These proverbs were collected by my father, Carlos Hudson, during the time he was jailed under the Smith Act in 1941, ostensibly for “Advocating the overthrow of the government by force and violence,” It was called the “gag act” because it put a gag on what one could read or say. Guilt was determined by whether one had the works of Lenin and Trotsky on one’s bookshelf. The Stalinists urged the death penalty for the Smith Act, not realizing that it would be used against them after World War II. The Minneapolis 17 who were convicted had taken the lead in organizing the Teamsters Union and the great Minneapolis General Strike of the mid-1930s. (The story is told in Charles Rumford Walker’s American City.) Minnesota’s governor, Floyd B. Olson, said
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These proverbs were collected by my father, Carlos Hudson, during the time he was jailed under the Smith Act in 1941, ostensibly for “Advocating the overthrow of the government by force and violence,” It was called the “gag act” because it put a gag on what one could read or say. Guilt was determined by whether one had the works of Lenin and Trotsky on one’s bookshelf.
The Stalinists urged the death penalty for the Smith Act, not realizing that it would be used against them after World War II.
The Minneapolis 17 who were convicted had taken the lead in organizing the Teamsters Union and the great Minneapolis General Strike of the mid-1930s. (The story is told in Charles Rumford Walker’s American City.) Minnesota’s governor, Floyd B. Olson, said “I hope the capitalist system goes straight to hell.” Roosevelt’s Attorney General, Biddle, wrote in his biography that the one thing that he was ashamed about was having framed up the Minneapolis 17, because by no threat were they really a danger. The deal was a political favor to AFL head Daniel Tobin who opposed my father’s pressure to organize the teamsters within the CIO, and to the mafia that was eager to take over the Teamsters Union and had always had great sway within the Democratic Party.
My father’s crime was calling in the National Guard to protect the strikers from the police and thugs who had been hired as strike breakers to beat up the Teamsters and their supporters. His party name was Jack Ranger, and so I was nicknamed “The son of the Lone Ranger” as a kid. His major writing was the pamphlet “Next: A Labor Party.” He also wrote articles on the Minneapolis strikes for the Nation.
Minneapolis was the only city in the world that was under Trotskyist leadership — where, as one reporter put it a few years ago, being a Trotskyist was a career advancement opportunity.
My father had graduated from the University of Minnesota business school with an MBA in 1929 and hoped to become a millionaire in Latin American mining. But then the stock market crash and depression occurred, and he discovered that capitalism wasn’t fair. He read widely, and joined Jim Cannon’s Socialist Workers Party, the Trotskyist party.
I knew most of his fellow felons growing up as a little boy. I remember visiting him in jail, and everyone singing the Internationale and other songs to fan the flames of discontent.
After 1945 he followed Max Shachtman’s Independent Socialist League, and Max became a mentor of mine. Other members of the Minneapolis 17 who moved to Chicago was the group’s lawyer, Al Goldman, who spent much of his life trying to track down who killed his two German colleagues Emma Goldman and Karl Liebknecht. Al Russell also often visited from New York. Dad’s former cellmates helped me acclimatize when I moved to New York in 1960. So here, as in statist Russia, prisons were indeed the University of the Revolution.
My father said that his year in jail was the happiest year of his life. (He wasn’t much of a “people person.”) He was assigned to the library, where he collected the proverbs in this collection. After we moved to Chicago, he stenciled many proverbs on each wall of our house, from the living room down to the bathrooms.
He also compiled a dictionary of everything that Lenin and Trotsky had said about virtually every political subject. As a teenager, my friend Gavin MacFadyen and I used to sit down in the basement (where the banned books and pamphlets were kept in the 1950s) and pore over the index cards with these maxims. This was a great help in our Social Science classes at the University of Chicago’s Laboratory School. (Gavin was expelled for being a bit too attentive to what we learned.) Unfortunately, this collection somehow got lost in Dad’s move down to Florida when he retired from his position as editor of Dental Abstracts. He had edited Traffic World, but the FBI came around to his boss and asked why they had hired a Marxist. His boss was about to accuse others of Communism, so Dad was fired. But the American Dental Association, which hired him as an editor, said that they didn’t care about his politics, and he worked happily there for perhaps 20 years. (He died at the age of 95 in 2003.)
Informally, Dad also edited the pacifist Liberation magazine, whose mailing address was our house on Dorchester in Hyde-Park Kenwood (about a block or so from where Obama’s house now is.) Along with Sidney Lens, he became an advocate of Rev. A. J. Muste.
FBI men would often appear at the house and ask him questions like where his loyalty would lie in case of an atopic war with China. Also, they liked to set up cameras across the street and take pictures of us when we left the house. When neighbors would ask them what the fuss was all about, they would say, “Don’t you know who lives there …?” They didn’t mention the proverbs book. I got used to coming home and sometimes finding two crew-cut FBI men in the living room with my father, up-dating their files on him. (Later, Gavin got copies of the FBI files, and they were filled with wrong information from obviously bad informers. It was comical in retrospect.)
When I joined the Hudson Institute (no relation, except that we were both named after the river, which an ancestor of mine discovered) in 1972, Herman Kahn asked me whether there was any reason I couldn’t get a security clearance for when he took me to the White House and military think tanks. I told him about Dad’s conviction, and he said not to worry — the government knew that I wasn’t soft on Stalinism. (Herman collected many Schachtmanites around him.)
Many years after compiling these proverbs, Dad added a preface to say that over time, he had come to the conclusion that Trotsky’s economic program would have turned out along much the same lines as Stalin’s. When talking to socialists he became a libertarian, although when talking to most people he remained a socialist.
About 15 years ago Gavin produced an hour-long documentary and interview with Dad, discussing his work with Trotsky in Mexico. (Dad’s sister, my aunt Jeri Hudson de Leon, was married to a Mercedes dealer in Mexico City at the time, so my parents stayed with her while working with Trotsky, along with other Minneapolis activists.) But Gavin’s colleagues have not been able to find just where he put the CD, and I don’t remember his giving me a copy after we screened it in London.
When I went to Russia in 1994, I was brought to the house of some researchers who were reading the then-recently released files on Trotsky. They said that one thing puzzled them: Did he really have an affair with Frieda Kahlo?
I phoned Dad from their Moscow house. Dad got worried that the phones were being tapped and that I’d get in trouble, but I said that all the Russians really cared about those days was money, not old politics. So he laughed and laughed and said that, yes, he used to drive Trotsky back and forth to see Frieda.
Huck (“Michael”) Hudson
A.
1. Behind the able man there are able men. Chinese
2. Pierce the abscess.
(i.e. come to the point.) Bantu
3. An abscess heals when opened.
(i.e. peace comes by sharing your troubles with another.) Bantu
4. Abundance causes poverty. German
5. Abundance creates daintiness. Italian
6. Abundance is a friendly fellow, he is loved by big and small. Semitic
7. The abuse of a thing is no argument against its use. Latin
8. It is honorable to be accused by those who deserve to be accused. Latin
9. The pig which is once seen in the crevice of the fence is accused of all faults. Finnish
10. He who accused too many accuses himself.
11. Acorns were good till corn was discovered. Latin
12. One does not sleep to sleep, but to act. German
13. Virtue consists in action. Dutch
14. For the sake of one good action a hundred evil ones should be forgotten. Chinese
Action is the proper fruit of knowledge.
One actor cannot perform a play. Chinese
He is a man who acts like a man. Danish
Adversity comes with instruction in its hand. Welsh
When the rabbit has escaped comes advice. Spanish
He who will not take advice gets knowledge when trouble overtakes him. Kaffir
Advice given in the midst of a crowd is loathsome. Arabian
After-advice is a fool’s advice. German
Good advice is no better than bad advice unless it is taken at the right time. Danish
Advice is not compulsion. German
Advisers are not the payers. French
Affectation is a greater enemy to the face than small-pox.
Failing to obtain a lovely woman, affection is lavished on animals. Sanskrit
The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected. Spanish
Don’t let your age ask: “Where was your youth?” Serbian
Age makes many a man white but not better. Danish
They agree like the clocks of London. (i.e. there is no agreement.) English
Without conversation there is no agreement. Montenegrin
He who aims at an iron target gets the bullet in his face. German
Ale sellers should not be tale-tellers. English
“All but” saves many a man. Danish
“Almost” and “very nigh” saves many a lie. English
“Almost” never killed a fly. German
Who lives by the altar must serve the altar. German
There is no fall for an ambassador. Turkish
Don’t say amen to an unacceptable prayer. Turkish
An amiable person is never good-for-nothing. Sudanic
He that boasts of his ancestors confesses he has no virtue of his own.
Mules make a great fuss about their ancestors having been asses. German
There is no higher ancestry than Adam. Philippine
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding.
He that can reply calmly to an angry man is too hard for him. English
The animal with long ears, after having drunk, gives a kick to the bucket. Italian
Who sees with the eye of another is as blind as a mole. German
When another man suffers a piece of wood suffers. Arabian
It is not easy to know your butter in another man’s cabbage. Danish
Another man’s horse and your own whip can do a great deal. Danish
From another’s cart you must get off halfway. Polish
He who builds on another’s ground loses his stone and mortar. Italian
Another’s misfortune is only a dream. French
No answer is also an answer. Danish
Who answers suddenly knows little.
A coconut-shell full of water is an ocean to an ant. Indian
Even an ant is eight spans long as measured by its own hand. Tamil
In the ant’s house dew is a deluge. Persian
The blow falls more lightly when anticipated. Latin
The higher the ape goes, the more he shows his tail. English
Waiting on the table is a powerful way to get up an appetite. Negro
It is difficult to satisfy one’s appetite by painting pictures of cakes. Chinese
He who would not lose his appetite should not go into the kitchen. German
See how we apples swim! Quoth the horse-turd. English
A gentle word will make the argument strong. Welsh
Even workhouses have their aristocracy. Maga
Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reach. English
Two are an army against one. Icelandic
A featherless arrow does not fly. Sudanic
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
An artist lives everywhere. English
He who wants a good deal must not ask for a little. Italian
To ask in anger is to go to sea in a storm. French
Do not ask me whose son I am, but who I am. Russian
Never ask of him who has, but of him who wishes you well. Spanish
Asking costs little. Italian
He who first asks does not give very willingly. Polish
He that asks faintly begs a denial. English
He denies himself who asks what is impossible to grant.
Because he cannot beat the ass, he strikes his saddle. Latin
is summoned to the wedding, it is to carry
When all men say you are an ass it is time to bray. Hungarian
If an ass kicks you, don’t kick him back. Italian
The ass loaded with gold still eats thistles. English
Whip the saddle, that the ass may meditate. Bulgarian
He that makes himself an ass must not take it ill if men ride him.
What good can it do an ass to be called a lion? English
They invited an ass to the wedding feast and he said: “Assuredly they want some more wood and water.” Bosnian
To lather an ass’s head is only wasting soap. Spanish
That’s a vicious animal, when one attacks him, he defends himself. French
Things hardly attained are longer retained. English
Two attorneys can live in a town, when one cannot. English
If my aunt had been a man, she’d have been my uncle. English
Go to your aunt’s house but not every day. Spanish
He who is in a position of authority, never coughs.
(i.e. need not remind others of his presence.) Sudanic
It is not for a man in authority to sleep a whole night.
Avarice increases with wealth. Italian
Awls are not carried in a sack. Bulgarian
The axe attacks the forest, from whence it got its own handle.
Indian
B.
Once a baboon has tasted honey, it does not touch earth again.
(i.e. once a man has been put in a position of authority, he does not accept an inferior one.) Bantu
102. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Danish
103. Bad news is always true. Spanish
Bad news is the first to come. Italian
105. A bad thing that does no harm is the same as a good one that does no good. German
106. An empty bag is heavier than a full one. Bulgarian
107. When the bait is worth more than the fish it’s time to stop fishing. Negro
108. A person waiting for hair is not bald. Welsh
109. Why should two bald men fight over a comb. Russian
You will not believe he’s bald till you see his brains. English
A bald-headed man cannot grow hair by getting excited about it. Sudanic
If the ball does not stick to the wall, it will at least leave a mark. Spanish
In the next world bankers have to count red-hot coins with bare hands. Russian
You went to the barber before us and of course you have the longer hair. Malay
A barber learns to shave by shaving fools. English
One barber shaves another gratis. English
It is a barber’s news. Greek
He who goes barefoot cannot do others harm. Polish
Fraud squats under a good bargain. Italian
When the purchase has been made it is too late to bargain. Swiss
On a good bargain think twice.
A great barker sees nothing. Kalmuk
He barks; so he will not bite. Indian
No battle was ever lost because of the small people. German
A dead bee makes no honey. English
Beans come from the place where the beans are. Bantu
He must have iron nails that scratches a bear. English
All know the bear, but the bear knows nobody. Finnish
The brains don’t lie in the beard. Danish
A man without a beard is like a loaf that has no crust. Russian
One does not beat the corn on account of the chaff. Russian
Man cannot divide beauty into dollars. Polish
Beauty’s only skin deep but ugly goes to the bone. English
Whose bed is warm, his dinner is cold. Serbian
Bed is a medicine. Italian
They came to shoe the Pasha’s horses, and the beetle stretched out his leg. Persian
It is unlawful to beg from a beggar. Oriental
Sue a beggar and get a louse. English
If you don’t give the beggar anything, don’t tear his bag. Irish
The beggar of crumbs gets more than the beggar of loaves. Indian
Beggars fear no rebellion. English
Never stand begging for what you have the power to take. Spanish
Begging is an easy trade, only the standing at the door is hard. Arabic
He is not done who is beginning. French
The beginning and the end stretch out their hands to each other. German
He who begins and does not finish loses his labor. French
Belief can never be poured into anyone with a spoon. Russian
If you believe, it is a deity; otherwise, a stone. Indian
He does not believe who does not live according to his belief.
He that believes all, misseth; he that believes nothing misseth. English
It is by believing in roses that brings them to bloom. French
While the great bells are ringing no one hears the little ones. Danish
The belly hates a long sermon.
An empty belly hears nobody. English
An empty belly knows no law. Russian
The belly thinks the throat is cut. English
The beloved one has no pimples. Bantu
The best is cheapest. German
The best is often times the enemy of the good. English
Better is better. German
Better less and better. Russian
If better were in better would come out. Danish
He is a big man, but a small coat fits him. Irish
Every bird must hatch its own eggs. English
When a bird sleeps with a rook, it will caw like a rook. Serbian
Birds pay equal honors to all men.
