The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (118 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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DEATH is the great leveller
Cf. CLAUDIAN
De Raptu Proserpinae
II. 302
omnia mors aequat
, death levels all things.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 1250
Death is the grand leveller.
1755
Centaur
ii.
Is diversion grown a leveller, like death?
1961
Heart of London
I. 101
‘All this is going to be a great leveller.’ .. ‘It is death which is the great leveller.’
1973
‘’
His Burial Too
vi.
Dr. Dabbe took a last look … ‘A classic case, you might say, Sloan, of Death, the Great Leveller.’
death
DEATH pays all debts
Cf.
1597

8
SHAKESPEARE
Henry
IV, Pt. 1 III. ii. 157 The end of life cancels all bands [bonds].
1611
Tempest
III. ii. 126
He that dies pays all debts.
1827
Two Drovers in Chronicles of Canongate
I. xiv.
‘It must be sorely answered.’ .. ‘Never you mind that—Death pays all debts; it will pay that too.’
1979
After You
xvi.
I have no particular objection to death as such; it pays all bills.
1991
WLT: Radio Romance
xli.
I am not responsible anymore. Death pays all debts. Fix the damn furnace yourself.
death

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