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A comprehensive collection of proverbs and sayings from national and cultural perspectives around the world.

- A - Abundance, like want, ruins many.      Romanian Proverb Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.      Romanian Proverb Advice is least heeded when most needed.      English Proverb After dark all cats are leopards.      Native American Proverb (Zuni) After lunch; rest; after dinner walk a mile.      Arab Proverb After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.       Italian Proverb The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.       Swedish Proverb After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless.      Chinese proverb After victory, tighten your helmet chord.      Japanese Proverb All roads lead to Rome.      Roman Proverb All roads do not lead to Rome.       Slovenian Proverb All sins cast long shadows.       Irish Proverb All things good to know are difficult to learn.      Greek Proverb All sunshine makes the desert.      Arab Proverb An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.       Arab Proverb An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.      Romanian Proverb An iron rod bends while it is hot.      Greek Proverb The anvil fears no blows.      Romanian Proverb Ask a lot, but take what is offered.      Russian Proverb Ask about your neighbors, then buy the house.      Jewish Proverb Ask the experienced rather than the learned.      Arabic proverb Avoid the evil, and it will avoid thee.      Gaelic Proverb

- B - Bad is never good until worse happens.       Danish Proverb Bed is the poor man's opera.      Italain Proverb The beginning is the half of every action.       Greek Proverb Be happy while you're living, For you're a long time dead.      Scottish Proverb Behind an able man there are always other able men.       Chinese Proverb Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.      Italian Proverb Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.      Chinese Proverb Be on your guard against a silent dog and still water.       Latin Proverb Be Prepared      Boy Scout Motto Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.      Scottish Proverb The best armor is to keep out of range.      Italian Proverb Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant..      Turkish Proverb Better a mouse in the pot than no meat at all.      Romanian Proverb Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one.      Scottish Proverb Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness      Chinese Proverb Better be quarreling than lonesome.       Irish Proverb Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.       Italian Proverb Beware of a man of one book.      English Proverb Beware of a man's shadow and a bee's sting.      Burmese Proverb Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.      Benjamin Franklin The big thieves hang the little ones.      Czech Proverb The blind man is laughing at the bald head.       Persian Proverb A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.      Chinese Proverb By asking for the impossible, obtain the best possible.      Italian Proverb By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.       Latin Proverb

- C - Call on God, but row away from the rocks.      Indian Proverb Children are a poor man's wealth.      Danish Proverb The church is near, but the way is icy, The tavern is far, but I will walk carefully.      Ukranian Proverb A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood      Chinese Proverb Complain to one who can help you.      Yugoslav Proverb Confessed faults are half mended.      Scottish Proverb The country rooster dows not crow in the town.      African(Swahili) Proverb The crow that mimics a cormorant is drowned.       Japanese Proverb Cuando amor no es locura, no es amor. (When love is not madness, it is not love.)       Spanish Proverb

- D - Danger and delight grow on one stalk.       English Proverb Deceive the rich and powerful if you will, but don't insult them.       Japanese Proverb The deeper the sorrow the less tongue it hath.       The Talmud Deliberate often--decide once.       Latin Proverb A dimple in the chin; a devil within.       Irish Proverb The doctor is to be feared more than the disease.       Latin Proverb The dog's kennel is not the place to keep a sausage.      Danish Proverb The dog wags his tail, not for you, but for your bread.      Portuguese Proverb Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.       Miscellaneous Proverb Do not bathe if there is no water.      Shan Proverb Do not be in a hurry to tie what you cannot untie.      English Proverb Do not employ handsome servants.      Chinese Proverb Do not lengthen the quarrel while there is an opportunity of escaping.       Latin Proverb Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.      Czech Proverb Do not push the river, it will flow by itself.      Polish Proverb Do not put your spoon into the pot which does not boil for you.      Romanian Proverb Do not speak of a rhinoceros if there is no tree nearby.       African(Zulu) Proverb Do not stand in a place of danger trusting in miracles.       Arab Proverb Do not throw the arrow which will return against you.      Kurdish Proverb Do not wrong or hate your neighbor for it is not he that you wrong but yourself.      Native American Proverb (Pima) Don't be too sweet lest you be eaten up; don't be too bitter lest you be spewed out.      Jewish Proverb Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork.       English Proverb Don't empty the water jar until the rain falls.      Philippine Proverb Don't fall before you're pushed.      English Proverb Don't let your sorrow come higher than your knees.      Sweedish Proverb Don't live in a town where there are no doctors.      Jewish Proverb Don't make use of another's mouth unless it has been leant to you.      Belgian Proverb Don't offer me advice; give me money      Spanish Proverb Don't open a shop unless you know how to smile.      Jewish Proverb Don't run too far, you will have to return the same distance.      Biblical Proverb Don't shake the tree when the pears fall off themselves.      Slovakian Proverb Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.      Spanish Proverb Don't stay long when the husband is not at home.       Japanese Proverb Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.      Malayan Proverb Don't throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.       Sweedish Proverb Drink nothing without seeing it; Sign nothing without reading it.      Spanish Proverb Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire.      Arab proverb