If you cannot bite, never show your teeth. English
Never bite, unless you make your teeth meet. Scottish
Never make two bites of a cherry. English
Beyond black there is no color. (i.e. the limit has been reached.) Persian
He who blackens others does not whiten himself. German
172. He who compels you to blame him has made up his mind to forsake you. Arabic
173. He who wants to blame sometimes finds the sugar sour. German
174. There are none so blind as they who willfully shut their eyes. Arabian.
175. Amongst the blind one forgets how to see. German
176. One does not speak of color to a blind man. English
177. A pebble and a diamond are alike to a blind man. English
178. When the blind man carries the lame man, both go forward. Swedish.
179. A blind man comes into possession of eyeglasses. Siamese
Light is light, though the blind man sees it not. German
181. It is a blind man’s question to ask why those things are loved are beautiful.
182. For whom does the blind man’s wife adorn herself? Spanish
Blind men should judge no colors. English
In the kingdom of blind men, the one-eyed is king. English
No one can blow and swallow at the same time. German
A blow from a frying pan, though it may not hurt, sullies. Spanish
A blow with a pestle will make no impression on one to whom a wink is of no effect. Singhalese
Beware of the man who cannot deal blows. Abyssinian
He who carries the bludgeon owns the buffalo. Indian
With houses and gold, men are rarely bold. German
A bold man has luck in his train. Danish
He was a bold man that first ate an oyster. English
The bones before being thrown into the street were on the master’s table. Negro
A load of books does not equal one good teacher. Chinese
He who knows books has four eyes. Bulgarian
I wept when I was born and every day shows why.
He borrowed a loaf from the batch.
(i.e. had intercourse before marriage.) French
If borrowed trousers be not too slack towards the ankle, they make a tight fit around the calves. Sudan
Draw your bow but do not discharge the arrow; it is better to frighten a man than to strike him. Chinese
If the bow is drawn taut, the arrow will fly fast. Chinese
While the boy is small, you can see the man. Chinese
The ugliest things are a poor braggart and a rich thief. Breton
All the brains are not in one head. Italian
Everyone gives himself credit for more brains than he has. Italian
A young branch takes on all the bends that one gives it. Chinese
Many are brave when the enemy flies. Italian
The sweat of a brave man is blood. Bantu
A brave man needs but a short dagger. German
Make your head into a cart and your feet into wheels and you’ll get bread. Indian
He thinks of everything who wants bread. French
They are bread and cheese.
(i.e. sworn friends.) Italian
His bread is baked for his lifetime.
(i.e. he is well provided for.) Belgian
The bread never falls but on its buttered side. English
He who does not breed is always craving. Spanish
He that is an enemy of the bride does not speak well of the wedding. Spanish
Brothers are like hands and feet. Chinese
A mad bull is not to be tied up with a packthread. English
The bull without a tail drives away the flies from the other bulls. Georgian
None knows the weight of another’s burden.
It is not the burden, but the over-burden, that kills the beast. Spanish
A heavy burden does not kill on the day it is carried. Bantu
Light burdens borne far become heavy. German
Who doth not burn doth not inflame. Italian
To burn one’s house to get rid of the mice. English
He who has burnt his mouth with milk blows on ice cream. Turkish
He to whom nature hasn’t given horns shouldn’t butt. German
The butterfly often forgets it was a caterpillar. Swedish
It is not well to buy of those to whom you must take off your hat. Danish
Buy what is old and you must buy again. Welsh
It is good to buy when another wants to sell. Italian
The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller not one. Italian
O buyer, remember the day when you will sell. Semitic
If you bring things to the buyer you sell them at half-price. Indian
A person who buys an ox by the footmark. Bantu
All the buzzards in the settlement will come to the grey mule’s funeral. Negro
Two “anons” and a “by-and-by” are an hour and a half.
By the street of “by-and-by” one arrives at the house of never.
C.
I don’t cook my cabbage twice.
(i.e. I don’t repeat my tale.) Irish
You cackle often, but never lay an egg. English
It is as yet an unborn calf.
(i.e. an unrealized ambition.) Bantu
They think a calf a muckle beast that never saw a cow. Scottish
The greatest calf is not the sweetest veal. English
It is not known what calf the cow will have. Bantu
If thou suffer a calf to be laid on thee, within a little they’ll clap on the cow. Italian
There are calumnies against which even innocence loses courage. French
Everything with a crooked neck is not a camel. German
The camel has his own opinion and the camel driver has his. African
They said to the camel-bird, “Take up a load”; he replied, “I am a bird.” They said, “Fly”’ he said: “I am a camel.” Persian
At the foot of the candle it is dark.
(i.e. at the foot of the throne are scheming men.)
See the candle light before you blow out the match. Negro
One sees no further than the candle lights. Walloon
He burns one candle to seek another. English
He uses a cannon to shoot a sparrow. Chinese
Capon comes to him who eats capon. French
Carefulness can go everywhere. Chinese
Light cares speak, great ones are dumb. English
When the house is built the carpenter is forgotten. Indian
A carpenter is known by his chips. English
He’s not the best carpenter that makes the most chips. English
He who is carried does not realize that the town is far off. Hamitic
You can’t carry what you can’t lift. Russian
“Will pay” is a fine bird but “cash down” sings. Spanish
The cask can give no other wine than what it contains. Italian
When cat and mouse agree the farmer has no chance. Dutch
What should you expect from a cat except a kitten? Irish
A cat in gloves catches no mice. English
They turn the cat in the pan.
(i.e. change sides.) English
268. After eating nine hundred rats, the cat is now going on a pilgrimage.
(i.e. pretending to turn over a new leaf.) Italian
269. The cat loves fish but is loath to wet her feet. Italian
270. The cat that licks the spit is not to be trusted with roast meat. Italian
271. Honest is the cat when the meat is out of reach.
Who will not feed the cats, must feed the mice and rats. German
273. If you do not rear cats, you will raise mice. Bulgarian
274. There are no cattle without a dung-heap. Bantu
275. The cause finds arms.
276. The most cautious passes for the most chaste. Spanish
There are many crosses upon a cemetery, but no cares. Russian
A centipede doesn’t stop for a game leg. Burmese
Hit one ring and the whole chain will resound. Bantu
Old chains gall less than new. English
Something must be left to chance. English
To change and to better are two different things. German
Change yourself and fortune will change with you. Portuguese
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. Japanese
He who chastises one threatens a hundred. Italian
It’s like the chastity of an ugly woman. Singhalese
He is never likely to have a good thing cheap that is afraid to ask a price. English
If you buy meat cheap, when it boils you will smell what you have saved. Arabic
It is well worth while letting oneself be cheated sometime. Latin
The chemist’s shop is an expensive kitchen.
(i.e. ill health is costly.) Czech
Take the chestnuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw. English
First chew and then spit. Czech
The chief has no relative. Bantu
A chief’s weights are not the same as a poor man’s weights. Sudanic
If the child does not cry, the mother does not understand it. Russian
Many kiss the child for the nurse’s sake. English
Even a child may beat a man that’s bound. English
It is easier to bear a child once a year than to shave every day. (Said by soldiers to their wives.) Russian
A child regards his father’s guest as a slave. Sudanic
The sucking child says, “Mother is the best cook.”
(i.e. don’t express preference without trying an alternative.) Bantu
A child that asks questions is not stupid. Sudanic
The illegitimate child was hidden in a bottle, and he put forth a finger. (i.e. the secret could not be suppressed.) Bantu
If with the right hand you flog the child, with the left draw him unto your breast. Sudanic
With one child you may walk; with two you may ride; when you have three, at home you must bide. Cornish
The judgment of children – what they hear at home. Basque
Bells call each other to church, but go not themselves. English
You’re in the right church, but in the wrong pew.
(i.e. partly right and partly wrong.) Negro
A rich church – poor peasants. German
Let the church stand in the church-yard.
The nearer to church, the farther from God. French
The poorer the church, the purer the church. English
In the visible church, the true Christians are invisible. German
In the primitive church there were chalices of wood and priests of gold; in the modern church there are chalices of gold and priests of wood. German
In the city where you wish to sell flowers, do not kick up the dust. Oriental
Where you cannot climb over you must creep under. Danish
He that never climbed never fell. English
The worst clothed are still put to the windward. French
He who clothes himself with bad cloth clothes himself twice in the year. Brazilian
Many come to bring their clothes to church rather than themselves. English
It isn’t in a coal sack that one finds white flour. Walloon
A thread-bare coat is armor proof against highwaymen. English
Cobbler, do not judge above the shoe. Latin
Day can dawn even without the cock. Serbian
A cockroach is always wrong when arguing with a chicken.
A cockroach stands no chance in a fowl country. Negro
A bad coin knows many people. Slovenian
Let them that be cold blow at the coal. English
Cold teaches to steal coal. Arabic
It is poor comfort for one who has broken his leg that another has broken his neck. Danish
It is a fine thing to command, though it is but a herd of cattle. Spanish
If you command wisely, you’ll be obeyed cheerfully. English
He who commences many things, finishes but few. English
When you have no companion, consult your walking-stick. Albanian
If your companion is a good one, Bagdad becomes quite near. Turkish
A good companion makes a heaven out of hell. German
A merry companion on the road is as good as a nag. English
A company of men is as good as a miracle.
(i.e. in unity there is strength.) Indian
Company in distress makes trouble less. French
The world is Allah’s, the land is the Pasha’s, but the company rules. (i.e. the British Indies company.) Indian
Pleasant company shortens the miles. German
The shortest road’s where the company’s good. Scottish
Comparison is no proof. French
He that complies against his will, is of his own opinion still. English
Confession is as medicine to him who goes astray. Latin
Confidence is a plant of slow growth. English
Confidence is the companion of success. English
He hath conquered that hath made his enemies fly.
He who considers everything decides nothing. Chinese
Be constant; if you say “one,” do not say “two.” Arabic
To contradict sometimes means to knock at the door to know whether there is anyone in the house. French
Although there exist three hundred and forty-six subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet. Chinese
When the cook and steward fall out, we hear who stole the butter. Dutch
The cook should have his master’s palate. Latin
He is a poor cook that cannot lick his own fingers. English
Cooks are not to be taught in their own kitchen. English
All are not cooks who carry long knives. Dutch
Copper produces a copper mass.
(i.e. you get what you pay for.) Italian
A lame man copulates best. Greek
The cord breaketh at the last by the weakest pull. Spanish
The cork is always bigger than the mouth of the bottle. Estonian
He measures another’s corn by his own bushel. English
To correct Magnificat before one has learnt Te Deum. English
None goes to the gallows for giving ill counsel. English
If the counsel be good, no matter who gave it. English
Good counsel is better than a great army. German
Wheresoever we live well, that is our country. English
Every man loves his country, even if it be hell. Persian
When you go to a country where they all dance with one foot, then dance with one foot too. Negro
Fine or not, it is my country’s wine. Chinese
He that counts all costs, will never put plough in the earth. English
Courage ought to have eyes as well as arms. English
The steps at court are slippery. Danish
The soup at court is very good, but you have to jump high for it. Czech
Whoso will dwell in court must needs curry favor. English
That which covers thee discovers thee. English
You cannot strip two skins off one cow. Chinese
One can stand being kicked by both hind legs at once if the cow be a good milker. Indian
Milk the cow, but don’t pull off the udder. Dutch
A cow does not calve in the herd.
(i.e. a secret is not told in a crowd.) Bantu
A cow is not called dappled unless she has a spot. Danish
One who does what he says is not a coward. Sudanic
Reasoning is the shackle of the coward. Hamitic
A coward calls himself cautious and a miser thrifty.
One coward makes ten. German
In the house of the coward there is no weeping.
(i.e. because he always turns up safe.) Bantu
Between two cowards, he has the advantage who first detects the other. Italian
Many would be cowards if they had courage enough. English
Cowards run the greatest danger of any men in a battle. English
Cowards’ weapons neither cut nor pierce. Italian
If the crab is small it associates with a smaller kind of crab. Sudanic
He who is of the craft can discourse about it. Italian
Craftsmen are brothers. Welsh
Creditors have better memories than debtors. English
A crime in which many are implicated goes unpunished.
Successful crime is called a virtue.
He does the crime who profits by it. French
A crocodile in water can destroy an elephant; out of the stream it is overcome by a dog. Burmese
The strength of the crocodile is in the water. Bantu
Cross in a crowd, the crocodile won’t eat you. Malay
Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water’s calm. Malayan
Don’t curse the crocodile’s mother before you cross the river. Bantu
If the staff be crooked, the shadow cannot be straight. English
The crow does not louse the buffalo to clean him, but to feed itself. Bulgarian
When the crow is your guide he will lead you to the corpses of dogs. Arabic
A whitewashed crow will not remain white long. Chinese
Call out a name in a crowd and someone is sure to answer. Chinese
A crowd is not company.
He who does not mix with the crowd knows nothing. Spanish
The greatest cunning is to have none at all. French
Where there is no hope of a cure, one saves the medicine. German
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.
Idle curiosity sometimes fills the mousetrap. Dutch
Curses, like processions, come back to their starting-point. Italian
A thousand curses never tore a shirt. Syriac
Once is no custom. Italian
Be a custom good or bad a peasant will have it continue in force. Spanish
Custom is the guide of the ignorant. English
Custom is the plague of wise men, and the idol of fools. English
A cake and a bad custom ought to be broken. French
Men do more from custom than from reason. Latin
Custom without reason is but an ancient error. English
Where it is customary the cow is put to bed. Swiss
Bad customs are better broke then kept up. English
D.
You will neither dance nor hold the candle. Scottish
More belongs to dancing than a pair of dancing shoes. Dutch
They love dancing well that dance among thorns. English
One danger is not overcome without another. Italian
Better face a danger once than be always in fear. English
Without danger we cannot get beyond danger. English
He that will not sail until all dangers are over must not put to sea.
Joan is as good as my lady in the dark. English
It is ill to drive black hogs in the dark. English
He who gropes in the dark finds what he would not.
When the date-crop is over everyone mocks at the palm tree. Abyssinian
I say it to you, daughter, hear it, daughter-in-law. Spanish
It is still the first day. Indian
There is a day to be born and a day to die. Chinese
There is a day to cast your nets and a day to dry your nets. Chinese
In the east there are many days and they all pass away in the west. Finnish
One of these days is none of these days. English
Is it the days you would count? The hairs of a cow are few. Bantu
There’s a cure for everything but stark dead. Irish
The dead are at the mercy of the living. Persian
When one is dead it is for a long time. French
The real dead one must not seek in graves. German
A deaf hearer makes a crazy answerer. Danish
When the deaf gives the blind a lamp he receives bagpipes. German
A deaf man laughs twice.
(i.e. when he sees others laughing and when he learns the point.) Afghanistan
It is only the first bottle that is dear. French
The first breath is the beginning of death. English
He hauls a long rope who expects another’s death. Italian
The old man runs away from death, but the child stands and looks at it. Sudanic
Death doesn’t look at our teeth. Russian
Death for a common cause is beautiful. Russian
We do not get even death free of charge, for it costs us our life. Russian
He who is afraid of death has lost his life. Estonian
Death helps out of difficulties but demands high payment. Swedish
Death is a black camel which kneels at every man’s gate. Turkish
Death is the poor man’s physician. German
The man in debt is a swimmer with his boots on. Negro
Deceiving of a deceiver is no knavery. English
He that once deceives is ever suspected. English
If a man deceives me once, shame on him; if he deceives me twice, shame on me. English
In the inn of decision men sleep well. Oriental
Deeds are fruits, words are leaves.
