To the valiant actions speak alone.

There is not room to swing a cat.

A mere index hunter, who held the eel of science by the tail. Index-hunter is a term used mockingly, meaning one who acquires superficial knowledge merely by consulting indexes. The '[holding] the eel of science by the tail' allusion was used in 1728 by Alexander Pope (q.v.).

Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.

Some folks are wise and some are otherwise.

A mere index hunter, who held the eel of science by the tail.

I think for my part one half of the nation is mad - and the other not very sound.