Tibetan Proverbs

“By pride one causes virtue to decline.”

“Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts.”

“A lie is like a jump from a high roof.”

“No matter if you eat a little or a lot of garlic, the smell is just as strong.”

“The moon grows darker as it gets nearer to the sun.”

“Thieves never steal bells.”

“Master and servant — both have the same body odor.”

“The wish is father to the thought.”

“The wise understand by themselves, fools follow the reports of others.”

“To set fire to the wood, you need the help of the wind.”

“The person who gets stuck on petty happiness will not attain great happiness.”

“If you want to know your future, look at what you are doing in this moment.”

“Who can say with certainty that one will live to see the morrow?”

“Words are mere bubbles of water; deeds are drops of gold.”

“Excellent people are honored wherever they go.”

“Eat according to the limits of your provisions; walk according to the length of your step.”

German Proverbs

“A penny saved is a penny gained.”

“All’s well that ends well.”

“A word is enough to the wise.”

“Children and fools speak the truth.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“Forgive and forget.”

“Better ask twice than go wrong once.”

“A small gift is better than a great promise.”

“Forgive thyself nothing and others much.”

“Love cannot be bought or sold, its only price is love.”

“No tree falls at the first stroke.”

“Charity looks at the need and not at the cause.”

“One bad apple spoils the bunch.”

“One hand washes the other.”

“Out of sight out of mind.”

“Pearls of wisdom.”

“Practice makes perfect.”

“Proverbs are like butterflies, some are caught and some fly away.”

“Speak little, speak truth. Spend little, pay cash.”

“The sweetest grapes hang highest.”

“Time is the best counsellor.”

“A proverb never lies, it is only its meaning which deceives.”

Italian Proverbs

“All’s well that ends well.”

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

“A closed mouth catches no flies.”

“A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.”

“A forced kindness deserves no thanks.”

“‘They say so’, is half a lie.”

“A happy heart is better than a full purse.”

“A friend is not known till he is lost.”

“A blind man is not judge of colours.”

“A gold key opens every door.”

“A crown is no cure for the headache.”

“A golden cage does not feed the bird.”

“”Yes” and “no” govern the world.”

“All are brave when the enemy flies.”

“A fool throws a stone into a well, and it requires a hundred wise men to get it out again.”

“Among men of honour a word is a bond.”

“A burden that one chooses is not felt.”

“Better to ask than go astray.”

“A golden bit makes none the better horse.”

“Different times different manners.”

“Every rose has its thorn.”

“A gift with a kind countenance is a double present.”

“Do good, and care not to whom.”

“A dead man does not make war.”

“Every day has its night.”

“A fool can ask more questions than seven wise men can answer.”

“A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”

“Every promise is a debt.”

“A favor to come is better than a hundred received.”

“Friends in need are friends indeed.”

“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”

“Everybody’s friend, nobody’s friend.”

Portuguese Proverbs

“A word to the wise.”

“Eat to live, not live to eat.”

“Deeds are love, and not sweet words.”

“Every one reaps as he sows.”

“A fair-weather friend changes with the wind.”

“Like father, like son.”

“Love has no law.”

“Misery loves company.”

“One fool makes a hundred.”

“Tell me with whom thou goest, and I’ll tell thee what thou doest.”

“A word and a stone once let go cannot be recalled.”

“Spilt salt is never well collected.”

“Walls have ears.”

“Another’s bread costs dear.”

“Water washes everything.”

“Lovers’ quarrels are love redoubled.”

“Truth and oil come to the surface.”

“Better anticipate than be anticipated.”

“Every one is wise for his own profit.”

“Times passes like the wind.”

“Fair flowers do not remain long by the wayside.”

“Honour a good man that he may honour you, and a bad man that he may not dishonour you.”

“Even the most beautiful sheets have small flaws.”

“The sooner begun, the sooner done.”

“Third time is the charm.”

“If you laugh to-day, you will cry to-morrow.”

“Everybody’s friend or nobody’s friend, is all one.”

“Fine words don’t fill the belly.”

“Jack of all trades and master of none.”

Mexican Proverbs

“Where there are weapons, there will be wars.”

“As you see yourself, I once saw myself; as you see me now, you will be seen.”

“An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.”

“Conversation is food for the soul.”

“A person born to be a flower pot will not go beyond the porch.”