Let men know by your own deeds who were your ancestors. Japanese
He who can shoot a deer lets the hare run away. German
The deer-hunter does not look at the hare. Chinese
Better deny at once than promise long. Danish
He who depends on another, dines ill and sups worse. English
The destitute does not live, but dies by inches. Russian
Mankind bestows more applause on her destroyers than her benefactors. English
A man without determination is but an untempered sword. Chinese
Deviate an inch and lose a thousand miles. Chinese
Don’t mention the cross to the devil. Italian
It is good sometimes to hold a candle to the devil. English
Make not even the devil blacker than he is. English
“You look like a runner,” quoth the devil to the crab.
You would do little for God if the devil were dead. Scottish
If you have swallowed the devil, you may swallow his horns. English
The best throw of the dice is to throw them away. English
It’s long ere “likely to die” fills the churchyard. Scottish
If we go forward we die; if we go backward we die; better go forward and die. Bantu
He hath lived ill that knows not how to die well. English
He wants to die with all his teeth in his head.
(i.e. die young.) North American Indian
He that died half a year ago is as dead as Adam. English
There is no difference between bread-and-milk and milk-and-bread. (i.e. don’t split hairs.) Breton
What one knows not how to do is difficult, what one knows how to do is not. Chinese
The dinner-bell’s always in tune. Negro
He who washes off the dirt washes off the luck. Chinese
Count the disadvantages first, then the advantages. Indian
Murder may be condoned but discourtesy never. Chinese
Desperate diseases must have desperate cures. English
He who disparages wants to buy. Italian
He who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to command. Spain
Who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to live. English
The bone is left in the hand of the distributor. Finnish
If you don’t want anyone to know it, don’t do it. Chinese
If you do it, don’t talk about it. German
If you do what people tell you, you will be fishing hare in the sea and hunting fish in the woods. Bulgarian
Do not adjust your sandals in a melon field, or arrange your hat under a plum tree. (i.e. lest you be thought stealing.) Chinese
“Don’t do it” is the best remedy for “Let it not be known.” Sudanic
Do not ask the doctor, ask the patient. German
A doctor bald to the nape of his neck is not likely to cure anybody of baldness. Sudanic
The doctor cures the sick man who does not die. Japanese
The doctor demands his fees whether he has killed the illness or the patient. Polish
When everybody is doing well, the doctor is miserable. Hungarian
The doctor is never killed because the patient dies. Sudanic
The gentle-handed doctor makes a stinking wound. French
If you do not pay the doctor who has cured you, beware of falling ill again. Chinese
The more doctors, the more diseases. Portuguese
Good doctrine needs no miracle. Japanese
The doctrine that enters only into the eye and ear is like the repast one takes in a dream. Chinese
A great many shoes are worn out before a man does what he says.
I will not keep a dog, and bark myself. English
The dog barks, but the camel passes on. Semitic
None but a dog bites in his own house.
(i.e. said of a person who quarrels with his guests.) Semitic
The dog bites the stone, not him that throws it. English
When a dog cannot bark it has a bone in its mouth.
(i.e. a man cannot reprove another if he has sinned in the same way.) Bantu
A good dog deserves a bone. English
An old dog does not bark for nothing. French
A dog does not long remain tied to a sausage. German
In beating a dog, first find out who his owner is. Chinese
If the dog goes when the cat comes, there will be no fight. Chinese
A wet dog has no master.
(i.e. no one wants to claim a miserable thing.) Bantu
Beware the dog himself; his shadow does not bite. Danish
Every dog is a lion at home. English
When a dog is drowning, everyone offers him drink. English
The dog is the same, he has only changed his collar. Spanish
If you want a pretense to whip a dog, it is enough to say he ate up the frying-pan. English
A dog limps when it likes.
(Said to one who makes pretexts.) Breton
He has the black dog on his back.
(i.e. he is in low spirits.) English
The dog on three legs isn’t always lame. Negro
He that wants to hang a dog says it bites the sheep. Danish
The leaner the dog the fatter the flea. German
If you would entice a dog to you, don’t hold a stick in your hand. Bantu
Keep the bone and the dog will follow you. Irish
A dog will not cry if you beat him with a bone. English
Don’t pelt the dog with meat dumplings. Chinese
In every country dogs bite. English
The dog’s kennel is not a place to keep a sausage. Danish
A dog’s tears drop inside.
(i.e. a poor man has no means of expressing his grief.) Bantu
Dogs which fight each other unite against the wolf. Armenian
He that lies down with dogs will get up with fleas. Spanish
A dogmatical tone, a pragmatical pate. English
In doing we learn. English
If something is done for you, it must always be reckoned as good. Chinese
He that is a donkey and believes himself a deer finds out his mistake at the leaping of the ditch. Italian
The trot of a donkey does not last long. German
When you go to a donkey’s house don’t talk about ears. Negro
When one door closes, a hundred are barred. Spanish
A creaking door hangs long on its hinges.
(i.e. a complaining sick person lives long.) English
A door must be either open or shut.
(i.e. there is only one alternative.) French
Where one door shuts another opens. Spanish
Beware of a door that has too many keys.
(i.e. beware of a secret widely held.) Portuguese
When you doubt do not act. Latin
With great doubts comes great understanding; with small doubts comes little understanding. Chinese
Doubts mean losing half of one’s case beforehand. Chinese
A dragon stranded in shallow water furnishes amusement for the shrimps. Chinese
Dragons beget dragons; phoenixes hatch out phoenixes. Chinese
A slice of ham is better than a fat pig in a dream. German
A dream grants what one covets when awake. German
When troubles are few, dreams are few. Chinese
Dreams are themselves nothing but dreams. Spanish
Three-tenths of good looks are due to nature, seven-tenths to dress. Chinese
Friends are at fault when a man is allowed to wear his dress awry. Chinese
You look at what I drink and not at my thirst. Spanish
They speak of my drink, that never consider my drouth. Scottish
If you don’t drink, the price of wine is of no interest. Chinese
Thousands drink themselves to death before one dies of thirst. German
First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man. Japanese
It is easier to drink two glasses than to excuse yourself from one. Polish
He speaks in his drink what he thought in his drouth. English
I hate a man with a memory at a drinking bout. German
He who likes drinking is always talking of wine. Italian
He who would drive another over three dikes must climb over two himself. Dutch
Drive not away what never came near you. Danish
A little drop of water silences a boiling pot. German
Drops excavate rocks. Bulgarian
A drowning man would catch at razors. Italian
Where drums speak out, laws hold their tongues.
If everyone tells you you are drunk, go to bed – even if you are perfectly sober. Serbian
To a drunken man the sea is only knee-deep. Russian
What has been said in a drunken state has been thought out beforehand. Flemish
“Who can help sickness?” quoth the drunken wife as she fell in the gutter. Scottish
To come home with a duck in the mouth.
(i.e. to be successful.) English
The quiet duck puts his foot on the unobservant worm. Chinese
The song of the dumb is murmured to himself. Malay
He that blows in the dust, fills his eyes with it. English
Better walk in the dust than crawl near the throne. German
Don’t talk small to a dwarf. Chinese
A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders sees further of the two. English
A dwarf sees giants everywhere. German
When with dwarfs do not talk about pygmies. Chinese
E.
The eagle loves the mountain. Caucasian
Eagles fly alone. English
In the land where there are no eagles the sparrow pretends he is an eagle. Dyak
Tales are the food of the ear. Sudanic
“Come and I’ll tell you” tickles the ear. Sudanic
The ear has one hole.
(i.e. the capacity of the listener is limited.) Sudanic
The hollow of the ear is never full.
(i.e. never tired of hearing.) Sudanic
Gifted ears sprout on a gifted head.
(i.e. an intelligent man makes use of all he hears.) Hamitic
To get up early for three mornings is equal to one day of time. Chinese
The early hour has gold in its mouth. Estonian
Any place in the yellow earth will do to bury a man. Chinese
It is very savory to eat scot free. Spanish
There is no economy in going to bed early to save candles if the result be twins. Chinese
He who holds an eel by the tail does not have it. Latin
Holding an eel too fast is the way to let it go. English
It is hard to shave an egg. English
Some look for hair in a new-laid egg. Italian
The egg hurls itself against the stone. Chinese
You will find it out when you want to fry the eggs. Spanish
“An egg’s an egg” said the boor, and took the goose egg. German
Guess how many eggs are in the basket and you shall have the whole seven. German
From twelve eggs he gets thirteen chickens.
(i.e. he is lucky.) German
I’ll break the eggs in your pocket.
(i.e. will ruin your plans.) English
Eggs must not quarrel with stones. Chinese
The riches of Egypt are for the foreigners therein. Egyptian
There is no elbow that bends outward. Chinese
All are weak to the elephant. Indian
An elephant dies, but no one finds his trunk; a tiger dies, but no one finds his stripes. (i.e. crime often goes unpunished.) Malayan
An elephant does not die of one broken rib. Bantu
If you kill, kill an elephant; if you rob, rob a treasury. Indian
The elephant is not weighed down by his tusks.
(i.e. the rich are not burdened by their wealth.) Bantu
If it is a real tusk of the elephant, it will never be eaten up by insects. Burmese
Embraces and kisses don’t make children but they ring for vespers. (i.e. are the forerunners.) Spanish
628. He is so full of himself that he is quite empty. English
629. He that endures is not overcome. English
630. Have not too many enemies: a fierce serpent may be killed by a
swarm of insects. Burmese
631. If you have no enemies, it’s a sign fortune has forgot you.
English
Many enemies, much honor. German
633. He who has three enemies must agree with two. German
634. It is better to decide a difference between enemies than friends;
for one of our friends will certainly become an enemy, and one of
our enemies a friend. English
635. He is above his enemies that despises their injuries. English
636. If an enemy does good things, they are evil. Greek
637. For a flying enemy make a silver bridge. English
638. Out of a secret enemy one must make an open one. German
639. An enemy to a man are his possessions. Welsh
If we are bound to forgive an enemy, we are not bound to trust him. English
He is your enemy who is of your trade. Spanish
The root may become a palm, but our enemy will never be our friend. Kurdish
He lingers like English colonization.
(i.e. a guest who has outstayed his welcome.) Arabic
Enlightened men pronounce sentence on themselves. Chinese
Enough is as good as a feast. English
Enough is better than too much. French
Where there is more than enough, more than enough is wasted. Bantu
He who seeks the entrance should also think of the exit. German
Envy is the sorrow of fools. German
Always leave some way of escape for the erring. Chinese
An old error has more friends than a new truth. Danish
An error no wider than a hair will lead a hundred miles away
From the goal. German
The man is not escaped who still drags his chain after him. French
Be not an esquire where you were a page. Spanish
I am an esquire, you are an esquire, who will harness the horses? Turkish
He esteems the crow and nightingale alike. Turkish
Everybody says it, nobody does it. German
Example is a great orator. Czech
A good example is like a bell that calls many to church. Danish
He is a bad shot who cannot find an excuse. German
He who excuses himself, accuses himself. English
The executioner is a clean shaver. German
Exiles subsist on hope. Slovakian
All’s but lip-wit that wants experience. Scottish
You must look at the country of the one-eyed with one eye. India
The eye believes itself, the ear other people. German
A small hurt in the eye is a great one.
He that hath but one eye must be afraid to lose it. English
The eye of the master fattens the steed. French
The eye that sees all things else sees not itself. English
He who has only one eye wipes it well. German
It is no use applying eye-medicine from a two-story window.
(i.e. to give advice from afar.) Japanese
For that which interests one, one has open eyes. Sudanic
With the eyes a woman asks, takes, despises and kills. Spanish
When the eyes are closed the world is dark. India
Two eyes are for ornament, one is enough for seeing. Bantu
Eyes concealed mean a wound to the heart. Indian
Eyes feel shame from eyes.
(better to reprimand in person than in writing.) Afghanistan
The eyes have one language everywhere. English
What I see with my eyes I can guess with my fingers. Spanish
Nowhere in the world do eyes look satisfied. Russian
The eyes serve for ears to the deaf. Italian
All are not asleep who have their eyes shut. German
F.
You wash my face.
(i.e. flatter me.) Spanish
The face came before the photograph. Negro
One slap hurts twenty faces.
(i.e. the slapped one complains.) Afghanistan
Faces we see, but not hearts. Mexican
A single fact is worth a shipload of argument. English
Facts are stubborn things. German
Don’t be faint-hearted, for a man’s fall is only on his hands and knees. Malay
Men speak of the fair, as things went with them there. English
He who gives fair words feeds you with an empty spoon. English
Fair words fill not the belly. English
Don’t lose the falcon until you see the hare. Chinese
If a man knew where he would fall, he would spread straw first. Finnish
He would fall on his back and break his nose.
(i.e. is unlucky.) English
He who falls gathers stones. Spanish
He that falls has no friends; only tumble and see. Turkish
He who falls with honor soon gets on his feet again. German
Some have the fame and others card the wool. Spanish
Fame is a magnifying glass. English
Nobody’s family can hang up the sign, “Nothing the matter here.” Chinese
We were already twenty in family, so my grandmother had a baby. Spanish
There are but two families in the world, the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Spanish
Cursing the weather is mighty poor farming. Negro
They that hold the greatest farms pay the least rent. English
Tailors and writers must mind the fashion. English
What has been the fashion will come into fashion again. Japanese
If fate throws a knife at you, there are two ways of catching it – by the blade and by the handle. Oriental
To be a father isn’t difficult. Turkestan
The fault is as great as he that commits it. Spanish
He that commits a fault thinks every one speaks of it. English
There are none so fortunate as never to be obliged to ask favors. Chinese
All the weapons of war will not arm fear. England
They that fear an overthrow are half beaten.
Fear is hollow in its center and around it there is nothing. Slovenian
If they fear you in your presence, they speak ill of you in your absence. Walloon
He who is feared gets more than his own. Spanish
Feather by feather, the goose is plucked. Italian
Those who think of every feather will never make the bed. Silesian
The fertile field becomes sterile without rest. Spanish
A much-played fiddle sounds better.
(i.e. said about women.) Russian
It is safe fighting where there is no enemy. German
If you cannot say it point to it with your fingers. French
If I have lost the ring I still have the fingers. Italian
All the fingers are not alike.
Even the ten fingers cannot be of equal length. Chinese
He must have clean fingers who would blow another’s nose. Danish
Just two ends and the middle and all will be finished. Serbian
A wooden pot cannot be often put on the fire.
(i.e. deceit cannot be frequently repeated.) Indian
You may poke a man’s fire after you’ve known him seven years, but not before. English
Thou kindlist the fire and criest “Fire.” Arabic
You can hide the fire, but what are you going to do with the smoke. Negro
He who has no fire in himself cannot warm others. Swiss
To escape from fire men will plunge into boiling water. Chinese
Fire when small is a friend, but when large is an enemy. Malayan
The first litter of puppies had better be drowned.
(i.e. one’s first effort is seldom good.) Russian
No man cries “Stinking fish.” English
Fish begins to stink from its head.
