英语中与智慧有关的习语十分普遍，了解它们对于提高我们的英语水平很有帮助。下面就是一些常见的相关习语。

　　1. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

　　直译为“一盎司的预防胜过一英镑的治疗”。其意思就是从一开始就细心准备，考虑周全的话，就不会失败。这句话十分地道，形象。下面有一个例子：

　　A: Don’t you think you should deal with this problem now?

　　B: I will do something about it tomorrow.

　　A: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

　　2. Appearances are deceiving.

　　这则典故出自伊索寓言中《老鼠与狮子》中的教训，告诫人们外表是欺骗人的东西。同样这句话也可以说成“Looks are deceiving.”下面是一个例子：

　　A: How’s Alice doing? Are you going to fire her?

　　B: Appearances are deceiving. She’s the best assistant I have.

　　A: Really? I didn’t think she could do anything.

　　3. Brevity is the soul of wit.

　　这是莎翁名著《哈姆雷特》中的人物尼斯的著名台词，意思是“简洁是智慧的精髓。”这句话对人说话，写作等都有重要的启迪。

　　A: I’m supposed to give a speech today. Do you have any advice?

　　B: Just remember, brevity is the soul of wit.

　　4. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

　　按照字面意思来看，这句话是说一次被骗是骗者的羞耻；两次被骗是受骗者的羞耻。其实是在告戒人们要善于吸取教训，引以为戒，否则一再受到损失就是自己的问题。下面给大家一个例子：

　　A: I did a stupid thing. I lent John some money.

　　B: Again? This is the third time.

　　A: I know. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

　　5. Rules are made to be broken.

　　这句话源自1953年Arthur C. Clarke的 Expedition to Earth中的话告诫人们要摆脱思想的束缚敢于创新和挑战。

　　A: Let’s order a pizza for meeting.

　　B: But there’s a rule against eating in the office.

　　A: Rules are made to be broken.

　　6. The best thing comes in small packages.

　　这是用于送礼物的说法，意思是放在小箱子里的礼物总是珍贵的。有时也可以说“Precious diamonds come in small packages.”

　　A: What did George give you?

　　B: I don’t know, but this package is so tiny.

　　A: The best thing comes in small packages.

　　当然这只是有关智慧的习语的一部分，平时学习中我们可以多加积累，不仅对提高英语水平有帮助，而且可以帮助我们深入了解英语国家的文化。