15 Sayings beginning with N


Nature abhors a vacuum

Possible interpretation: Empty spaces become filled very quickly.

Note: nature (noun) = the force that we regard as controlling the physical world, plants, animals etc | abhor (verb) = detest; hate | vacuum (noun) = a space with nothing in it (not even air or gas)

Origin: Aristotle (ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, 384-322BC) first suggested that "nature abhors a vacuum" to explain why water pumps worked (an astute if not totally accurate observation).

Quick Quiz:

According to the saying "nature abhors a vacuum", if you abandoned a town house and left it empty
  1. air pressure would break all its windows
  2. the air would gradually leak out
  3. somebody would soon move in and live in it

Answer:  c


Necessity is the mother of invention

Possible interpretation: If we absolutely need to do something that has never been done, we will find a way to do it. It is this need or necessity that forces people to invent things.

Note: necessity (noun) = something that is essential; an imperative need | invention (noun) = the act of inventing | invent (verb) = design or create something that has not existed before

Origin: Based on the line "Necessity, who is the mother of invention" in The Republic written by Plato (Greek author & philosopher, 427-347BC).

Quick Quiz:

"Necessity is the mother of invention" is a proverb about
  1. motherhood
  2. the cause of inventions
  3. the cause of poverty

Answer:  b


Neither a borrower nor a lender be

Possible interpretation: Do not borrow things. Do not lend things.

Note: borrow (verb) = take and use money or some other thing that one does not own with the intention of returning it later | borrower (noun) = a person who borrows | lend (verb) = allow another person to use money or some other thing that one owns with their agreement to return it later | lender (verb) = a person who lends

Quick Quiz:

The saying "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" is self-evidently not a philosophy of
  1. the library system
  2. the justice system
  3. the banking system

Answer:  c


Never do evil that good may come of it

Possible interpretation: Do not do something bad to achieve something good.

Note: evil (noun) = something very bad; sin; extreme wickedness | Conflicting proverb: "The end justifies the means."

Quick Quiz:

If the saying "Never do evil that good may come of it" is right, then
  1. it is sometimes ok to do something good
  2. it is sometimes ok to do something bad
  3. it is never ok to do something bad

Answer:  c


Never speak ill of the dead

Possible interpretation: Show respect to people who have died by not saying anything bad about them. Since dead people can no longer hurt us, or defend themselves, it is better to forget their bad actions and remember only their good ones.

Note: speak ill of (verb): criticize; speak badly about | the dead (noun): people who have died

Origin: This proverb has been traced back to Chilon of Sparta (6th century BC). The Latin version was "De mortuis nil nisi bonum" ("Of the dead say nothing but good").

Quick Quiz:

The saying "Never speak ill of the dead" recommends that we should not
  1. hope that ill people will die
  2. criticize ill people before they die
  3. criticize people who are no longer alive

Answer:  c


Never spur a willing horse

Possible interpretation: Don't urge someone who is already working well to work harder and faster. If you do, he may work less hard or be less eager.

Note: spur (verb): to urge a horse to move forward or go faster by using one's spurs | spur (noun): metal spike on the back of a horse-rider's boots | willing (adj.): ready or happy to do something

Quick Quiz:

If you should "never spur a willing horse", you shouldn't ask a good worker to work
  1. more willingly
  2. like a horse
  3. better

Answer:  c


No man is an island

Possible interpretation: Human beings do not (or should not) live in isolation. All people are interconnected. A person is not like an island, standing alone and surrounded by sea.

Note: island (noun) = a piece of land surrounded by water

Origin: This famous idea comes to us from Meditation XVII by John Donne (1572-1631): "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Quick Quiz:

"No man is an island" is a saying suggesting that we
  1. should not live on islands
  2. are responsible for each other
  3. are responsible only for ourselves

Answer:  b


No news is good news

Possible interpretation: If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly.

Note: This reminds us of the proverb "Bad news travels fast."

Quick Quiz:

If we accept that "no news is good news", then without information to the contrary we can assume that
  1. there is no good news
  2. all is not well
  3. all is well

Answer:  c


No pain, no gain

Possible interpretation: If we do not do hard work, and suffer some pain, we will achieve or gain nothing.

Word checkerpain (noun): hurt; very unpleasant physical feeling; mental suffering or distress
gain (noun): increase in wealth; increase in resources; accomplishment; attainment

Quick Quiz:

According to the saying "No pain, no gain",
  1. it is painful when we lose
  2. it is not painful when we win
  3. we can win only by suffering

Answer:  c


No reply is best

Possible interpretation: It is often advisable not to give any answer. Don't say no. Don't say yes. Say nothing.

Quick Quiz:

You might apply the proverb "No reply is best" when
  1. you don't know the answer to an exam question
  2. someone asks for something that you prefer not to give
  3. a tourist asks you the way

Answer:  b


None so blind as those who will not hear

Possible interpretation: Nobody is deafer than the person who decides he does not want to listen. Often used in reference to prejudice and intolerance.

Note: none (pronoun) = no person; no one | deaf (adj.) = unable to hear; not having the power of hearing | will (verb) = intend; desire [this is "will" used as a main verb, not as a modal auxiliary verb] | Also found as: "There are none so deaf as those who will not hear." There is a similar proverb: "None so blind as those who will not see."

Quick Quiz:

"None so deaf as those who will not hear" is a saying that refers to
  1. deaf people
  2. obstinate people
  3. ignorant people

Answer:  b


Nothing is certain but death and taxes

Possible interpretation: This saying may be seen in three ways: 1) We cannot be 100% sure about anything (except dying and having to pay the taxman - in this case the latter idea being added for humour). 2) We cannot escape taxation (in this case the idea of death serving only to highlight the certainty of taxes). 3) We can be absolutely sure that we will die (in this case the idea of taxes being added for humour). The first interpretation seems to have been the original intent (see Origin below).

Note: certain (adj.) = known for sure; beyond doubt | tax (noun) = a compulsory contribution to the government, usually in the form of money; taxes; taxation

Origin: This saying was supposedly first used by the American-born Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) in a letter to a friend: "Our Constitution is in actual operation. Everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."

Quick Quiz:

If "nothing is certain but death and taxes", we can be sure of
  1. two things
  2. everything
  3. nothing

Answer:  a



Nothing is impossible to a willing heart

Possible interpretation: Someone who is eager, keen and determined can achieve anything.

Note: willing (adj.): ready or happy to do something

Quick Quiz:

The proverb "Nothing is impossible to a willing heart" implies that someone who is ready and eager can do
  1. anything
  2. nothing
  3. something

Answer:  a


Nothing so certain as death

Possible interpretation: We can be 100% sure that we will die.

Note: certain (adj.) = known for sure; beyond doubt

Quick Quiz:

If there is "nothing so certain as death", we could say that dying is
  1. fashionable
  2. avoidable
  3. inevitable

Answer:  c


Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Possible interpretation: We can't expect to achieve anything if we never take any risks.

Note: venture (verb) = dare to do something that may be dangerous or risky | gain (verb) = obtain or win (something desired)

Quick Quiz:

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained" suggests that if we never take a risk we will never
  1. venture forward
  2. get into trouble
  3. succeed

Answer:  c