(i.e. corruption comes from the upper classes.) Slovenian
Where there are no fish, even a crawfish calls himself a fish. Russian
Where there is no fish herring is fish. Dutch
It is in vain to look for yesterday’s fish in the house of the otter. Indian
Catching fish is not the whole of fishing. English
Better are small fish than an empty dish. English
The fish that has to live in the water should not make an enemy of the alligator. India
It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait. English
It is not a fish until it is on the bank. Irish
Don’t go fishing to a famous stream. Italian
A tattered flag brings more honor than a whole one. German
One must flatter the dog till one has reached the stones. French
Better “I fled” than “He was slain.” Welsh
He who flies proves himself guilty. Danish
Two hard flints never grind well. German
Let us have florins and we shall find cousins. Italian
You raise flowers for a year; you see them for but ten days. Chinese
To look for a fly in your food means that you have had enough. Bantu
What will a foe not say? What enters not into a dream? Turkestan
A fog cannot be dispelled by a fan. Japanese
It is folly to put flour in the bag facing the wind. German
A nod from a lord is a breakfast for a fool. English
To be a fool at the right moment is also an art. Swiss
A fool can ask questions that wise men cannot answer.
What the fool does in the end, the wise men does at the beginning. English
When a fool does not succeed in bleaching ebony he tries to blacken ivory. Abyssinian
There is no need to fasten a bell to a fool, he is sure to tell his own tale. Danish
To argue with a fool is as if to bring the dead to life. Burmese
The praise of a fool is censure in disguise.
When a fool is told a proverb, the meaning of it has to be explained to him. Sudanic
To argue with a fool is as if to bring the dead to life. Burmese
When a fool is told a proverb, the meaning of it has to be explained to him. Sudanic
A fool may throw a stone into a well, which a hundred wise men cannot pull out. English
Arguing with a fool shows there are two.
He is a fool that thinks not that another thinks. English
The fool vomits, the wise man swallows.
(i.e. the first tells all his thoughts, the latter keeps them to himself.) Indian
Every fool wants to give advice. Italian
The fool who owns an ox is seldom recognized. Bantu
Learned fools are the greatest of all fools. German
A white wall is a fool’s paper. English
In the book of fools one must write with a stick. German
Everyone must wear out a pair of fool’s shoes. German
If you want to get into the bog, ask five fools the way to the wood. Livonian
If fools want not to market, bad wares would not be sold. English
Because there are fools, wise men look well. Japanese
If all fools wore white caps, we should look like a flock of geese. English
He who carries a basket of lime leaves footprints wherever he stops. Chinese
One doesn’t forbid water to him who has dug the well. Bantu
Forbidden goods find many buyers. Russian
Force will never be without a place to sit down. Sudanic
Who is forced to go to church will not pray. Slovenian
A foreign language is more easily learnt in the kitchen than at school. German
He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years. Chinese
Some men go through a forest and see no firewood. English
“I have forgotten thy name” is better than “I know thee not.” Sudanic
A fortress that is not attacked has no need of defense. French
Fortunate people have children three months after marriage. Latin
Fortune gives her hand to a brave man.
Fortune sells what we think she gives. French
If you study what a fowl eats, you won’t eat it. Bantu
Here is a little fowl trying to lay a big egg. Sudanic
In a court of fowls the cockroach never wins his case.
(i.e. the verdict of a dominant race against a subject race is always unfair.) Sudanic
Cut a fowl’s throat with a knife and a man’s with cotton.
(i.e. soft words.) Malayan
The fox believes that everyone eats hens like himself. French
If a fox has a tooth left he won’t be pious. Bulgarian
A fox should not be on the jury at a goose’s trial. English
When the fox starts preaching, look to your hens. Basque
“It is not for my own sake,” said the fox, “that I say to the geese, that there is a good goose green in the wood.” Danish
“Good day to you all,” said the fox when he got into the goose pen. Dutch
At last the foxes all meet at the furriers. Italian
The fox’s last hole is the furrier’s shop. Armenian
Those who have free seats at the play hiss first. Chinese
All are not free who mock their chains. German
He freezes who does not burn. English
The friar preached against stealing and had a goose in his sleeve. English
A friar who asks alms for God’s sake, begs for two. Spanish
It is rest to take trouble for a friend. Persian
When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow. English
A friend at one’s back is a safe bridge. Dutch
The man who is a friend doesn’t think it necessary to tell you when he swallows his saliva. Bantu
It’s no loss what a friend gets. Scottish
A humble friend in the same village is better than sixteen influential brothers in the Royal Palace. Chinese
A friend is a heart in two bodies. Spanish
An old friend is a new house. English
What you give to a friend is not lost. Polish
To give to thy friend is not to cast away, it is store for the future. Bantu
If your friend is one-eyed, look at him in profile. French
You do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the ice breaks. Icelandic
A friend that you buy with presents will be bought from you.
Though a man has actually less wisdom than his friend, the friend treats him as though he had more. Sudanic
A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody. English
When you are on friendly terms, settle your disputes in a friendly way; when you are at war, redress your injuries by violence. Australasian
One has always strength enough to bear the misfortunes of one’s friends. English
One is only betrayed by one’s own friends. Flemish
Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by friends. Czech
Friends are the nearest relations. English
Amongst soldiers and friends compliments are superfluous. Spanish
Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet. Chinese
A friend’s frown is better than a fool’s smile. English
Admonish your friends in private, praise them in public. English
There are three kinds of friends in the world: friends who love you, friends who hate you, and friends who don’t trouble about you. German
To die with friends is a nuptial. Persian
To have friends is good, but not to have to use them is better. Swiss
He who is judge between two friends loses one of them. French
Friends need no formal invitation. English
When men are really friends, then even water is sweet. Chinese
They who advise weeping are one’s friends; they who advise laughing are strangers. India
Friends tie their purse with a cobweb thread. Italian
With friends we must do until we can do no more, and pay until nothing is left us. Spanish
They are not all friends who grin showing their teeth. Negro
Mutual confidence is the pillar of friendship. Chinese
A broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound. English
Don’t make it a dog’s friendship, to be broken over a bone. Malay
There can be no friendship where there is no freedom.
Friendship with the good is permanent; even when broken, the fibres of the lotus-stalks are connected. Burmese
Friendships multiply joys, and divide griefs. English
The frog does not bite because it cannot. Italian
It is easy to drive a frog into the water. Serbian
The frog saw they were shoeing the ox and lifted up its leg too. Bulgarian
He who plants a walnut tree, expects not to eat of the fruit. English
He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.
Fuel alone will not light a fire. Chinese
Fuel is not sold in the forest, nor fish on the shore of a lake. Chinese
Funeral sermon, lying sermon. German
Fury provides arms. Latin
The future belongs to him who knows how to wait. Russian
G.
A gallant man needs no drums to rouse him.
The first night is worst on the gallows. Finnish
More people go to heaven from the gallows than from the cemetery. German
If you believe in gambling, in the end you will sell your house. Chinese
It is a bad game where nobody wins. Italian
Knocking over a game-keeper is not knocking over a man; it is crushing a principle. French
Our last garment is made without pockets. Italian
We gave him milk to drink, he became a partner in the cow.
(i.e. we gave him an inch, he took an ell.) Semitic
Geese are plucked as long as the feathers last. Dutch
Roast geese don’t come flying into the mouth. Dutch
The blood of the soldier makes the glory of the general. English
One bad general is better than two good ones. English
A single general’s reputation is made of ten thousand corpses. Chinese
Fraud lurks in generalities. Latin
If a gentleman hears himself abused he pours water in one ear and puts cotton in the other. Bantu
It will not do to go berrying with the gentry; they take both berries and baskets. Estonian
He that is giddy thinks the world turns around. English
No purchase is as good as a gift. French
A gift long waited for is sold, not given. English
Half-breeds call themselves Gorgio among the Gorgios and Gipsy among the Gipsies. Romany
When you cut a Gipsy in ten pieces you have not killed him, you have only made ten Gipsies. Romany
As long as the Gipsy has tongs, he will not burn his fingers. Bulgarian
Give a grateful man more than he asks. Portuguese
To be slow to give and to refuse are the same thing. French
Let him who exhorts others to give, give of his own. Latin
Don’t give it to me, put it in my hat. Peru
Better give than have to give. Italian
He who is given (something) does not choose. Spanish
Who gives at once gives twice. Russian
He gives double who gives unasked. Arabic
He gives twice who gives quickly. English
The glass says to the stone, “Break me, but silently.”
(i.e. without scandal.) Kurdish
More people are drowned in the glass than in the sea. Russian
A white glove often conceals a dirty hand. Italian
No glue will hold when the joint is bad. English
He who has to go ten miles must regard size as only half way. German
What the world does not want is sacrificed to God. German
Where God does not help, no saint avails. German
The friend of God is the enemy of the priest. German
Why deny to God what the saints know?
(i.e. why not tell an open secret.) Breton
The true goddess was recognized by her walk. Latin
He talks gold but pays copper. English
Pure gold does not fear the furnace. Chinese
He who looks fixedly at gold loses his sight. Dutch
We must not look for a golden life in an iron age. English
He who does no good does evil enough. English
Many a time a good man fell on a cow dung. Irish
A good man is better than anything else. Chinese
There is many a good man to be found under a shabby hat. Chinese
Make much of one, good men are scarce. English
Rather go rob with good men than pray with bad. Portuguese
Amongst good men two men suffice. English
If you do not ask their help, all men are good-natured. Chinese
Tell good news. Bantu
Good news is rumoured, bad news flies. Spanish
He that brings good news knocks hard. English
A good thing sells itself; a bad thing wants advertising. Bantu
Go shoe the goose. English
Steal the goose and give the giblets in alms. English
You must walk a long time behind a wild goose before you find an ostrich feather.
Don’t kill the old goose in sight of the feather bed. Negro
It is a silly goose that comes to the fox’s sermon. English
Pluck the goose without making it scream. French
Standing gossips stay the longest. English
Who gossips to you will gossip of you. Turkish
He works with the Government stroke.
(i.e. takes a long time.) English
Nine-storied terraces rise by a gradual accumulation of bricks. Chinese
Grapes derive their color from grapes. Persian
When grasping, grasp firmly; when squeezing, squeeze to death; when aiming, aim unswervingly. Siamese
While the grass grows the horse starves. English
He who builds on the favor of the great, advances towards fortune mounted on a crab. German
The great have ears, not eyes.
(i.e. they must trust others.) Afghanistan
Of the great speak neither well nor ill, for if you speak well, you lie; and if ill, you place yourself in danger. Spanish
Do not lend your money to a great man. French
A great man’s entreaty is a command. Spanish
A great man’s foolish sayings pass for wise ones. English
With great men one must allow five to be an easy number. German
Whom great men wrong, they hate. English
There would be no great ones if there were no little ones. English
A great ship must have deep water. English
When you shake hands with a Greek, count your fingers. Albanian
A grey head is often placed on green shoulders. English
A greyhound finds its food in its feet. Irish
The seats in heaven which are prepared for good guardians are still vacant. Czech
The guest likes the bread which his host likes. Indian
A guest sees more in an hour than the host in a year. Polish
The guest who came in the morning welcomes the guest who comes in the evening.
(i.e. he behaves as though he were at home.) Sudanic
The guest who has broken the pot is not forgotten. Bantu
If a man does not receive guests at home, he will meet very few hosts abroad. Chinese
Let the guests at table be three or four – at most five. Greek
The guide ought to know every part of the mountain, the traveller need only know the path.
The tenth man is guilty. Russian
(i.e. when the guilty man is unknown)
He declares himself guilty who justifies himself before accusation. English
When they roast a guinea-fowl, the partridge has a headache. Sudanic
H.
A hair’s breadth at the bow is a mile beside the butt. Chinese
A golden hammer breaks an iron gate.
I believe in what I hold in my hand. Czech
I don’t want it, but drop it into my hand. Spanish
You can’t clap with one hand. Chinese
Where the hand cannot grasp, thought begins. German
Without fingers the hand would be a spoon. Sudanic
If the hand would do what the tongue says there would be no poverty. Indian
A new handle blisters the hands.
(i.e. a new chief through ignorance causes his subjects to suffer.) Bantu
Where hands are required words and letters are useless. German
He has both hands full of cakes.
(i.e. he’s unable to do anything.) Japanese
A handsaw is a good thing, but not to shave with. English
How easily a hair gets into the butter. German
He that is not handsome at twenty, nor strong at thirty, nor rich at forty, nor wise at fifty, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise. English
He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned. English
When a man is happy he does not hear the clock strike. German
Hares may pull down dead lions by the beard. English
If you run after two hares, you will catch neither. English
He that hath a good harvest may be content with some thistles. Scottish
He who has not is the enemy of him who has. Bantu
The life of an old hat is to cock it. Irish
A hatchet is a key for any lock. French
Send not for a hatchet to break open an egg with.
If you hate a man, let him live. Japanese
If a man hates you, give him a fork to drink soup. Negro
He who would have the last drop out of a can has the lid fall on his nose. German
I am speaking of hay and you of horse corn. Scottish
When hay follows the horse it wants to be eaten. German
When the head is knocked off, it is all over with dreams. Sudanic
He on whose head we would break a coco-nut never stands still. Sudanic
If you cannot heal the wound do not tear it open. Danish
To hear it told is not equal to experience. Chinese
He who will not hear must feel. German
He does not hear what he does not like. Irish
“I heard” is not as good as “I saw.” Chinese
Hear-say is half lies. German
A stout heart crushes ill luck. Spanish
What comes from the heart goes to the heart. English
When the heart is full the mouth vomits. Maltese
Nearest the heart, nearest the mouth. Scottish
When there is room in the heart, there is room in the house. Danish
When the heart undertakes, the body is its slave. Hamitic
Hearts may agree, though heads differ. English
I like his heels better than his toes.
(i.e. would rather see him go than come.) Walloon
Men of a certain height must wear clothes of a certain length. Chinese
There are people who will help you get your basket on your head because they want to see what’s in it. Sudanic
When one is helping another both are strong. German
Three, helping each other, will bear the burden of six. Spanish
Pick up the hen and you can gather all her chickens. Sudanic
It is no good hen that cackles in your house and lays in another. English
In the eyes of the hen the worm is always in the wrong. German
To the real hero life is a mere straw. Indian
Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer. Norwegian
Don’t cry “herrings” till they are in the net. English
Hide mends itself, but cloth has to be mended. Chilean
In high society one marries one woman, lives with another, but leaves only oneself. Italian
The hippopotamus that shows itself doesn’t upset the boat. Bantu
Hit him hard; he has no friends. English
If hit, hit back and don’t stop to consider whether you be committing a sin or a virtue. Indian
The hog never looks up to him that threshes down the acorns. English
A hog that has wallowed in the mud seeks a clean person to rub against. Sudanic
A strainer is none the worse for having another hole. Arabic
A hole here and there is not the same as a window. Bantu
Honest as the cat when the meat is out of reach.
An honest man is not the worse because a dog barks at him. Danish
They are all honest men, but my cloak is not to be found. Spanish
Every man is honest till the day they catch him. Negro
Honey in the mouth saves the purse. English
Though honey is sweet, do not lick it off a briar. Irish
He who shareth honey with the bear hath the least part of it. English
Honor and profit lie not in one sack. English
The post of honor is the post of danger. Roman
He gainst much who loses a vain hope. Italian
He that lives on hope hath a slender diet. Scottish
Hope is a good breakfast but a poor supper. Czech
Hope is the poor man’s bread. English
Let the horns go with the hide. English
All lay load on the willing horse. English
One should put the saddle on the right horse. German
One thing thinketh the horse, and another he that saddles him. English
A horse has four legs, yet it often falls.