- E - Eat and drink with your relatives; do business with strangers.      Greek Proverb Eating and scratching want but a beginning.      Romanian Proverb Eating while seated makes one of large size; eating while standing makes one strong.       Hindu Proverb Employ thy time well if thou meanest to get leisure.      Benjamin Franklin The enemy of my enemy is my friend.       Arab Proverb Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think.      Chinese Proverb Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day.       Polish Proverb Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.       Miscellaneous Prover Every animal knows more than you do.      Native American Proverb (Nez Perce) Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother.       Moorish Proverb Every invalid is a doctor.      Irish Proverb Everyone thinks his own burden heavy.      French Proverb Every path has its puddle.      English Proverb Every peasant is proud of the pond in his village because from it he measures the sea.      Russian Proverb Every road has two directions.       Russian Proverb Everything passes, everything wears out, everything breaks. (tout passe, tout lasse, tout casse)       French Proverb Examine what is said, not him who speaks.       Arab Proverb Experience is the comb that nature gives us when we are bald.      Belgian proverb The eyes are the window of the soul.       English Proverb The eyes believe themselves; the ears believe other people.       German Proverb

- F - Fall seven times, stand up eight.      Japanese Proverb Fast Ripe, Fast Rotten.      Japanese Proverb A father is a banker provided by nature.       French Proverb Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours.      Swedish proverb Fear not a jest. If one throws salt at you, you will not be harmed unless you have sore places.      Latin Proverb First deserve, and then desire.       English Proverb The first drink with water, the second without water, the third like water.      Spanish Proverb First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.      Greek Proverb Fish or cut bait.      American Proverb Fish, to taste good, must swim three times: in water, in butter, and in wine.      Polish Proverb A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.      Miscellaneous Proverb A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.       Miscellaneous Proverb A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control       Miscellaneous Proverb A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.       Miscellaneous Proverb Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.      Chinese Proverb From a fallen tree, all make kindling.      Spanish Proverb From a thorn comes a rose, and from a rose comes a thorn.      Greek Proverb A full cup must be carried steadily.      English Proverb

- G - Get what you can and keep what you have; that's the way to get rich.      Scottish Proverb Give to a pig when it grunts and a child when it cries , and you will have a fine pig and a bad child.      Danish Proverb Go and wake up your cook.      Arab Proverb The go-between wears out a thousand sandals.       Japanese Proverb God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.      Jewish Proverb God gives the nuts but he does not crack them.      German Proverb God sells knowledge for labour -- honour for risk.      Arabic Proverb God will be present, whether asked or not.      Latin Proverb God gave teeth; He will give bread.      Lithuanian Proverb God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.      Jewish Proverb Good fences make good neighbors.      American Proverb Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.      Spanish Proverb Goodness shouts. Evil whispers.      Balinese Proverb Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts.      Tibetan proverb Go often to the house of a friend; for weeds soon choke up the unused path.      A paraphrase of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American Transcendentalist Another opinion on this quote: Alan Walker states "this particular proverb is part of the 'Lay Of Loddfafnir' in the Viking Edda, and is spoken by the god Odin to one of his initiates". Thanks Alan! A good painter need not give a name to his picture, a bad one must.      Polish Proverb Gossip needs no carriage.       Russian Proverb Gratitude is the heart's memory.      French Proverb The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's.      Polish Proverb Great men are not always wise.       Biblical Proverb A guest sees more in an hour than the host in a year.       Polish Proverb

