“Please all, and you will please none.”

“...convinced that in trying to please all, he had pleased none, and had lost his ass into the bargain.”

“once upon a time all the rivers combined to protest against the action of the sea in making their waters salt. "When we come to you," sad they to the sea, "we are sweet and drinkable; but when once we have mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your own." The sea replied shortly, "Keep away from me, and you'll remain sweet.”

“After all is said and done, more is said than done.”

“Thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find - nothing.”

“The more you want, the more you stand to lose”

“Expect no reward when you serve the wicked, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pain”