(i.e. a man is fallible.) Bantu
A borrowed horse has hard hoofs. Irish
The trotting horse hears not the story-teller’s yarn.
(i.e. busy people are too occupied to listen.) Chinese
He who has a good horse in his stable is not ashamed to go on foot. Italian
Who hath no horse may ride on a staff. English
Without horse, no Cossack. Russian
A handsome horse should have a head like a maiden, a chest like a widow, and a foot like a baby. Polish
It is hard to water a horse which does not hold down his head. Finnish
Set a peasant on horseback and he forgets both God and man. Spanish
The man on horseback knows nothing of the toil of the traveller on foot. Chinese
He who is on horseback no longer knows his own brother. Russian
Good horses make short miles. English
Then man who is bad for entertainment or hospitality is good for directing you on the road. Irish
It is a sin against hospitality, to open your doors and shut your countenance. English
An hour may destroy what an age was building. English
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. Spanish
Thank God that the right side of the house is out. (Said on a stormy day.) Irish
He set my house on fire only to roast his eggs. English
To throw the house out the window.
(i.e. to raise a commotion.) English
Who else could the housefly take sides with other than the person afflicted with sores? Sudanic
Adjoining houses always burn. Bantu
There is but an hour in a day between a good housewife and a bad. English
The greatest humiliation for a man is to give proofs that he is a man. Spanish
False humility is genuine arrogance. Chinese
Too much humility is pride. German
Do not trust a Hungarian unless he has a third eye on his forehead. Czech
Not to empty one’s stomach doesn’t help against hunger. Sudanic
The full belly doesn’t believe in hunger. Italian
Hunger and cold deliver a man up to his enemy. English
Hunger becomes the teacher of many. Greek
Hunger breaks stone walls. English
Hunger doesn’t say “stale bread,” and cold doesn’t say “old coat.” Georgian
Hunger is a finger which points out the fruit on the tree to the blind man. Russian
Hunger is an infidel. Arabic
Whatever satisfies hunger is good food. Chinese
Hunger makes raw beans into almonds. German
Hunger sees nothing but bread. Bulgarian
A hungry eye sees far. Irish
Hungry gnats sting deep. German
For the hungry “wait” is a hard word.
A hungry man discovers more than a hundred lawyers. Spanish
The smile on a hungry man’s face is a lie. Polish
The hunt is a masculine ball and the ball is a feminine hunt. German
He who hurries cannot walk with dignity. Chinese
Dress slowly when you are in a hurry. French
Hold your hurry in your hand. Irish
Don’t stay long when the husband is not at home. Japanese
Don’t show a hyena how well you can bite. Hamitic
I.
Idle folks have the least leisure. English
A maker of idols is never an idolator. Chinese
“If and “when” were planted and nothing grew up. Turkish
“If” was married to “but,” and the offspring was named “Oh, would that.” Persian
It is human ignorance alone which causes the pot to boil for priests. French
He that does you a very ill turn will never forgive you. English
An image-maker never worships the Buddha. Chinese
The impossible requires no excuse. Dutch
Illness gives you the taste of health. Hungarian
The tepid water of incredulity acts as an emetic on secrets. Spanish
An indictment cannot be got up without lies. Chinese
One finds but little ingratitude so long as one is in a position to do good. French
He whom it touches nearest always learns his injury last. Spanish
A good memory does not equal pale ink. Chinese
The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory. Chinese
An innkeeper never worries if your appetite is good. Chinese
It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one’s time in looking for the sacred emperor in the low-class tea-shops. Chinese
A man must insult himself before others will. Chinese
For an intelligent man, one word, and he understands. Chinese
Many have good intentions but something comes across them. German
Interest will not lie. English
Every man is the best interpreter of his own words. German
Iron long fired becomes steel. Chinese
Ivory does not grow in the mouth of a dog. Chinese
J.
In August was the jackal born and in September saw he a flood and said “Never in my life have I seen such a flood.” Indian
I have a good jacket in France. Spanish
When you make the jail too nice, you better strengthen the hog pen. Negro
Better lose a jest than a friend. English
They that jest with cats must count on scratches. Scottish
If you make a jest, you must take a jest. English
It is ill jesting with edged tools. English
Jests, like sweetmeats, have often sour sauce. English
A joke ought to have sheep’s teeth, not a dog’s. Czech
He that jokes confesses. Italian
Conversation on a journey is equal to conveyance. Indian
“I am going, I am going,” that is what makes the journey so long. Sudanic
In the midst of great joy do not promise to give a man anything; in the midst of great anger do not answer a man’s letter. Chinese
He whose father is a judge goes safe to his trial. English
When the criminal is acquitted the judge is found guilty. Latin
A dealer in onions is a good judge of leeks. French
Unless hell be full, no judge will ever be saved. Montenegrin
To him of good judgment the sound of a gnat suffices, but to him who lacks it, the noise of an orchestra availeth not. Turkish
Money and friendship break the arms of justice. Italian
Justice, but not in my house. Spanish
K.
He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut. English
A full kettle boils slowly.
(i.e. good things come slowly.) Turkish
All the keys hang not at one man’s girdle. English
Not to aid one in distress is to kill him in your heart. Sudanic
He who kills his own body works for the worms. Negro
A single kind word keeps one warm for three winters. Chinese
If the king at noon-day says it is night, behold the stars. Arabic
The king never leaves hold until the people pull too hard for him. French
For the righteous king the whole people is an army. Persian
The king’s favor is no inheritance. English
Kings love the treason but not the traitor. English
A king’s messenger has no guilt. Bantu
It is like a kiss, good for nothing until divided. Romany
Kisses are keys. English
Frequent kisses end in a baby. Hungarian
Up to the knee is permitted. German
Even in the sheath the knife must be sharp. Finnish
One always knocks oneself on the sore place. French
When one re-knots a broken cord it holds, but one feels the knot. German
All knots come to the comb. Italian
There are three things which if a man does not know he cannot live too long in the world: what is too much for him, what is too little for him, and what is just right for him. Bantu
Those who know how to do a thing do not find it difficult; those who find it difficult know not how to do it. Chinese
It is easier to know how to do a thing than to do it. Chinese
Three know it, all know it. Italian
“I know it perfectly” prevents the wasp from learning to make honey. Sudanic
If people do not know much, do not laugh at them, for every one of them knows something that you do not. Romany
They that know one another, salute afar off. English
The more you know, the more luck you have. Burmese
I know well what I say when I ask for bread. Spanish
You don’t know what there is in a man till you have hit him on the nose. Norwegian
When you don’t know what to do, wait. English
No one is born knowing how to do more than whimper. Maltese
To know and to know you know, not to know, and to know you do not know, this is knowledge. Chinese
One part of knowledge consists in being ignorant of such things as are not worthy to be known.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. English
Knowledge is a wild thing and must be hunted before it can be tamed. Persian
He that knows little soon repeats it. Spanish
Who knows most forgives most. Italian
Who knows nothing, doubts nothing. French
Only he who knows the cause of a quarrel knows how to dispute. Sudanic
L.
The laborer is always in the sun, the plantation owner in the shade. Sudanic
Laborers are never paid. German
Often the best way of giving oneself what one lacks is to take from oneself what one has. Persian
He who places his ladder too steeply will easily fall backwards. Czech
You a lady and I a lady, who will milk the cow? Serbian
A lame man won’t walk with one who is more lame. French
Why light a lamp if it has no wick in it?
(i.e. why cast amorous glances if you don’t mean it?) Malayan
He’s a lamp under a torch.
(i.e. one insignificant before another.) Indian
Who has land, has war. English
If the landlady’s fair, the wine too is fair. German
To murder a landlord is to remove forty sins from one’s soul. Russian
With each newly learned language you acquire a new soul. Slovakian
A large lantern with a small light. Flemish
We hounds slew the dear, quoth the lapdog. Scottish
Seldom is the last of anything better than the first. Irish
The later in the evening, the nicer the people. Dutch
We must laugh before we are happy, lest we should die without having laughed. French
Mr. “Laugh in the eyes” – in his heart there are other things. Bantu
He is not laughed at that laughs at himself first. English
Right is older than the law. Estonian
Show me the man and I’ll show you the law.
(i.e. to show the partiality of judges.) Scottish
Agree, for the law is costly. English
The law on the table, justice under the table. Estonian
Those who do not honor the law praise those who break it.
Sudanic
The law says what the king pleases. French
In a thousand pounds of law there’s not an ounce of love.
English
The sight of money to a law officer is like the sight of blood to a fly. Chinese
He that is suffered to do more than is fitting, will do more than is lawful. English
For sovereign power all laws are broken. Spanish
Laws catch flies but let hornets go free. English
Laws go where dollars please. Portuguese
It is not important who writes down the laws on paper, but it is important who puts them into effect. Russian
Laws without penalties are bells without clappers. Czech
May you have a lawsuit in which you know that you are in the
right.
(A Gipsy curse.) Spanish
Even rest will make the lazy tired. Hungarian
Who leads an ox to drink must first wet his own feet. Chinese
One must draw back in order to leap further. French
He who would leap high must take a long run. Danish
Everyone who learned archery from me, in the end made me his butt. Persian
Long are the arms of a learned man. Burmese
Learning which does not advance each day will daily decrease. Chinese
Leaves don’t spring straight from the tree, they come from the buds. German
He that fears leaves must not come into a wood. English
A wooden leg is better than no leg. English
It is not much to give a leg to him who gave you the fowl. Spanish
To be for one day entirely at leisure is to be for one day an immortal. Chinese
Is it necessary to add acid to the lemon? Indian
He that lends, gives. English
A letter is half a meeting. Bantu
A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. English
If you are a liar, recollect. Egyptian
One must follow the liar to the door of the lie. Georgian
Liars have need of good memories. English
Lean liberty is better than fat slavery. English
“They say so” is half a lie. Italian
“They say” is own brother to a lie. Bantu
The best walker is a lie. Welsh
A travelled man hath leave to lie. English
Don’t tell a shallow lie and get it scratched up by the hen with one chick. Malay
At the near end of the market-square he told a lie; at the far end he himself believed it. Turkish
A lie begets a lie till they come to generations. English
You can go all through the country with a lie, but if you are found out, how are you going to travel back? Czech
A lie can go around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.
A lie has no legs. English
A lie has short legs. Italian
A lie, in order to live, requires ten others for food. German
He who tells a lie in the presence of intimates is indeed a master mind. Sudanic
The credit got by a lie lasts only till the truth comes out. English
With a lie one goes far, but not back again. Yiddish
He who wishes to lie should take care that the testimony is afar off. Hebrew
Give a lie twenty-four hours’ start and you can never overtake it. English
Lie you for me, and I’ll swear for you. English
Who travels alone tells lies. Sudanic
From long journeys long lies. Spanish
A tale half told is the father of many lies. Chinese
If lies are to be believed they must be patched with truth. Danish
Lies buzz like flies, but truth has the brilliance of the sun. Arabic
If lies were as heavy as stones to carry, many would prefer the truth. Swedish
He that lies on the ground cannot fall. Latin
He who lies on the ground must expect to be trodden on. German
Life is a queer man. Irish
Life is a dancing girl.
He who despises his own life is soon master of another’s. English
You lift it, I’ll do the groaning. Russian
There is more light than can be seen through the window. Russian
Limits and boundaries, arguments and fights. Russians
To limp on the same foot with someone.
(i.e. to share the same fault.) Spanish
The lioness bears but one cub – but it is a lion. Montenegrin
Do not raise lion cubs in a city. Persian
A man is a lion in his own cause. English
What is said over a dead lion is not said in the eyes of a living one. Negro
Through lack of a lion the fox will ascend to the throne. Welsh
It is a base thing to tear a dead lion’s beard off.
A lion’s skin is never cheap. English
The lower lip scorns the upper lip.
(i.e. the pot calls the kettle black.) Hamitic
Listen at the key-hole and you’ll hear news of yourself.
Listen to all, plucking a feather from every passing goose, but follow no one absolutely. Chinese
Listen to what they say of others and you will know what they say of you. Cuban
What little John has learned old John cannot unlearn. Slovakian
A little pot is soon hot.
(i.e. a small man angers quickly.) English
When men speak ill of thee, live so nobody may believe them.
One must live so that others can live too. Russian
What is really a load should not be called an ornament. Sudanic
A slice off a cut loaf is never missed. Negro
If you give the loan of your breeches, don’t cut off the buttons. Irish
There is no lock if the pick is of gold. Spanish
A lock is only made for an honest man.
(i.e. it is no protection against thieves.) Yiddish
Long is not forever. German
He who turns to look a second time will lose nothing. Chinese
Of two lookers-on one is sure to become a player. German
Lookers-on see eight pieces ahead of the players. Japanese
He who has his nail torn off his fingers looks at it often. Italian
No one looks for another behind the door if he has not hidden himself there first. German
A man cannot be known by his looks, nor can the sea be measured with a bushel basket. Chinese
He only loosed the tent peg. Egyptian
His Lordship has promised me a fur coat and already I feel warm. Polish
Losers are always in the wrong. Spanish
Let that which is lost be for God. Spanish
The value of lost goods is always weighed with double weights. Swiss
He who has lost his oxen is always hearing bells. Spanish
When you come out twice by the same tree you have lost your way. Sudanic
“We two have much to think about,” said the louse on the head of the philosopher. German
One does not love another if one does not accept anything from him. Sudanic
Whom we love best, to them we can say least. English
You may condemn the one you love, but you pay his fine for him. Bantu
One buys and sells love for love. German
If Jack’s in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty. English
Love is like soup, the first mouthful is very hot, and the ones that follow become gradually cooler. Spanish
The anger of those in love is like the spider’s web. Italian
Love is one-eyed, but hate is blind. German
Faults are thick where love is thin. English
Love makes time pass, and time makes love pass. German
It is only the truly virtuous man who can love, or who can hate, others. Chinese
As the best wine makes the sharpest vinegar, so the deepest love turns to the deadliest hatred. English
Love yourself, then you will have no rivals. Estonian
I never loved them that find fault with my shoes, and give me no leather. Scottish
Lovers always think that other people have had their eyes put out. Spanish
Were you as black as a mulberry, you are white for him who loves you. French
Write down the advice of him who loves you, though you like it not at present. Italian
When my luck is harder my mouth is bolder. Finnish
Luck is loaned and not owned. Norwegian
Luck will carry a man across the brook if he is not too lazy to leap. Danish
Pitch the lucky man into the Nile and he will come up with a fish in his mouth. Arabic
M.
An honest magistrate cannot succeed. Chinese
The magistrate’s so gets out of every scrape. Spanish
A maid that laughs is half taken. English
The malt’s above the meal.
