Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.
Remarks about the translation
These are two Italian proverbs that I have come across and would like to have them translated into their original Italian. The first one basically says that if someone doesn't know much, it doesn't take long for them to make it apparent. The second one is basically saying that there is a big time difference between saying and doing (if this makes sense...). Thanks!
ellasevia, that "many" in the second line doesn't fit. Are you sure you've seen it that way?
I think it would be either 'many pairs of shoes are worn out" or simply 'a pair of shoes is worn out'
I am absolutely positive that I have seen it this way. Moreover, I am a native speaker of English and it makes perfect sense there. This is more of an older and more formal way of saying it. For example, someone might say:
"Oh, don't worry; I have done that myself many a time."
It's the same thing here.