A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the worse you beat them, the better they’ll be

Similar English and Irish sayings:

He that’s resolved to beat a dog, never wants long a stick He that’s resolved to beat a dog, never wants long a stick
He who has a mind to beat a dog will easily find a stick He who has a mind to beat a dog will easily find a stick
Be it for better, be it for worse, do you after him that bears the purse Be it for better, be it for worse, do you after him that bears the purse

Proverbs and English sayings