(i.e. too much to drink.) Scottish
He who rides in the chair is a man; he who carries the chair is also a man. Chinese
Man is harsher than iron, harder than stone, and more delicate than a rose. Turkish
A man is what he is, but not what he was. Yiddish
The man of birth pouts not with his cheeks, he pouts in his heart. Bantu
The mantis seizes the locust but does not see the yellow bird behind him. Chinese
Game is cheaper in the market than in the fields and woods. English
To eat and drink, and sleep together is marriage, methinks. French
If you always say “no,” you’ll never be married. Scottish
Before a young couple gets married, the devil wears out seven pairs of moccasins. Estonian
Never marry for money, you’ll borrow it cheaper. Scottish
He who cannot see the master, flatters the servant. German
Who can prevent the master from catching fleas with his gloves on? Russian
The master has got a cold in the head, and all the servants sneeze. Polish
He who eats pears with his master should not choose the best. Italian
He who has two masters to serve must lie to one of them. Spanish
Mastery mows the meadows down. Scottish
What may be, may not be. Scottish
Every may-be hath a may-be not. English
Folks sometimes get a good meal out of a dirty dish.
(i.e. a good article from a tainted source.) Scottish
Without measure medicine will become poison. Polish
No medicine can cure a vulgar man. Chinese
Medicine that is mixed with food, even if it doesn’t cure the disease, will cure hunger. Sudanic
Mediocrity is climbing molehills without sweating. Icelandic
When you casually meet a man, say three short words; by no means show him all your heart. Chinese
When the melon is ripe, it will drop of itself. Chinese
From the roof of a house a melon may roll either of two ways. Chinese
A melon-seller never cries “bitter melons” nor a wine-seller “thin wine.” Chinese
Bad memory has its roots in bad attention.
By nature all men are alike, but by education widely different. Chinese
Among ten men, nine are women. Turkish
When a wool merchant speaks of sheep he means cloth. Bulgarian
A merry man has paid half of his expenses. German
You’d be a good messenger to send for death.
(Said to one who loiters.) Irish
The land where mice eat iron.
(i.e. great poverty.) Greek
It takes a good many mice to kill a cat. Danish
It cannot be later than midnight.
(i.e. it cannot be worse.) Burmese
At midnight one seems to have a thousand devices; by daylight not a move can be made. Chinese
Where there are two midwives, the baby’s head is crooked. Persian
Where there’s no might, there’s no right. Portuguese
Every mile is two in winter. English
Nothing turns sourer than milk. English
Put a miller, a weaver, and a tailor in a bag and shake them, the first that comes out will be a thief.
That miller is honest who has hair on his teeth. German
What is bolder than a miller’s neckcloth, which takes a thief by the throat every morning? German
As many millers, so many bushels – as many parsons, so many creeds. Czech
Peace would be universal, if there were neither mine nor thine. Italian
“Mine” and “thine” divide the world. Polish
Lawyers will live as long as “mine” and thine” exist. German
“Mine and thine” is the source of all lawsuits. Dutch
Without “mine and thine” the world would be heaven. German
Men would live exceedingly quiet if those two words, “mine and thine” were taken away.
A mirror eats up asses and spits out fools. German
The miser and the pig are of no use till dead. French
Misery acquaints men with strange bedfellows. English
There is a piece of fortune in misfortune. Japanese
Misfortune makes foes of friends. English
When misfortune sleeps let no one wake her. Spanish
The misfortune that involves many is a pleasure. Spanish
He who makes no mistakes, makes nothing. English
If the mistress breaks, it is an accident; if the servant breaks, it is a fault. Kurdish
When the cup is broken by the mistress of the house, one hears no noise. Kurdish
There is a critical moment for all things. English
The monastery faces the convent; there is nothing going on – but there may be. Chinese
If you have money at all you say it is gospel truth. Chinese
Money does not get hanged. German
Money does not smell. Russian
Money hides a thousand deformities. Chinese
Money is more eloquent than a dozen members of parliament.
Danish
Money is the god of the world. English
Money is the only monarch. English
To have money is to add on thirty year’s dignity. Chinese
He that is without money might as well be buried in a rice tub with his mouth sewed up. Chinese
With money you are a dragon; without it you are a worm.
Chinese
It doesn’t matter whether you are right or not, if you have no money you are wrong. Chinese
Though you set a monkey on horseback, yet will his hands and feet remain hairy. Chinese
The monkeys laugh at each other’s deep eye-sockets. Bantu
Everybody does what he can; dogs bark, wolves howl, and monks lie. German
The most lasting monuments are doubtless paper monuments. English
The full moon is a poor hand to keep secrets. Negro
You cannot coax the morning glory to climb the wrong way round the cornstalks. Negro
A mosquito feels no pity for an emaciated person. Sudanic
Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother. Semitic
His mother an onion, his father garlic, himself comes out conserve of rose. Turkish
See the mother, comprehend the daughter. Afghanistan
The mother is she who catches the knife by the blade. Bantu
That which reaches the father’s knees reaches to the mother’s heart. Silesian
A mother’s love will draw up from the depths of the sea. Russian
What is sucked in with the mother’s milk runs out in the shroud. Spanish
Better to look from the mountain than from the dungeon. Servian
If you don’t climb the high mountain, you can’t view the plain. Chinese
Can a mouse fall in love with a cat? English
The mouse will have a tail.
(i.e. the thing will have a long train of consequences.)
Let not the mouse-trap smell of cheese. English
“Mr. Mouth” hurt his master. Bantu
The mouth is but wind; the pen is a mark. Chinese
A silent mouth is musical. Irish
He that hath a mouth of his own should not say to another, “Blow.”
A man must keep his mouth open a long time before a roast pigeon will fly into it. Danish
Once in people’s mouths, ‘tis hard to get out of them. German
He who wants a mule without fault must walk on foot. Spanish
Take not a musket to kill a butterfly. English
Must is a king’s word.
N.
Drive the nail that goes the best. English
When one is naked it is better to sit down than to stand up. Hamitic
He that hath the name may as well enjoy the game. English
Get a name to rise early, and you may lie all day. English
A narrow place is large to the narrow-minded. Turkestan
Nine is very near to ten.
(i.e. an exhortation to patience.) Bantu
“Nearly” and “next to” pull no man off his horse. Danish
In things necessary, unity; in things doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity. Latin
Necessity becomes will. Italian
Necessity breaks iron.
When necessity declares she will live with you, you reply, “There is no room.” Have you forgotten that she can make room for herself even on the very tip of your nose? Sudanic
Necessity unites hearts. German
Necessity will teach the old to run. Welsh
Need teaches things unlawful.
No needle is sharp at both ends.
(i.e. no man is talented in every direction.) Chinese
Where goes the needle, there goes the thread. Russian
A needle with a small eye should be threaded slowly.
(i.e. children should be taught gently and patiently.) Siamese
The Negro has a rib and a cup of blood more than the white man.
If a man would know what he is let him anger his neighbor. German
I speak to you, O daughter-in-law, that you may hear, O neighbor. Egyptian
Does your neighbor bore you, lend him a sequin. Italian
The neighbor calls on the day when I have not done my hair. Spanish
Shut your door and you will make your neighbor good. Spanish
When a neighbor is in your fruit-garden inattention is the truest politeness. Chinese
The house of the one who does not help to put out his neighbor’s fire will soon be in danger. Polish
A small piece seems a big piece in your neighbor’s hand. Albanian
Lock your doors and keep your neighbors honest. Scottish
It is not as thy mother says, but as thy neighbors say. English
In vain the net is spread in the sight of the bird. English
Better go home and make a net than dive into a pool after a fish. Chinese
Do not take hold of a nettle, but if you do, grasp it tight. Afghanistan
He that handles a nettle tenderly is soonest stung. English
Neutrals are soused from above and singed from below. German
Neutrals think to read on eggs and break none. German
A hundred years is not much, but never is a long while. French
Nothing is so new as what has long been forgotten. German
It is almost as good as bringing news not to bring bad news. Irish
He was scarce of news that told his father was hanged. Scottish
He who is always nice is not always nice. Polish
The words of the night are coated with butter; as soon as the sun shines they melt away. Egyptian
If the night be dark, the apples will be counted.
(i.e. folk take precautions when danger threatens.)
Afghanistan
Dark night has no governor. Negro
Last night I thought over a thousand plans, but this morning I went my old way. Chinese
Midsummer night is not long but it sets many cradles rocking. Swedish
The night is the mother of advice. Corsican
“No” is a good answer when given in time. Danish
Don’t say “no” till you are asked. English
The nobleman is always in the right when the peasant sues. Russian
Noise and hunting don’t go together. Hamitic
One cannot breathe through another’s nose. Burmese
The man with nostrils is “Mr. Nose” among the noseless. Indian
An inch in a man’s nose is much. English
He whose own nose runs always wants to blow other people’s. French
Everything that is round is not a nut. Persian
O.
He has an oar in every man’s boat. English
Every sore-eyed person is an oculist. German
Who offends writes on sand, who is offended on marble. Italian
It is best to let an offence repeat itself at least three times; the first offence may be an accident; the second a mistake, but the third is likely to be intentional. Sudanic
They that buy an office must sell something. English
Office without pay makes thieves. German
To be an official for one lifetime means seven rebirths as a beggar. Chinese
The friendship of officials is as thin as paper. Chinese
Going downhill no one is old. Japanese
All wish to live long, but not to be called old. Danish
It is when old that the blows received in youth are felt. Welsh
Old age and poverty are two heavy burdens, either is enough. German
An old broom knows the corners of the house. German
If you see an old man running, either he is chasing something or something is chasing him. Sudanic
In old men there is no taste, in young no insight. Hebrew
It is no child’s play when an old woman dances. German
Once is never. German
Once is not often and twice is not always. German
“At once” is two hours and a half. Scottish
Be it an onion, let it be given graciously. Afghanistan
Not every opinion is truth. Czech
Live not upon the opinion of other men. English
Seize the opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind. Bulgarian
Order, counter-order, disorder. French
Give orders and do it yourself and you will be rid of anxiety. Portuguese
Give orders and do no more and nothing will be done. Spanish
He who manages other people’s business goes to bed without supper. Italian
He swallowed an ox but choked on the tail. English
The ox lives safely as long as the knife is being sharpened. Finnish
He who greases his wheels helps his oxen. English
When Oxford draws knife, England’s soon at strife. English
The owl, too, thinks his son a hawk. Hungarian
Every man thinks his own fleas gazelles. Arabic
Under one’s own skin runs blood; under the skin of others, water. Finnish
You may call that your own which no one can take from you. Danish
One hand for the owner and one for yourself. English
The owner has one house, the renter a thousand. Turkish
The foot of the owner is the best manure for the land. English
P.
A bad padlock invites a picklock.
People paid in advance have broken arms. French
He who hides his pain finds no cure. Turkish
Painters and poets have leave to lie. English
There is no making pancakes without breaking the eggs. Italian
Paper does not blush. Italian
Paper is patient. French
The fairer the paper, the fouler the blot. English
You can’t use paper to wrap up fire. Chinese
One cannot enter Paradise in spite of the saints. Italian
Never ask pardon before you are accused. English
In every pardon there is love. Welsh
A city that parleys is half gotten. Scottish
He who carries his head between his ears needs no passport. German
Without the past we never could have had the present. Chinese
The best patch is off the same cloth. Spanish
Patience and the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. Chinese
Who has patience may get fat thrushes at a farthing apiece. Italian
An hour’s patience will procure a long period of rest. Arabian
The purse of the patient protracts his cure. German
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. English
Who pays well is well served. German
Who holds his peace and gathers stones, will find a time to throw them. Portuguese
If you wish for peace, be prepared for war. English
A cake eaten in peace is worth two in trouble. English
Peace without truth is poison. German
The pear falls under the pear tree. Albanian
Those who wear pearls do not know how often the shark bites the leg of the diver. Abyssinian
No shears cut closer than when a peasant becomes a nobleman. German
The peasant carries the sack, whatever you put in it. Russian
The Pope and the peasant know more than the Pope alone. Montenegrin
If I peddle salt it rains, if I peddle flour, the wind blows.
(i.e. unlucky.) Japanese
It is easy to curse the pedestrian when you are on horseback. Serbian
He who peeps through a hole may see what will vex him. English
A pen and ink are the best witnesses. Portuguese
Every one hath a penny for a new alehouse. English
We are people because of other people. Bantu
Perhaps hinders folks from lying. French
All is not lost that is in peril. English
He who recognizes the disease is the physician. Bantu
A physician is an angel when employed, but a devil when one must pay him. English
An inexperienced physician makes a humpy churchyard. Czech
The sick man is the garden of the physicians. Bantu
Physicians and judges murder with impunity. Russian
Where there are three physicians, there are two atheists. Latin
Pictures are the books of the unlearned. English
If you pull one pig by the tail all the rest squeak. Dutch
He that has but one pig easily fattens it. Italian
In the time of need the pig is called uncle. Albanian
Pigs fly in the air with their tails forward.
(i.e. said after hearing an unlikely story.) English
A pilgrimage does not make a man a saint. Danish
In a calm sea every man is a pilot. German
A good pilot is not known when the sea is calm and the weather fair. Danish
The paleness of the pilot is a sign of a storm. English
It is not in the pilot’s power to prevent the wind from blowing. Spanish
The point of a pin is the easiest one to find. Negro
The pine wishes herself a shrub when the axe is at her root. English
He that touches pitch shall be defiled. English
Whether the pitcher strikes the stone, or the stone the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher. English
He that pities another remembers himself. Scottish
A pitiful look asks enough. English
Sit in your place, and none can make you rise. Scottish
The plaintiff should be heard once, the defendant twice. German
When you have the plate and spoon, there is no soup. Albanian
An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation. Portuguese
He has a good pledge of the cat who has her skin. French
He who ploughs from West to East loses a loaf in every furrow.
(i.e. the sun cannot shine on both sides of the furrow.) Italian
The great poet must be either gifted or exiled. Bosnian
Poison should be tried out on a frog. Bantu
There are no miracles in politics. Maga
When you go into politics put on your old trousers. German
The poor cannot, the rich will not. German
The poor do penance for the follies of their superiors. Italian
To the poor even the wedding night is short. Polish
The poor lives as the wet burns. Finnish
In the house of the poor one does not untie one’s packet.
(i.e. so as not to be obliged to give.) Bantu
“I have had it” is a poor man. German
The poor man and the fire do not like to be poked. Hamitic
If the poor man associates with the rich, he will soon have no trousers to wear. Chinese
A poor man doubles labors. Basque
A poor man is hungry after eating. Portuguese
When a poor man makes a proverb it does not spread abroad. Sudanic
The poor man pays for all. English
The poor man waited a thousand years before the gate of Paradise, then while he snatched one little nap, it opened and shut. Persian
When God lets it rain, the poor man’s nettles thrive even as the rich man’s roses. German
The poor man’s shilling is but a penny. Scottish
The poor man’s wisdom is as useless as a palace in a wilderness. Oriental
Much wisdom is lost in poor men’s mouths. German
Poor people entertain with the heart. Negro
Bad wine is given to drive away poor relations. French
The potter eats off broken dishes. Sudanic
All is lost when the people fear death less than poverty. Chinese
Poverty and hunger have many learned disputes. German
Poverty and wealth are twin sisters. Albanian
Poverty is a blessing hated by all men. Italian
Poverty is a garment of fire. Italian
Poverty is not a shame; but the being ashamed of it is. English
Poverty is the cow of the rich man. German
Poverty is the hands and feet of wealth. German
Poverty is the sixth sense. German
The poverty of the poor shall end when they regard the want of each other. Singhalese
Without practice one cannot even clean his teeth. Singhalese
Never praise a ford till you are over. English
Praise from Sir Hubert is praise indeed. English
Praise teachers while they are present; subordinates when their work is done, and friends when absent. Siamese
Let every man praise the bridge he goes over. English
Praise the day at evening. Irish
An honest man is hurt by praise unjustly bestowed. French
Things hate being praised prematurely. Bantu
Clever preacher, short sermon. Japanese
It is easy preaching to the fasting with a full belly. Italian
He preaches well that lives well. Spanish
Mr. Headshaker’s prediction – if it’s not a boy, it’s a girl. Malay
Pretty girl, dirty tricks. Negro
Never say “no” from pride, or “yes” from weakness. Spanish
It is not necessary for priests to marry as long as the peasants have wives. German
The vices of a prince draw shoals of followers.
