Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Play

An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation.

As good play for nothing as work for nothing.

Gie o’er when the play is good.

He plays best who wins.French, German.

He plays you as fair as if he picked your pocket.

If thy cast be bad mend it with good play.

It is best to play with equals.

It is not an art to play but it is a very good art to leave off play.Italian.

It is well to leave off playing when the game is at the best.French.

It signifies nothing to play well if you lose.

Play at small games rather than stand out.Shakespeare.

Play not with a man until you hurt him, nor jest till you shame him.

Play’s gude while it is play.

The less play the better.

The play won’t pay the candles.

We should play to live, not live to play.

What is play to the strong is death to the weak.Danish.

What is sport to the cat is death to the mouse.German, Danish.

What’s play to you is death to us. (Fable of the boys stoning the frogs.)