it is easier to pull down than to build up
- it is easier to pull down than to build up
1577 R. STANYHURST Hist. Ireland in Holinshed Chronicles 89 It is easie to raze, but hard to buylde.
1587 J. BRIDGES Defence of Government in Church of England VI. 518 We may quicklier pull downe with one hande, than wee can easilie builde againe with both.
1644 J. HOWELL Dodona’s Grove 134 In politicall affaires, as well as mechanicall, it is farre easier to pull downe, then build up.
1909 Times 29 Apr. 9 Turkey and her new rulers..have astonished those who thought they knew the Turks best by..the vigour..with which the great change has been conducted... But it is easier always and everywhere to pull down than to build up.
1932 C. BROGAN Ghost Walks 22 Some of the local boys tried it in the usual way. You know the kind of thing ‘...the fair fame of our city is impugned, the great achievements of our forefathers are being distorted by a morbid mind, it is easier to knock down than build up,’ and so on.
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To pull down — Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
build — see fools build houses and wise men live in them where God builds a church, the devil will build a chapel it is easier to pull down than to build up Rome was not built in a day … Proverbs new dictionary
pull — see it is easier to pull down than to build up … Proverbs new dictionary
Pull — Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows. Shak.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To pull a finch — Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To pull and haul — Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To pull off — Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
easy — see easy come, easy go easy does it it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog it is easy to be wise after the event it is easier to pull down than to build up it is easier to raise the devil than to lay him … Proverbs new dictionary
Pulled — Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pulled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pulling}.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. [1913 Webster] Ne er pull your hat upon your brows.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