When the prince wants a minister to die, he dies. Chinese
When a prince wants an apple, his servant gathers them all from the tree. Swedish
To be a complete man one should have spent three years at a public school, one at a University, and two in prison. Russian
Prison and Lent were made for the poor. Spanish
A thousand probabilities do not make one truth. Italian
To whisper proclamations is ridiculous. English
In the land of promise a man may die of hunger. Dutch
Promise is a bridge of words, unsafe to walk across. German
He loses his thanks who promises and delays. English
Promises and undressed cloth are apt to shrink. Danish
Promising is not giving but serves to content fools. Portuguese
A proof too many will not spoil the case. Portuguese
Property is theft. French
In prosperity no altars smoke. Italian
Who is proud on an ass will run mad on a horse. Montenegrin
Proverbs are constantly warring against each other. Swiss
Proverbs lie on the lips of fools. English
He that proves too much proves nothing. Latin
God will provide, but a bundle of straw will not be amiss. Spanish
Painting the pump will not clean the well. English
If you have an empty purse, keep honey in your mouth. Spanish
A purse without money is called leather. Italian
Put it on thick, and a little will stick. English
The putting-off man sharpens his arrows when he sees the boar. Japanese
Q.
Quackery has no friend like gullibility. English
An old quarrel is easily renewed. Italian
The roots of quarrels are three, namely: Yes! what! and you! Tibetan
One cannot with decency complain of the action of another in excelling him: those quarrels which have their origin in envy are not easily made up. Sudanic
A good question is like one beating a bell. Chinese
Unsettled questions have no pity for the repose of nations. Swiss
R.
Every rag wants to be sent to the wash. Italian
Rain doesn’t remain in the sky. Estonian
The rainbow might be better looking if it wasn’t such a cheap show. Negro
He built a wine shop out of a raisin.
(i.e. made a crime out of nothing.) Egyptian
He became a raisin before he was a grape.
(i.e. a student pretends to be a scribe.) Semitic
Rats do not play tricks with kittens. Spanish
Rats know the way of rats. Chinese
A man of reading understands half a word. Irish
Who gives many reasons tells many lies. Russian
Open rebuke is better than secret hatred.
Who receives should thank, who gives should be silent. German
A reflection does not see itself. Bantu
Refused with kindness is half promised. German
A relative on Adam’s side.
(i.e. an answer to one boasting of relationship to a notability.)
Polish
All religions start from Asia. Japanese
Where remedies are needed, sighing avails not. Italian
The best remedy for a dispute is not to discuss it. Bantu
Who repairs not his gutter, repairs his whole house. Spanish
The reply to a Turkish question should be in Turkish. Persian
There are some reproaches which commend, and some praises which slander. French
Reputation is commonly measured by the acre.
In things that must be, it is good to be resolute. English
A following commands respect. Italian
Respect, disrespect and suspect spoil the world. Italian
Revenge a hundred years old has still its milk teeth. Italian
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior. English
Wait for time and place to take your revenge for it is never well done in a hurry. Italian
He who cannot revenge himself is weak; he who will not is contemptible. Italian
The reverse side has its reverse side.
(i.e. everything has its front and back.) Japanese
Revolutions are not made with rose-water. English
The rich add riches to riches; the poor add years to years. Chinese
Kissing the young and giving short measure to the rich are no sin. Serbian
The rich impoverish, the poor enrich. German
A rich man is either himself an unjust one, or the heir of one. Latin
The illness of the rich is known to all, but not even the death of the poor. Finnish
The rich knows not who is his friend. English
Having become rich, one must jump for joy in the dark corner. Bantu
How is it that the rich only are niggardly? Malay
If one became rich through hard work, a donkey would have a
packsaddle of gold. French
A man cannot grow rich without his wife’s leave. Irish
If you are rich, you speak the truth; if you are poor, your words are but lies. Chinese
The rich man and the ashtray become dirtier as they heap up. Japanese
The rich man has five senses, the poor man six. Swedish
Before the rich man is willing to give, the poor man dies. Turkish
Do not examine the reindeer given you by the rich man lest you find it to be without horns. Finnish
The rich man will feed the rich man, the poor man will feed the rich man. Indian
Rich men’s spots are covered with money. English
The slave of riches is poverty. Estonian
Ridicule is the test of truth.
More belongs to riding than a pair of riding boots. German
The bare right is almost injustice. Irish
It is not enough to be right, one should know how to profit by it. Italian
Who comes out of a river fears no rain. Slovenian
Do not push the river; it will flow by itself. Polish
Be the road crooked or straight, the highway is the short cut. Irish
Don’t leave the high road for a short cut. Portuguese
A mile round the road is shorter than half a mile across the field. Negro
He who goes two roads at the same time splits his hip joint. Bantu
The robber has committed one crime, and the robbed a thousand. Georgian
Many speak of Robin Hood that never shot his bow. English
He who has left a rogue behind him has made a good day’s journey. German
When a rogue kisses you count your teeth. Hebrew
Room can always be found for a delicacy. Hebrew
There is always room for one who is wanted. Sudanic
He has got the two ends of the rope and leave to pull. Irish
The rope has never been made that binds thoughts. Swedish
The last rose that falls off makes the rose-bush a bush. German
Plant roses for him who plants thorns for you. For you they are roses, for him a trident. Indian
A change of rulers is the joy of fools. Roumanian
It is not enough to run; one must start in time. French
You run too fast, you run twice. Negro
Not all who turn their backs are running away. Swedish
What is the use of running when we are not on the right road? German
He runs as fast as if he had eggs in his shoes. Dutch
If you beat a Russian he can even make you a watch. Russian
S.
A saddle fits more backs than one.
When the saddle is empty, you can mount. German
Lay the saddle upon the right horse. English
It is safe taking a slice of a cut loaf. English
When one has said “A” one must also say “B.” German
Hoist your sail when the wind is fair. English
Sailors go round the world without going into it. English
To go barefoot does not make the saint. German
Let a saint be ever so humble he will have his wax taper. Danish
Many turn saints for their stomach’s sake. Indian
Unhappy people make the saints rich. German
All are not saints that go to church. Italian
They are not all saints who use holy water. English
He who ate salt will drink water. Indian
As you salute, you will be saluted. Italian
He dived into a saucer, and his back showed up.
(Said when a man makes a shallow excuse.) Bantu
What you save on the hay you must add to the whip. German
Save something for the man that rides on the white horse.
(i.e. for old age.) English
One does not know for whom one saves. Icelandic
He who saves for another day has no trust in God. Chilean
Say not all thou knowest, but believe all thou sayest. German
Better say nothing than nothing to the purpose. English
Nowadays, whatever is not worth saying is sung. French
Saying well causes a laugh; doing well produces silence. French
He who says “A” at last comes to “Z.” German
Scandal is like an egg; when it is hatched it has wings. Malay
He laughs at scars that never felt a wound. German
Since you have been scolding me, I have counted a hundred and twenty holes in that nutmeg-grater. Spanish
Scotsmen always reckon from an ill hour. Scottish
There is no need for a sculptor to be himself made of marble. French
Go to the sea if you would fish well. Italian
No one can complain of the sea who twice suffers a shipwreck. German
Don’t make an enemy of your secret.
(i.e. don’t tell it.) Irish
He that tells a secret is another’s servant. English
He who asks does not go wrong, but his secret is dug up. Hamitic
A secret only goes in trousers.
(i.e. women can’t keep one.) Yiddish
I wish to see face and back.
(i.e. both sides of the question.) African
If you see him riding on a bamboo cane say to him, “Good health to your horse.”
No one can see in others further than the teeth. Danish
One “see” is worth a thousand “tells.” Chinese
A man who stands behind a wall can see nothing else.
(Said of one obsessed with one thing.) Japanese
We can never see the sun rise by looking into the West.
Japanese
One may see through a wall if there is a hole in it. German
Mr. “Seeing-for-himself” falls into misfortune. Bantu
Seeing’s believing, but feeling’s the naked truth. Scottish
He who has seen little marvels much. Chinese
God, what things a man sees when he goes out without a gun!
Boer
Who will sell a blind horse praises the feet. German
If it will not sell, it will not sour. Scottish
They that sell kids and have no goats, how came they by them? Spanish
The sensible man understands a half a word. French
It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enemy’s.
If you pay not a servant his wages, he will pay himself. English
If you have a loitering servant, place his dinner before him, and
send him on an errand. Spanish
A new servant will catch a deer. Indian
He who has servants has unavoidable enemies. Spanish
Many servants, many enemies. German
The best served is not he who puts other people’s arms at the ends of his arms. French
He who serves is not free. Spanish
Not all that shakes falls. Italian
When sharpers prey upon one another, there’s no game abroad. English
You do not wish to be shaven, you want to have the hairs plucked out. Bantu
Become a sheep and you will see the wolf. Bulgarian
Never fleece two sheep at a time; the other may bite you. Bantu
That sheep has his belly full which butts his companions. Spanish
He that has one sheep in the flock will like all the rest the better for it. English
That is a woeful silly sheep that goes to the wolf to confess.
A sheep was never known to climb a tree. Chinese
Never give the sheep when you can pay with the wool. German
A sheep’s bite is never more than skin deep. Italian
When a Sheik dies his friendships die with him.
(i.e. the tribe is free to make new alliances.) Arabic
There is more disputing about the shell than the kernel. German
To a crazy ship, all winds are contrary. English
Shitten luck is good luck.
(i.e. to befoul oneself with ordure is lucky.) English
One cannot shoe a running horse. Dutch
Every shoe fits not every foot. English
Only the shoe knows if the stocking has a hole. Negro
I know best where the shoe pinches me. English
To him who hath a shoe under his foot it is the same as if the world was covered with leather.
Shoemakers go to mass and pray that sheep may die. Spanish
When the shopkeeper has nothing to do he changes the weights. Arabic
Ten who shout obtain much more than ten who remain silent. Chilean
The sick man is vexed with the flies on the wall. German
If you intend to give a sick man medicine, let him get very ill first,
so that he may see the benefit of your medicine. Sudanic
The sieve says to the needle, “You have a hole in your tail.”
India
Silence answers much. Dutch
Much silence has a mighty noise. Bantu
Silence is also an answer.
Silence was never written down. Italian
He that knows nothing, knows enough if he know how to be silent. Italian
Be silent or say something better than silence. German
No simile yet ran on all fours. Latin
A sin concealed is half pardoned. French
True sincerity sends for no witnesses. English
The sinning is the best part of repentance. Arabic
He sins as much who holds the bag as he who puts into it. French
Never sit in the place of the man who can say to you, “Rise.” Arabic
It is as cheap sitting as standing. English
One cannot ski so softly that the traces cannot be seen. Finnish
In taking a seat and putting on his hat a man shows much of his skill. Spanish
If the sky fall, we shall catch larks. English
What is said to a man’s face is not slander. Chinese
Give a slave a rod, and he’ll beat his master. English
If I sleep, I sleep for myself; if I work, I know not for whom. Italian
To sleep in the inn of the stars.
(i.e. out of doors.) Spanish
Take care, the sleep of non-existence will overtake you at last; for the coming and going of the breath is but the rocking of the cradle. Persian
Sleep to the sick is half health. German
In a small town one knows the other by his nose. German
He smells best that smells of nothing. English
To be a smith you must work at the forge. Latin
They who shun the smoke often fall into the fire. Italian
Tramp on a snail, and she’ll shoot our her horns. Scottish
One year bitten by a snake, for three years afraid of a grass rope. Chinese
Do not whirl a snake in the air when you have killed it; the ones which remain in their holes see you. Bantu
There is no distinction between big and little when you are talking about snakes. Indian
The owner of a soft head takes good care of it. Bantu
A soldier, fire, and water, soon make room for themselves. Italian
All are not soldiers who go to the wars. Spanish
Through others I am somebody. Bantu
A man likes to be better than everyone else but worse than his son. Serbian
He who pitches too high won’t get through his song. German
That is done soon enough which is well done. French
That is a prodigious plaster for so small a sore. English
Different sores must have different salves. English
Sorrow is like a precious treasure; shown only to friends. Malay
A good soup draws the chair to it. Sudanic
Sow with the hand, and not with the whole sack. English
You can’t dig with a spade handle, but it helps the spade to dig. Bantu
A bad Spaniard makes a good Portuguese. Spanish
A little spark kindles a great fire. Italian
It is one thing to speak much, and another to speak pertinently. English
When all men speak, no man hears. English
Do not speak of rope in the house of the hanged. German
It is easier to speak than to say something. Russian
He who speaks without being answered, how great is his pain? Bantu
a good spectator also creates. Swiss
If you spit in his eye, he says, “It is raining.”
(Said of one who is difficult to insult.) Polish
Who spits against the wind fouls his beard. Dutch
A dry spoon doesn’t please. Turkish
That’s a spoon in another man’s mouth.
(Said when an office-holder dies or resigns.) Irish
You have put an empty spoon in my mouth. Scottish
Said in sport, meant in earnest. German
He that cannot make sport, should mar none. Scottish
In sports and in journeys men are known. English
One spot spots the whole dress. Flemish
Errands are small on a spring day. Icelandic
If you squeeze a cork, you will get but little juice. English
When one goes to a town inhabited by squint-eyed people one must squint one’s eyes. Siamese
The squirrel can beat the rabbit climbing a tree, but then the rabbit makes the best stew and that sort of equalizes things. Negro
The squirrel is not heard in the forest.
(i.e. too insignificant.) Bantu
Do not fear a stain that disappears with water. Spanish
It is hard for a man who stands to talk to one who is seated. Russian
The light of a hundred stars does not equal the light of the moon. Chinese
He that can stay, obtains. English
Once in forty years I set out to steal, and then the moon shone all night. Oriental
If you steal for others you shall be hanged yourself. English
Stealing with your eyes is no sin. Russian
He that hides it is no better than he that steals. Danish
Not he who steals is hanged, but he who is caught stealing. Czech
He steals the pig, and gives away the feet for God’s sake. Spanish
Mind the step; the bottom one’s the lowest. Irish
If you tell every step, you will make a long journey of it. English
With the arrival of the stepmother the father becomes a stepfather. Afghanistan
Stolen waters are sweet. Scottish
He who throws stones in the night kills his brother. Sudanic
It is no time to stoop when the head is off. English
Stop a little to make an end the sooner. English
There is much good sleep in an old story. German
He that would rightly understand a man, must read his whole story. English
If you don’t hear the story clearly, don’t carry it off with you under your arm. Siamese
Who wants to straighten a crooked street will have to pull down many houses. Serbian
The third strand makes the cable. Dutch
Who curries a strange horse gets the hairs for his labor. Finnish
What a pleasure to sit in the fire having on strange trousers. Estonian
Strife is the father of all things.
