The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (504 page)
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SMALL is beautiful
1973(
title
)
Small is beautiful.
1977
Spy at Evening
xxiv.
Small Is Beautiful—but big pays more.
1991
Washington Post
13 Jan. G8
In the 19th century, some classical composers forgot (if they had ever known) the principle that ‘small is beautiful.’
1997
Washington Post
11 May H1
Small is beautiful—at least, it may be beautiful again in the near future. Lately, small stocks have been pretty ugly.
great and small
small
No SMOKE without fire
Cf. late 13th-cent. Fr.
nul feu est sens fumee ne fumee sens feu
, no fire is without smoke, nor smoke without fire;
c
1375
J. BARBOUR
Bruce
(EETS) IV. 81 And thair may no man fire sa covir, [Bot] low or reyk [flame or smoke] sall it discovir.
c
1422
Works
(EETS) I. 134
Wher no fyr maad is may no smoke aryse.
1592
French Alphabet
II
. 39
No smoke without fire.
1655
Church Hist. Britain
II
. x.
There was no Smoak but some Fire: either he was dishonest, or indiscreet.
1869
He knew He was Right
II. lii.
He considered that .. Emily Trevelyan had behaved badly. He constantly repeated .. the old adage, that there was no smoke without fire.
1948
Night of Errors
iv.
‘Chimneys! .. Who the deuce cares whether there's smoke from every chimney in the house.’ ‘I do. No smoke without fire.’
1986
Dead Liberty
v.
‘No smoke without fire.’ said the detective-constable largely. ‘Smoke signals can be misread,’ countered Sloan.
public opinion
;
rumour
nul feu est sens fumee ne fumee sens feu
, no fire is without smoke, nor smoke without fire;
c
1375
J. BARBOUR
Bruce
(EETS) IV. 81 And thair may no man fire sa covir, [Bot] low or reyk [flame or smoke] sall it discovir.
c1422
Works
(EETS) I. 134
Wher no fyr maad is may no smoke aryse.
1592
French Alphabet
II
. 39
No smoke without fire.
1655
Church Hist. Britain
II
. x.
There was no Smoak but some Fire: either he was dishonest, or indiscreet.
1869
He knew He was Right
II. lii.
He considered that .. Emily Trevelyan had behaved badly. He constantly repeated .. the old adage, that there was no smoke without fire.
1948
Night of Errors
iv.
‘Chimneys! .. Who the deuce cares whether there's smoke from every chimney in the house.’ ‘I do. No smoke without fire.’
1986
Dead Liberty
v.
‘No smoke without fire.’ said the detective-constable largely. ‘Smoke signals can be misread,’ countered Sloan.
public opinion;
rumour
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