- H - A half-truth is a whole lie.      Jewish Proverb The hammer shatters glass but forges steel.      Russian Proverb A handfull of patience is worth a bushel of brains.       Dutch Proverb Happiness is like a sunbeam, which the least shadow intercepts, while adversity is often as the rain of spring.      Chinese Proverb A heart in love with beauty never grows old.       Turkish Proverb The heart that loves is always young.       Greek Proverb He fishes well who uses a golden hook.       Latin Proverb He is rich who owes nothing.      French Proverb He that does not ask will never get a bargain.      French Proverb He that is of a merry heart hasth a continual feast.       Biblical Proverb He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.       Biblical Proverb He who is outside his door already has a hard part of his journey behind him.      Dutch Proverb He who must die, must die in the dark, even though he sells candles.      Colombian Proverb He who says what he likes will hear what he does not like.      English Proverb He who searches for pearls should not sleep.      Lybian Proverb He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.       Persian Proverb He who would rule must hear and be deaf, see and be blind.      German Proverb He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.       Chinese Proverb He who builds by the roadside has many surveyors.      Italian Proverb He who doesn't risk never gets to drink champagne.      Russian Proverb He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.      Arab Proverb He who hurries can not walk with dignity.      Chinese Proverb He who is not impatient is not in love.       Italian Proverb He who knows little quickly tells it.      Italian Proverb He who knows nothing doubts nothing.       Italian Proverb He who puts up with insult invites injury.      Jewish Proverb He who respects his parents never dies.      Greek Proverb He who sows peas on the highway does not get all the pods into his barn.      Danish Proverb He who undertakes too much seldom succeeds.      Dutch Proverb He who would leap far must first take a long run.      Danish Proverb Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?       Benjamin Franklin Hours are Time's shafts, and one comes winged with death.      Scottish Clock Motto -I- If a man is destined to drown, he will drown even in a spoonful of water.      Yiddish Proverb If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.      Benjamin Franklin If there is no wind, row.      Latin Proverb If three people say you are an ass, put on a bridle.      Spanish Proverb If work were good for you, the rich would leave none for the poor.      Haitian proverb If you are a host to your guest, be a host to his dog also.      Russian Proverb If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.      Chinese Proverb If you bow at all, bow low.      Chinese Proverb Za dvumya zaitsami pogonish'sya, ne odnogo ne poimaesh'. (If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.) Russian Proverb If you can't go over, you must go under.       Jewish Proverb If you can't lick 'em, join 'em.      American Proverb If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of he game, the stakes, and the quitting time.      Chinese proverb If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.       Khalil Gibran If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself.      Native American Proverb (Minquass) If you scatter thorns, don't go barefoot.       Italian Proverb If you see in your wine the reflection of a person not in your range of vision, don't drink it.      Chinese Proverb If you want to be respected, you must respect yourself.       Spanish Proverb If you want your dreams to come true, don't sleep.       Yiddish Proverb If you want your eggs hatched, sit on them yourself.      Haitian proverb If you wish good advice, consult an old man.      Romanian Proverb If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.       Benjamin Franklin If you would live healthy, be old early.      Spanish Proverb If you would be pope, you must think of nothing else.      Spanish Proverb If you suspect a man, don't employ him, and if ypu employ him, don't suspect him.       Chinese Proverb If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.      Benjamin Franklin If youth but had the knowledge and old age the strength.       French Proverb Ignorance is bliss.      American Proverb In case of doubt it is best to lean to the side of mercy.      Legal Proverb In reviling, it is not necessary to prepare a preliminary draft.      Chinese Proverb In times of prosperity friends will be plenty, in times of adversity not one in twenty.       English Proverb In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed are kings      Macedonian Proverb Thanks Margarita for submitting this one! -ed In the morning be first up, and in the evening last to go to bed, for they that sleep catch no fish.       English Proverb It is easier to pull down than to build up.       Latin Proverb It is not a fish until it is on the bank.      Irish Proverb It is not enough to aim.; you must hit.      Italian Proverb It is the great north wind that made the Vikings.      Scandanavian Proverb It is the part of a good shepherd to shear his flock, not to skin it.      Latin Proverb -J- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.      Chinese Proverb Judge not the horse by his saddle.      Chinese Proverb -K- Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve.      Chinese Proverb -L- L'amour fait passer les temps. Les temps faite passer l'amour. (Love makes time pass. Time makes love pass.)      