50 Pearls of Wisdom passed down the generations

Those little phrases that annoy children so much have been passed from mother to daughter for generations.

In fact, the average mother will pass on 41 ‘pearls of wisdom’ to her children, with – always try your best –  being the most common one.

Clintons polled 2,000 people to see what advice they remembered hearing from their own mothers.

Apparently’ don’t come running to me when you have broken your leg’ didn’t make it.

The top 50 ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ were:

Always try your best
If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all
Get an education – no-one can take that away from you
Eat with your mouth closed
If you don’t ask you don’t get
Never spend money you don’t have
Never take sweets from strangers
Smile
Never swim on a full stomach
Treat people with respect
Always wear clean underwear
You never get something for nothing
I want never gets
Put money aside for a rainy day
Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself
There’s no such word as ‘can’t’
Practise makes perfect
Mind your p’s and q’s
Never stare at people it’s rude
Watching too much TV will make your eyes go square
Mum knows best
Look after your pennies and the pennies will look after you
Be true to yourself
Always eat your breakfast
You only get out of life what you put into it
Never drink on an empty stomach
Courtesy and compassion cost nothing
Never leave the house with wet hair
Look up things you don’t know the answer to
Never go to bed on an argument
Receive compliments gracefully
Life’s too short to be unhappy
Don’t eat cheese before bedtime
Always hold the door open
Never give up
Manners maketh the man
The grass is never greener
Give compliments easily
Never offer lifts to strangers
Always have two months’ rent / mortgage saved
Men are very different creatures to women
Don’t eat in the street
Always moisturise before bedtime
Always use your ears
Always keep a blanket in the car boot
Your friends are forever but men come and go
Never let your petrol tank go lower than a quarter full
The couple that plays together stays together
Set your watch two minutes fast
Always carry an umbrella with you