Variants and use of proverbs

Variants on the proverb are given after the main entry:

a word to the wise is sufficient

Variant of this proverb: a word is enough to the wise.

Alterations to the words of the proverb, shorter expressions of the proverb, or humorous applications are also shown:

once a thief always a thief

. . . Other words may be substituted for thief, such as crook, drunkard, fool, or whore, and the proverb is occasionally applied to those with enduring virtues rather than persistent vices, as in “Once a lady, always a lady.”

to err is human, to forgive divine

. . . A modern facetious variant is “To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.”