French Sundial Motto A lean agreement is better than a fat lawsuit.      German Proverb Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.      Chinese Proverb. Let every fox take care of his own tail.      Italian Proverb Let him make use of instinct who cannot make use of reason.      English Proverb Let no man deceive you with vain words.       Biblical Proverb Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way.      Native American Proverb (Blackfoot) Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf.      Native American Proverb Listen to all, plucking a feather from every passing goose, but, follow no one absolutely.      Chinese Proverb A little pot boils easily.      Dutch Proverb Live together like brothers and do business like strangers.      Arab Proverb Live with wolves, and you learn to howl.      Spanish Proverb Live your own life, for you will die your own death.      Latin Proverb Lomhlaba Unzima, Lohmhlaba. [This world is a harsh place, this world.]       Zulu Proverb Long absent, soon forgotten.      Romanian Proverb Look for the good, not the evil, in the conduct of members of the family.      Jewish Proverb Love and eggs are best when they are fresh.       Russian Proverb Love is like dew that falls on both nettles and lilies.      Swedish Proverb Love rules without rules.      Italian Proverb Love tells us many things that are not so.       Ukranian Proverb Love your neighbor, but don't tear down your fence.       German Proverb The loveliest of faces are to be seen by moonlight, when one sees half with the eye and half with the fancy.       Persian Proverb -M- Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.      Chinese Proverb Make sure to be in with your equals if you're going to fall out with your superiors.      Jewish Proverb Man has responsiblity, not power.      Native American Proverb (Tuscarora) A man is not where he lives, but where he loves.      Latin Proverb A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart, his next to escape the censures of the world.      English Proverb The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.      Chinese Proverb Many men know how to flatter, few men know how to praise. Greek Proverb Measure a thousand times and cut once.      Turkish Proverb -N- Never advise anyone to go to war or to marry.      Spanish Proverb Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.      Chinese Proverb Never draw your dirk when a blow will do it.      Scottish Proverb Never fall out with your bread and butter.      English Proverb Never give advice in a crowd.      Arab Proverb Never give advice unless asked.      German Proverb Never rely on the glory of the morning or the smiles of your mother-in-law.      Japanese Proverb Never squat with your spurs on.      Texan Proverb Never trust the man who tells you all his troubles but keeps from you all his joys.       Jewish Proverb Never write a letter while you are angry.      Chinese Proverb Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.       American Proverb No call alligator long mouth till you pass him.      Jamaican Proverb No need to teach an eagle to fly.      Greek Proverb      No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.      Taoist Proverb No one is rich enough to do without a neighbor.      Danish Proverb -O- Observe your enemies, for they first find your faults.      Greek Proverb One does evil enough when one does nothing good.      German Proverb One drink is just right; two is too many; three are too few.      Spanish Proverb One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it.      French Proverb One should be just as careful in choosing one's pleasures as in avoiding calamities.      Chinese Proverb Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.      Indian Proverb -P- Pray, pray very much; but beware of telling God what you want.      French Proverb -R- Ready money works great cures.      French Proverb The reverse side also has a reverse side.      Japanese Proverb A rich man has no need of character.       Hebrew Proverb -S- Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.       American Proverb Set a thief to catch a thief.      French Proverb Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.      Sweedish Proverb Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves.      Italian Proverb Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get.      Spanish Proverb A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.       Chinese Proverb The sinning is the best part of repentance.      Arabic Proverb Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.      African Proverb A snake deserves no pity.      Yiddish Proverb Speak of the devil and he appears.       Italian Proverb Spread the table and contention will cease.      English Proverb -T- Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.      Native American Proverb A true friend, is one that will take a bullet for you in the war.      Italian Proverb Kindly submitted to quotesandsayings.com by Massimo Raimondi, from a book on Mussolini Tell me who's your friend and I'll tell you who you are.      Russian proverb There is a pinch of the madman in every great man.      French Proverb There is no flying without wings.       French Proverb There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.      French Proverb There is nothing hidden between Heaven and Earth      Venezuelan Proverb There wouldn't be such a thing as counterfeit gold if there were no real gold somewhere.      