| Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887. | | | | Wishing |
| | | After the acting wishing is in vain. French. | 1 |
| Better do it than wish it done. | 2 |
| Better to have than to wish. | 3 |
| Good wishes do not always bring good fortune. Benjamin Disraeli. | 4 |
| If wishes were true, farmers (shepherds) would be kings. French. | 5 |
| I never fared worse than when I wished for my supper. | 6 |
Like our shadows,
Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines. Young. | 7 |
| Mere wishes are silly fishes. | 8 |
| One year of joy, another of comfort, and all the rest of content. (A marriage wish.) | 9 |
| Thy wish was father to the thought. Shakespeare. | 10 |
| Thou art as like to obtain thy wish as the wolf is to eat the moon. | 11 |
| When the thing you wish cannot be had, ever wish for that which may. Terence. | 12 |
| Who has no money must have no wishes. Italian. | 13 |
| Wish not for that you cannot obtain. | 14 |
| Wishes at least are the easy pleasures of the poor. Douglas Jerrold. | 15 |
| Wishes never filled the bag. French. | 16 |
| Wishes were ever fools. Shakespeare. | 17 |
| Wishes won’t wash dishes. | 18 |
| Wishing of all employments is the worst. Young. | 19 |
| With wishing comes grieving. Italian. | 20 | | |
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