Man's best friend is his dog.

No doubt many will rush to agree with this. Who else but your favorite mutt will give you a lifetime of unquestioning devotion no matter what any human thinks of you? Dogs have a natural sense of duty to the pack leader and want nothing more than to be your best friend and companion - and the occasional juicy steak.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

How many times has someone done something to infuriate you and your reaction has simply made matters worse? The old advice of counting to ten before reacting can save you from a serious breakdown in relations. "If you give them enough rope they will hang themselves" goes another old saying indicating the wisdom sometimes of not hitting back immediately. If you do have to take defensive retaliatory action it is best done when you are calm and rational.

The early bird catches the worm.

This might literally be true but the early adopter can also be the one who is landed with the problems - there might be an angry farmer waiting with a gun. The bold rush in and sometimes carry off the prize; the cautious wait and see how the bold have faired but might lose the advantage as the price of delay - you makes your choice!

As the sapling is inclined so the tree grows.

Early influences can shape the rest of your life: good parents, healthy environment, skilful teachers will give the optimum chance for a person fulfilling their potential. Damage in youth can grow and multiply as the years go by. Parents must be like good gardeners and give their offspring the right conditions for growth and development; but we are all subject to the vagaries of Nature and no matter the good intent things can go wrong.

Great minds think alike.

If great minds are those that understand the true way of things it is logical to suppose that they will arrive at the same conclusions - there is one truth, and a multitude of mistakes for the less talented to "discover".

Manners maketh man.

Someone might look great and be accomplished but if they are boorish and ill-mannered they will not win friends and influence people. Only the super-talented and very rich can get away with it. The ordinary person is more likely to be acceptable if they have an agreeable disposition and pleasant manners.

Fortune favors the bold.

This has echoes of "who dares wins" and "faint heart never won fair lady" and is pointing out that you have to try - otherwise you will never succeed. Just be wary that you tend to hear of those who succeed but history forgets all the failures.

Lost time is rarely found again.

The trouble with time is that you can't save it up and use it when you need it. It is therefore important to use the time that you have wisely. Learn to be efficient and plan your activities so as not to waste any of this precious commodity.

The end justifies the means.

Attributed to Machiavelli the 15th century Italian statesman who advised princes on how to go about their business. It is sometimes used as an excuse for doing something wrong by pleading that the outcome will eventually be benificial.

Faint heart never won fair lady.

This can get you into trouble if you take it too literally. Girls like to be admired and pursued don't they? Just make sure the particular one you fancy is in the mood.

The pot calling the kettle black.

Originating in the days when cooking was done on an open fire that covered the utensils in soot. Used when you criticise someone for a fault when your own is as bad or worse. It is always easier to see fault in someone else whilst ignoring your own shortcomings.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Apples contain vitamins and minerals highly benificial to health as well as helping to clean the teeth so this is a wise old saying.

Liars have need of long memories.

Telling lies can get people out of a tricky situation in the short term but later events could expose the lie if they have forgotten the circumstances that were implied by it.

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

The literal truth of this is obvious but it applies to many life situations. If you provoke people in a verbal attack make sure you are not vulnerable to retaliation. An awareness of people's tendency to indulge in "tit for tat" should alert you to the folly of damaging the interests of others without considering the consequences.

The grass is always greener on the far side of the hill.

We are rarely satisfied with what we have and wonder if others have it better. A nomadic instinct pervades all peoples and we have an urge to nibble and walk. Distant prospects are enhanced by our imagnings and draw us on.

The Devil looks after his own.

We all know the person who seems to break all the rules and get away with it. Perhaps they do, perhaps they don't, but perception is sometimes more potent than reality. This saying dates from the time when people had strong religious convictions and they were puzzled as to why some people appeared to get away with wrongdoing - hence the put-down of the Devil looking after them on Earth but hinting that they would get their comeuppance in Hell.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be.

If you are up to your ears with your mortgage and have just lent your least trustworthy acquaintance your loose change you know the truth of this saying. Prudent people avoid unnecessary debt. Very much a case of "look before you leap".

Make haste slowly.

You all know the scenario: something needs to be done in a hurry and you go so fast you make mistakes. Learning to pace yourself and find the optimum speed is not easy. Try not to get flustered - keep cool, calm and collected. "Controlled panic" might sum it up!

Stolen fruits taste sweetest.

It is a true fact that something a little illicit gives an adrenaline boost. Ask anyone on a strict diet! This might be counter-balanced by feelings of guilt surfacing later. Often applied to a secret romance

The man who never made a mistake never made anything.

Many people are put off trying something new from fear of making a mistake whilst others leap into action, crying: "Fortune favors the bold" and "Who dares wins". Sometimes they succeed spectacularly but they can also come a cropper and are then told: "Look before you leap". It probably all boils down to individual nature: some of us are born cautious and others bold.