“He who does not venture has no luck.”

“The eleventh commandment: Thou shalt not contradict.”

“He who is accustomed to evil is offended by good.”

“The lion believes that everyone shares his state of mind.”

“The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman.”

“Cleanliness is the luxury of the poor.”

“If you give away what you have, you will not yearn for what you see.”

“The envious never give praise, they only take it in.”

“He who doesn’t look ahead remains behind.”

“Love is too rare to be lost on jealousy.”

“It’s not the fault of the mouse, but of the one who offers him the cheese.”

“Let the water you cannot drink flow by.”

“God did not give wings to scorpions.”

“The right time to dine is: for the rich man, when he is hungry; and for the poor, when he has something to eat.”

“Agreements should be clearly expressed, and chocolate should be served thick.”

“Though a cage may be made of gold, it is still a cage.”

“Never confuse gratitude with love.”

“We are all made of the same clay, but not from the same mold.”

“Everyone makes firewood of a fallen tree.”

“Tell me what you want to buy and I will tell you what you are.”

“He who divides and shares is left with the best share.”

“Fortune is like a wall that falls on those who lean on it.”

“One string is good enough to a good musician.”

“Nobody leaves this world alive.”

“Never ask God to give you anything; ask Him to put you where things are.”

“Necessity is a great teacher.”

“He who doesn’t speak will get no help from God.”

“Do good and don’t worry to whom.”

“God is bigger than your problems.”

French Proverbs

“A penny spared is a penny saved.”

“A bully is always a coward.”

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

“He who does no more than another is no better than another.”

“A fortunate man may be anywhere.”

“Let every man mind his own business.”

“A good hope is better than a bad possession.”

“If there is still doubt do not accuse.”

“A mewing cat is never a good mouser.”

“The best mirror is an old friend.”

“Beggars must not be choosers.”

“A friend to everybody and to nobody is the same thing.”

“Opportunity only knocks once.”

“For want of a nail the shoe is lost.”

“A monkey remains a monkey, though dressed in silk.”

“Do not lose honour through fear.”

“Command your wealth, else that will command you.”

“A person who talks a lot is sometimes right.”

“Cut your coat according to your cloth.”

“He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin.”

“Compare your griefs with those of other men and they will seem less.”

Kurdish Proverbs

“For every wise man there is one still wiser.”

“Habit becomes second nature.”

“He who wants pearls has to dive into the sea.”

“It is easier to make a camel jump a ditch than to make a fool listen to reason.”

“If you cannot build a town, build a heart.”

“Kind words will unlock an iron door.”

“See with your mind, hear with your heart.”

“It is more difficult to contend with oneself than with the world.”

“Many will show you the way once your cart has overturned.”

“Loneliness is a nest for the thoughts.”

“Of everything else the newest; of friends, the oldest.”

“No means, no market.”

“Of evil grain no good seed can come.”

“Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once.”

“Some will enjoy the honey, others will have to put up with the sting.”

“Not every cloud brings rain.”

“Only by falling do you learn how to mount a horse.”

“No matter where you go, your destiny follows you.”

“Part with your head, but not with your secret.”

“Those who do not go to war roar like lions.”

“The devil takes a hand in what is done in haste.”

“Once a friend, always a friend.”

“Search yourself, and you will find Allah.”

“Stairs are climbed step by step.”

“What you give away you keep.”

“A threat does not lengthen your sword.”

“A visitor comes with ten blessings, eats one, and leaves nine.”

“Fear an ignorant man more than a lion.”

“Do not throw the arrow which will return against you.”

Turkish Proverbs

“Tomorrow is another day.”

“You cannot get into Paradise without a guide.”

“What flares up fast, extinguishes soon.”

“‘If’ and ‘when’ were planted, and ‘nothing’ grew.”

“One arrow does not bring down two birds.”

“For the birds that cannot soar, God has provided low branches.”

“The dog that is going to bite does not show its teeth.”

“Even though you know a thousand things, ask the man who knows one.”

“Silence is music to a wise man.”

“Death is the black camel that kneels before every door.”

“A weapon is an enemy even to its owner.”

“Everything is worn out with usage; except for experience.”

“God postpones, he does not overlook.”

“A hungry dog will bring a lion down.”

“A liar’s house is on fire and no one believes him.”

“You don’t wash blood away with blood but with water.”

