VAIN thoughts are vagrants, and must not be lodged. “How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? “ — Jeremiah 4:14.

Vainglory blooms abundantly, but fruits sparingly. Vanity has no greater foe than vanity.

In this case dog eats dog: one proud person hates another.

Vanity is a blue-bottle, which buzzes in the window of the wise. Aristotle once said to a conceited fellow, “Young man, I wish I were what you think yourself to be, and my enemies what you really are.” Even so great a sage was annoyed by a feel.

Velvet paws hide sharp claws.

Very soft and pretty speeches are often intended to cover hard and cruel meanings.

Venture a sprat re, catch a herring.

Venture not on one night’s ice.

It will rarely be strong enough to bear you. New schemes and methods should not be trusted hastily. See whether they are safe.

Very cheap is mostly very dear.

Very few herrings are caught on Newmarket Heath.

We must look for things in their proper places. We shall never find true pleasure in sin, nor rest in self, nor gain in gambling.

Very hard times in the wood when the wolves eat each other.

When men who live upon the public take to devouring each other, things are probably going very badly with them.

Very like a whale in a butter-boat.

Something very wonderful; toe, much cried up to be true. When any tell a mighty tale, I answer, “Very like a whale.” ‘Vexation treads on the heels of vanity.

Vice is learned without a schoolmaster.

Yes, and all the more surely without schooling. “Virtue in the middle,” said the devil, when seated between two lawyers.

A very old proverb, referring to lawyers centuries ago (?).

Virtue is a jewel of great price.

No doubt. But how do the poor come by it? It is neither to be bought nor sold: but it is the work of God.

Virtue is the reward of virtue.

By doing well we learn to do still better. Virtue ranks above rank. Virtue will homage gain in humble shed; While vice enthroned becomes a nation’s dread.

Virtue soiled is virtue spoiled.

Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms. Vox Populi, vox Dei.

The voice of the people is rite voice of God. By no means certain, for the people cried, “Crucify him.” Yet that which is generally desired by the people is pretty sure to come to pass sooner or later.

SAYINGS OF A MORE SPIRITUAL SORT.

Vainglory easily creeps in even at the door of mercy. “One says, such a nobleman drank to me, shook me ‘by the hand, discoursed with me; and hereby he insinuates to the hearers some worthiness in himself, for which he was so graced. So some, in declaring God’s works and favors to them, have a conceit of merit in themselves, deserving such respect.” — Thomas Adams.