Speech was given to Man to disguise his thoughts. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. There is no smoke without fire. There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Silence is golden. There is no leaping from Deliah's lap into Abraham's bosom. You are thinking of Parmenio and I of Alexander. A bad excuse is better than none. Barking dogs seldom bite.