“A knife wound heals; a wound caused by words does not.”

“Gold takes no rust.”

“Do not search for a calf under an ox.”

“Gold that is lent goes away laughing and comes back in tears.”

“Do not leave to the morning the business of the evening.”

“Good actions are never lost.”

“He that considers in prosperity; will be less afflicted in adversity.”

“A building without foundation is soon demolished.”

“He that converses not knows nothing.”

“The eagle does not feed on flies.”

“If a stone falls on an egg, it is bad for the egg; if an egg falls onto a stone, it is still bad for the egg.”

“Don’t say amen to an unacceptable prayer.”

“Good advice is given; good esteem is no given.”

“He that falls by himself never cries.”

“A friend is one soul in two bodies.”

“Don’t speak sweet words when your deeds are of stone.”

“A prudent man will read the letter from back to front.”

“Even too much praise is a burden.”

“Even if the whole world conspired against you — that would not inflict a quarter of the harm you inflict yourself.”

“A horse knows his rider by his spurs.”

“He who lives on hope, dies of starvation.”

“He that falls today may be up again tomorrow.”

“A man will sacrifice his head to conquer a heart.”

“Don’t sell the fish that is still swimming in the ocean.”

“A defeated wrestler is not tired of wrestling.”

“He that speaks, sows; he that hears, reaps.”

“One hour of justice is worth seventy hours of prayer.”

“The bear knows seven songs and they are all about honey.”

“You can proclaim the truth also in a friendly way.”

“The earth has ears, the wind has a voice.”

“If the lady of the house breaks something it is an unfortunate accident; if the servant does, then it is a terrible disaster.”

“Sorrow is to the soul what the worm is to wood.”

“One hour of justice is worth seventy hours of prayer.”

“Who gossips to you will gossip about you.”

“It matters less to a person where they are born than where they can live.”

“Sighs never fall on the ground.”

“Tell a lie on Saturday and you will be ashamed on Sunday.”

“Satan’s friendship reaches the prison door.”

“Keep the tongue in your mouth a prisoner.”

“Abundance doesn’t know contentment, but contentment is abundance.”

“He that conceals his grief finds no remedy for it.”

“A person does not seek luck; luck seeks the person.”

“Heaven was inspired by the first judge to take a bribe.”

“He that speaks without care shall remember with sorrow.”

“Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant.”

“Honey is one thing, the price is another.”

“There are many words that are like salted jam.”

“A true word needs no oath.”

“He who has no children has one sorrow, he who has children has a thousand sorrows.”

“A man without grief is not a man.”

“He who knows much makes many mistakes.”

“Abundance is from activity.”

“A stupid friend is a greater plague than a wise enemy.”

“He who gives little gives from his heart; he who gives much gives from his wealth.”

“Call the bear ‘Uncle’ till you are safe across the bridge.”

“Better your enemy who you recognize than a dark friend.”

“The rose comes from the thorns that were born of roses.”

“Hawks will not pick out hawk’s eyes.”

“He ran away from the rain and was caught in a hailstorm.”

“Cotton cannot play with fire.”

“To a good rider, right or left makes no difference.”

“He who controls his tongue, saves his head.”

“To listen to a lie is harder than to tell it.”

“There is no right way to do a wrong thing.”

“Never become a teacher where you yourself were a pupil.”

“In our eyes the neighbor’s chicken is a goose.”

“One eats, another watches; that’s how revolutions are born.”

“Measure a thousand times and cut once.”

“There is no reply to the ignorant like keeping silence.”

“In the company of the blind, close your eyes.”

“None is so rich as that he can throw away a friend.”

“No flock without a dog and shepherd.”

“No camel route is long with good company.”

“The raven sees its chickens as falcons.”

“Man is his own mirror.”

“Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose.”

“A thousand years hence the river will run as it did.”

“He that fears danger in time seldom feels it.”

“Everyone admires his own character.”

“A tongue has no bones but it can break.”

“The most difficult master is the servant who became master.”

“Before you love, learn to run through snow without leaving footprints.”

“A thousand regrets do not cancel one debt.”

“A ship with two captains sinks.”

“He who asks for alms blushes once; he who refuses, twice.”

“Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak.”

“No matter how far down a wrong road you are, turn back.”

“The gardener who loves roses is slave to a thousand thorns.”

“Vinegar that costs nothing is sweeter than honey.”