tine your joke than tine your friend.

Better to haud than draw.

Better to rule wi' the gentle hand than the strang.

Better twa skaiths than ae sorrow.

"Losses may be repaired, but sorrow will break the heart and ruin the constitution."--Kelly.

Better unkind than ower cumbersome.

Better unmarried than ill married.

Better wade back mid water than gang forward and drown.

Rather withdraw from a bargain or position found likely to prove bad or dangerous than proceed with either in hopes of improvement.

Better wait on cooks than leeches.

Better wear shoon than wear sheets.

Better you laugh than I greet.

Meaning, I would rather be ridiculed for not doing a thing, than do it and be sorry for it.

Better your feet slip than your tongue.

Between Martinmas and Yule, water's wine in every pool.

Between the deil and the deep sea.

Between two extremes equally dangerous.

"I fell into Claverhouse's party when I was seeking for some o' our ain folk to help ye out o' the hands o' the whigs; sae, being atween the deil and the deep sea, I e'en thought it best to bring him on wi' me, for he'll be wearied wi' felling folk the night, and the morn's a new day."--Old Mortality.

Between three and thirteen, thraw the woodie when it's green.

Train the minds and principles of children when young.

Between you and the lang day be'it.

Be what ye seem and seem what ye are.

Bid a man to a roast and stick him wi' the spit.