John Ray in his day was a widely celebrated naturalist who travelled extensively around the country cataloguing flora and fauna. During his travels, he became fascinated with proverbs and sayings of the people he met and the communities he stayed in. The result was his remarkable and highly popular book 'A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs'. Used to explain the observations of life and so illustrate the native wit and wisdom of the countryside. Love thy neighbour, but pull not down thou hedge Wink at the smallest faults Every cock is proud on his own dunghill Every path hath a puddle The mill cannot grind with the water that has past Better the last smile than the first laughter.