Sufi Proverb Those who have free seats at a play hiss first.       Chinese Proverb Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas.      Italian Proverb Though a tree grow ever so high, the falling leaves return to the ground.      Malayan Proverb Three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who thinks he is wise.      Welsh Proverb To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.      Chinese Proverb To change and change for the better are two different things.      German Proverb To deceive a diplomat speak the truth, he has no experience with it.       Greek Proverb To know and to act are one and the same.       Samurai Proverb To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.      Chinese Proverb A tree never hits an automobile except in self defense.       American Proverb Trumpet in a herd of elephants; crow in the company of cocks; bleat in a flock of goats.      Malayan Proverb Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.       Maori proverb -U- Under a ragged coat lies wisdom.      Romanian Proverb Under a tattered cloak you will generally find a good drinker.       Spanish Proverb Use power to curb power.      Chinese Proverb Use soft words and hard arguments.       English Proverb Use your enemy's hand to catch a snake.      Persian Proverb -V- Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare.      Japanese Proverb Vulnerant omnia, ultima necat. (All the [hours] wound you, the last one kills)      Latin Proverb -W- Wait until it is night before saying that it has been a fine day.      French Proverb Walk till the blood appears on the cheek, but not the sweat on the brow.       Spanish Proverb We know the worth of a thing when we have lost it.      French Proverb What may be done at any time will be done at no time.      Scottish Proverb We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.      French Proverb What the heart thinks, the tongue speaks.      Romanian Proverb What the people believe is true.      Native American Proverb (Anishinabe)      What was hard to endure is sweet to recall. French Proverb What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth.      Jewish Proverb What you give you get, ten times over.      Yoruba Proverb When a blind man carries a lame man, both go forward.       Swedish proverb When an elephant is in trouble even a frog will kick him.       Hindu Proverb When anger rises, think of the consequences.      Confucius When a thing is done, advice comes too late.      Romanian Proverb When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.      Chinese Proverb When friends ask, there is no tomorrow.       Miscellaneous Proverb When in doubt, Gallop!       Proverb of the French Foreign Legion When one shuts one eye, one does not hear everything.      Swiss Proverb When spiders unite they can tie down a lion.      Ethiopian Proverb When the fox preaches, look to the geese.      German Proverb When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.      African Proverb When two quarrel, both are to blame.      Dutch Proverb When we cannot get what we love, we must love what is within our reach.      French Proverb When you go to buy, use your eyes, not your ears.      Czech Proverb When you have no choice, mobilize the spirit of courage.      Jewish Proverb When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.      Chinese Proverb When you throw dirt, you lose ground.      Texan Proverb When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet.      Chinese Proverb Where God has his church the Devil will have his chapel.       Spanish Proverb Where there is a sea there are pirates.       Greek Proverb Where there is love, there is pain.      Spanish Proverb Where there are no swamps there are no frogs.      German Proverb Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.       Confucius Who depends on another man's table often dines late.       Italian Proverb Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.      Spanish Proverb The whisper of a pretty girl can be heard further than the roar of a lion.       Arab Proberb Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one.       Japaneses Proverb The wise man has long ears and a short tongue.      German Proverb The woman cries before the wedding and the man after.       Polish Proverb Words must be weighed, not counted.       Polish Proverb -Y- You may laugh at a friend's roof; don't laugh at his sleeping accomodation.       Kenyan Proverb Young pigs grunt as as old pigs grunted before them.      Danish Proverb Your friend has a friend; don't tell him.       Jewish Proverb You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.      Navajo Proverb You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.      Irish Proverb

Important: The source of this collection is unknown, as I was emailed these tables by somebody. If you know the source, please let me know. Thanks to Roslyn Tierney (Tasmania AUS) for contributing the following Scandinavian proverbs:

NORWEGIAN
Not all keys hang from one girdle.

NORWEGIAN
Old habits have deep roots.

NORWEGIAN
He who follows the river comes at last to the sea.

SWEDISH
The house that is built after every man's advice seldom gets a roof.

SWEDISH
The hand that gives gathers.

SWEDISH
In calm water every ship has a good captain.

DANISH
The horse one cannot have always has a fault.

DANISH
Shared joy is doubled joy.

DANISH
He who fears finds a way out.

All the above were on page 124 of COMPREHENSION AND COMPOSITION Book II, by W Foster and H Bryant, Sydney, NSW, Australia (no date)

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