PROVERBS from around the world A to Z proverbs from the Globe: We all know many proverbs, but seldom do we know where they come from. In fact, research suggests that most of the proverbs we know did not come from our own culture! In the rich and complex history of our world and the many thousands of different cultures and countries that have risen, fallen and maintained, we have discovered many truths, and have coined many phrases and proverbs. Here you can have a glance at that wealth of wisdom, collected from 100 nations and cultures, in one list. You may be surprised to discover the origin of some famous proverbs, as well as the wisdom that every country has to offer! Afghanistan What you see in yourself is what you see in the world. Albania The sun at home warms better than the sun elsewhere. Argentina 1. Dress the monkey in silk and it is still a monkey. 2. A man who develops himself is born twice. Armenia You are as many a person as the number of languages you know. Austria A light is still a light - even though the blind man cannot see it. Azerbaijan Its not shameful not to know, but its shameful not to ask. Belgium He who does not wish for little things does not deserve big things. Benin Anyone who see beauty and does not look at it will soon be poor. Bosnia The eyes of cheats are always full of tears Brazil He who knows nothing, doubts nothing. Bulgaria A tree falls the way it leans. Burma One sesame seed wont make oil. Cameroon A chattering bird builds no nest. China A rumour goes in one ear and out many mouths. Congo A cat goes to a monastery, but she still remains a cat. Cuba Life is short but a smile takes barely a second. Czech Republic Wisdom is easy to carry but difficult to gather. Denmark Better to ask twice than to lose your way once. Egypt God loves him who cares for the poor more than him who respects the wealthy. England A fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years. Ethiopia Advise and counsel him; if he does not listen, let adversity teach him. France There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience. Gaelic Even God cannot make two mountain without a valley in between. Georgia The eyeless ant asks God for eye-lashes. Germany A lean agreement is better than a fat lawsuit. Ghana Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king also. Greece Great abilities produce great vices as well as virtues. Guinea He who has done evil, expects evil. Haiti Dont insult the alligator until youve crossed the river. Hebrew / Jewish 1. Poverty is a wonderful thing. It sticks to a man after all his friends have forsaken him. 2. Dont approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, or a fool from any side. Hungary Where ambition ends, happiness begins. Iceland He who lives without discipline dies without honor. India 1. The cobra will bite you whether you call it cobra or Mr. Cobra. 2. Never beat your wife even with a flower. Iran Acquaintance without patience is like a candle with no light. Ireland He who gets a name for early rising can stay in bed until midday. Italy Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out. Jamaica When you go to a donkeys house, dont talk about. ears. Japan 1. Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods. 2. Fall seven times, stand up the eighth time. Kenya Having a good discussion is like having riches. Korea, South Aim high in your career but stay humble in your heart. Kurdish It is more difficult to contend with oneself than with the world. Latin Keep quiet and people will think you a philosopher. Lebanon Lower your voice, strengthen your argument. Madagascar Words are like eggs: when they are hatched they have wings. Malaysia A fool is like the big drum that beats fast but does not realize its hollowness. Malta Where the heart loves, there the legs walk. Mexico Its not enough to know how to ride - you must also know how to fall. Morocco Evening promises are like butter: morning comes, and its all melted. Netherlands A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. New Zealand The more you ask how much longer it will take, the longer the journey will seem. Niger Accomplishment of purpose is better than making a profit. Nigeria The death that will kill a man begins as an appetite. Norway Luck is loaned, not owned. Palestinian You will not dare mistreat the face you see in the morning. Philippines People who never break things first will never learn to create anything. Poland The greatest love is a mothers, then a dogs, then a sweethearts. Portugal Beware of a man who does not talk and a dog that does not bark. Romania Eating and scratching want but a beginning. Russia Success and rest dont sleep together. Rwanda You can outdistance that which is running after you, but not what is fuming inside you. Samoa Stones decay; words last. Saudi Arabia A book is a garden carried in the pocket. Scotland Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him. Senegal The opportunity that God sends does not wake up him who sleeps. Sicily Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. Sierra Leone To try and fail is not laziness. Slovenia Speak the truth, but leave immediately after. Somalia Where I make my living, there is my home. South Africa He who has no intelligence is happy with it. Spain More things grow in the garden than the gardener sows. Sweden Dont throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water. Switzerland Better to sell with regret than to keep with regret. Tamil proverb Learn about the future by looking at the past. Tanzania The roaring lion kills no game. Thailand At high tide the fish eat ants; at low tide the ants eat fish. Tibet Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts. Turkey Coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Uganda Caution is not cowardice; even the ants march armed. Ukraine Only when you have eaten a lemon do you appreciate what sugar is. United States 1. After all is said and done, more is said than done. 2. The more sins you confess, the more books you will sell. Vietnam If you want to gather a lot of knowledge, act as if you are ignorant. Welsh Without perseverance, talent is a barren bed. Yiddish If you want your dreams to come true, dont over sleep. Yugoslavia Life is like a game in which God shuffles the cards, the devil deals them and we have to play the trumps. Zen If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are. Zimbabwe If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 04:41:25 +0000