If you lift your hand to strike you are three-tenths lower than your opponent. Chinese
He who strikes first, strikes twice. Walloon
Striking and not making it felt, is anger lost. English
A strong man can spin his top in the sand. Japanese
He who is stronger than you strikes you with the stick you carry. Bantu
After being struck on the head with an axe, it is a positive pleasure to be beaten about the body with a wooden club. Chinese
If a man be struck once, people say he was thrashed. Bulgarian
Some study shows the need for more. Chinese
He that stumbles, and falls not quite, gains a step. English
He who stumbles twice over one stone deserves to break his shins. English
Who disputes with the stupid must have sharp answers. German
Success has many friends. Greek
For those who do not know how to suffer, any life is death. Spanish
We must suffer much, or die young. Danish
Sugar is sweet from all four corners.
(i.e. wherever you eat it.) Kalmuk
One sprinkles the most sugar where the tart is burnt. Dutch
People with wax heads shouldn’t walk in the sun. English
Speak not against the sun.
(i.e. argue not against what is clear.) Chinese
If the sun shines on me I care not for the moon. Italian
When the sun shines the moon has nothing to do. French
The sun should not feel wroth at a firefly. Siamese
What’s the good of a sun-dial in the shade? English
The sunset is mighty pretty to the plowhand. Negro
He who sends charcoal in a snowstorm is the true superior man. Chinese
In hot weather there is no superior man.
(i.e. because nobody stands on ceremony.) Chinese
He is truly a superior man who can watch a chess game in silence. Chinese
“May you live and prosper” won’t support the wife and family. Malay
If your mind is free from care, stand surety for a loan! If your body is free from pain, stamp on a dog’s tail. Tibetan
A man surprised is half beaten.
The swallow carries spring on its wings. Czech
It is good to hold the clothes of one who is swimming. Italian
While in battle you cannot lend your sword. Bosnian
Who draweth his sword against his Prince must throw away the scabbard. English
He runs away from the sword and hides in the scabbard. Sudanic
The sharp sword is given to the brave soldier. Chinese
If your sword is short, lengthen it by a step. Hungarian
The scabbard of my sword is the liver of my enemy. Tibetan
One sword keeps another in the scabbard. English
A broken sword must be left in its scabbard. German
Scanderberg’s sword must have Scanderberg’s arm. English
He who never draws the sword without cause, never lays it down without honor. Spanish
The sword’s fellowship is sweet. Afghanistan
A good swordsman is never quarrelsome. French
T.
That which is said at table should be wrapped up in the tablecloth. Italian
What falls over the scissors belongs to the tailor. Estonian
One “take this” is better than two “you shall haves.” French
Believe no tales from an enemy’s tongue. English
Talk does not cook rice. Chinese
A good talker does not equal a good listener. Chinese
Sometimes talking loses what silence has gained. Spanish
A tall house is empty under the rafters.
(i.e. a tall man.) Spanish
We should attack a difficult task as though it were easy, and an easy task as though it were difficult. Spanish
He who is not taught by his mother will be taught by the world. Bantu
Blessed be nothing when the tax-gatherer comes around.
He who teaches a boy teaches three: a youth, a young man, and an old one. German
Teaching is a long way, example a short one. German
The full teapot makes no sound; the half-empty teapot is very noisy. Chinese
He tears away the east wall to repair the west wall. Chinese
Tears sometimes have the weight of words. Latin
If someone has bitten you it reminds you that you have teeth. Hamitic
Eating pears also cleans one’s teeth.
(i.e. kills two birds with one stone.) Japanese
We pick each other’s teeth.
(i.e. on excellent terms.) Bantu
Click the teeth and the stomach will open the door. Georgian
The gums understand best the teeth’s affairs. Sudanic
Temperance does not show in need, but at a banquet. Czech
Those near the temple make fun of the gods. Chinese
To thank too much is to secretly ask for more. German
The one who is caught is the thief. Bantu
Eat-by-himself is a thief. Bantu
He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief. German
He that fears the gallows shall never be a good thief. English
An insolent thief accuses the owner. Turkish
If you would make a thief honest trust him. Spanish
Where the host is a thief it is difficult to steal. German
We hang little thieves and take off our hats to great ones. German
Petty thieves are hanged, people take off their hats to great ones. German
Great thieves hang little ones. England
Thieves nowadays are not in the forests, but in the offices. Roumanian
The great thieves punish the little ones. English
Thieves quarrel and thefts are discovered. Spanish
When two thieves quarrel the farmer gets back his cow. Finnish
Highways and streets have not all the thieves; shops have ten to one.
Things are not as they are, but as they are regarded.
If a man think well of you, make his thought come true. Arabic
I will not pull the thorn out of your foot, to put it into my own. English
With shoes one can get on in the midst of thorns. Sudanic
A man does not run among thorns for nothing; either he is chasing a snake or a snake is chasing him. Sudanic
Every one thinks that all the bells echo his own thoughts. German
When a man’s coat is thread-bare, it is an easy thing to pick a hole in it. English
Threats are arms for the threatened. Italian
The throat has no pity.
(i.e. bodily needs must be filled even by those in grief.) Bantu
There is no god like the throat; it accepts offerings every day. Sudanic
Don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water. Swedish
If the thunder is not loud the peasant forgets to cross himself. Russian
While the thunder lasted, two bad men were friends. Indian
He is a paper tiger.
(i.e. a blustering fellow.) Chinese
He who rides the tiger finds it difficult to dismount. Chinese
An inch of gold will not buy an inch of time. Chinese
Time and I against any two. Spanish
As good have no time, as make no good use of it. English
Time enough lost the ducks. Irish
There is a time for picking up stones and a time for throwing them. Spanish
Don’t say “I will do it when I have time,” for who tells you that you will have time? Hebrew
Time is a file that wears and makes no noise. Italian
Time is an unpaid advocate. German
There is a time to fish and a time to dry nets. Chinese
What may be done at any time will be done at no time. Scottish
The toad doesn’t know that his skin is rough. Sudanic
Tobacco without coffee is like a prince without furs. Egyptian
The mountains of today are not so lofty as the mountains of yore. Chinese
Today is the scholar of yesterday. English
No one has ever seen tomorrow.
Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. Spanish
Let not your tongue cut your throat. English
The tongue is like a sharp knife; it kills without drawing blood.
The tongue is soft and remains; the teeth are hard and fall out. Chinese
The tongue is the worst piece of meat in the world. Swiss
When the tongue slips it speaks the truth. Swiss
Teach the tongue to say: “I do not know.” Hebrew
A double tongue will slip. Indian
Ten tongues asserting are not worth one eye seeing, nor are ten eyes seeing equal to a single hand feeling. Siamese
Too far east is west. Portuguese
Take two bites if one is too large. German
A little too late, much too late. German
Too little and too much spoils everything. Danish
“Too little” is worth nothing, and that little is too much. Jersey
Handle your tools without mittens. Scottish
Better a tooth out, than always aching. English
He who would be the top of the bag, let him not commit what suits the bottom of the bag. Welsh
He that is carried down the torrent catcheth at every thing. English
The tortoise breathes; it is only is shell which prevents our
noticing it.
(i.e. the poor man has little opportunity for self-expression.)
Sudanic
Trade follows the flag. English
The loyal man lives no longer than the traitor pleases. Spanish
Translators, traitors. Italian
If you toil so for trash, what would you do for treasure? English
He who rides behind another does not travel when he pleases. English
The treason is loved, but the traitor is hated. English
The great tree attracts the wind. Chinese
You can count the number of apples on one tree, but you can never count the number of trees in one apple. Romany
To the fallen tree, hatchets! hatchets! Italian
He plants a tree in the morning and wants to saw planks from it at evening. Chinese
When the tree is fallen, every one runs to it with his axe. Greek
It is only at the tree loaded with fruit that people throw stones. English
The dead limb on the tree shows itself when the buds come out. Negro
Don’t climb a tree to look for fish. Chinese
It is not the defects of the branches, nor of the leaves that cause the tree to perish; it is the decay of the root. Chinese
Don’t speak of trees in the forest.
(i.e. don’t talk platitudes.) Malay
He that plants trees loves others besides himself. English
A young trooper should have an old horse. English
Put the troubles in a net, some will fall, some will remain. Semitic
True blue will never stain. Scottish
A trumpet is heard before it is seen. Welsh
Trust-well rides away with the horse. German
Give a horse to him who tells the truth.
(i.e. that he may escape.) Armenian
It takes a good many shovelfuls of earth to bury the truth. Swiss
A thousand probabilities do not make one truth. Italian
Tell the truth and flee. Montenegrin
Speak the truth and look which way to run. Serbian
Truth and the morning become light with time. Abyssinian
Tell the truth and try to escape. Russian
Truth finds foes. English
Truth finds no asylum. German
What dread has truth for fire? Indian
Truth hardens itself to the hammer. Greek
Truth has a handsome countenance but torn garments. German
Truth has a good face, but bad clothes. English
If the truth is acceptable to the Tsar, it is not the truth but a lie. Russian
The truth is always green. Spanish
Truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it. Hebrew
All truth is not to be told at all times. English
Half the truth is often a great lie. English
Truth is straight but judges are crooked. Russian
He who tells the truth is turned out of nine cities. Turkish
When one has one’s hand full of truth, it is not always wise to open it. French
He that speaks truth must have one foot in the stirrup. Turkish
With truth one goes everywhere, even in prison. Polish
It is truth that makes a man angry. Italian
All truths should not be told. English
A drop of water in the eyes of the Tsar costs the country many handkerchiefs. Russian
The more you tramp on a turd, the broader it grows. Scottish
The more you tramp on a turd, the worse it stinks. English
He that thatches his house with turds shall have more teachers than reachers. English
If two men are of one mind, they can change yellow earth into gold. Chinese
If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind. English
Too much tying loosens. Arabic
The tyrant is dead but not tyranny. German
U.
He who comes uncalled, sits unserved. English
1. There is nothing unchanging on this earth.
1. He who would understand the hands of a clock must get inside the works. German
1. Unity among the cattle makes the lion lie down hungry. Bantu
1. If the unlucky man were to trade in winding sheets, no one would die. Arabic
1. To spoil what is good by unreasonableness is like letting off fireworks in the rain. Chinese
1. The unwilling man’s nose must bleed. Negro
1. Unwillingness easily finds an excuse. Irish
1. Where there is up-hill there is also down-hill. Bosnian
1. If you are standing upright, don’t worry if your shadow is crooked. Chinese
1. Use men as you would use wood; because one inch is worm- eaten, you would never throw away the whole trunk. Chinese
V.
1. The thicker the veil, the less worth lifting. Turkish
1. The vessel that will not obey her helm must obey the rocks. English
1. The victor feels no fatigue. Bulgarian
1. After victory, tighten your helmet cord. Japanese
1. Eight views, eight recollections. Irish
1. The bitter-gourd vine can bear only bitter gourds. Chinese
W.
1. A wager is a fool’s argument. Scottish
1. Men work but slowly that have poor wages. English
1. Seven never wait for one. Russian
1. People count up the faults of those who keep them waiting. French
1. If you walk gently, the earth will bear you. Indian
1. He that walks daily over his estates finds a little coin each time. Hebrew
1. He who walks is not a comrade to him who rides. Russian
1. She crawls on the walls.
(Said of a very particular housekeeper.) Yiddish
1. He that wants should not be bashful. Italian
1. One war brings on another. German
1. Every war ends where it should begin. Spanish
1. War has no eyes. Bantu
1. The advantage of war is to make of a secret enemy an open one. German
1. In war, it is not permitted twice to err. English
1. War makes thieves, and peace hangs them. Scottish
1. After the war many heroes present themselves. Roumanian
1. To carry on war with spy-glasses is easy. Arabic
1. He that is not in the wars, is not out of danger. English
1. He that is warm thinks all so. English
1. A man warmed is as good as two. French
1. I wash my shirt.
(i.e. I am unmarried.) Gipsy
1. Watch the face of him who bows low. Polish
1. To him who watches everything is revealed. Italian
1. Don’t bathe if there is no water.
(i.e. don’t undertake the impossible.) Burmese
1. Thou has added water, and flour also.
(Said of one who asks many questions but adds nothing more
substantial to the conversation.) Hebrew
1. He who wants to attain water and earth at the same time will wade in a marsh. Bulgarian
1. Water can support a ship, and water can upset it. Chinese
1. Dirty water cannot be washed. Sudanic
1. A mouth full of water can’t blow a fire. Brazilian
1. Hot water does not burn down the house.
(i.e. hard words break no bones.) Bantu
1. If water is too clear, it will contain no fish; men who are too cautious will never gain wisdom. Chinese
1. He who would have clear water must go to the fountain head. Italian
1. Water never loses its way. Bantu
1. Whether you boil snow or pound it, you can have but the water of it. English
1. It is needless to pour water on a drowned mouse. English
1. Where is water on the ridge of a roof to descend to if it does not
run to the eaves?
(i.e. natural laws are naturally followed.) Malayan
1. There is no water so troubled that it doesn’t end by becoming clear. Walloon
1. The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up. Chinese
1. Pouring in water to stop the boiling is not so good as pulling out the firewood from under the oven. Chinese
1. Muddy water won’t do for a mirror. Italian
1. The more water you put in the more flour you must put in. Indian
1. He goes out of his way that goes to a good inn. English
1. A weak person goes where he is smiled at. Bantu
1. He that is drunk with wine gets sober; he that is drunk with wealth does not. Bantu
1. He that marries for wealth, sells his liberty. English
1. Where there is not wealth there is poverty. Bantu
1. If a wealthy man speaks unjustly they say to him, your speech is gold; if a poor man speaks the truth they drive him away and in addition spit upon him. Semitic
1. The secret of being wearisome is to tell everything. French
1. He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison. English
1. Not everything can be weighed in scales. Danish
1. We can offer you a dish of welcome. Spanish
1. They are welcome that bring. Scottish
1. Well done, soon done. Scottish
1. When the well is full it will run over.
(i.e. people much wronged will show their resentment.)
Scottish
1. “Not well” is worse than “sick in bed.” Scottish
1. “Well, well” is a word of malice. English
1. To boil the pot of our wellwishers let us turn our furniture into firewood. Persian
1. One already wet does not fear the rain. Turkish
1. When one wheel in the clock stands still, all stand still. Swedish
1. He who whispers lies. Danish
1. White hands like someone else’s labor. Russian
1. If there had been no poverty in Europe, then the white man would not have come and spread his clothes in Africa. Sudanic
1. Whites never fall out; only blacks do. Bantu
1. The rich widow cries with one eye and laughs with the other. English
1. A widow dreams in a double dream on her empty cot.
(i.e. of her late lamented and of her next love.) Afghanistan
1. He that marries a widow will often have a dead man’s head thrown in his dish. English
1. A man is not to be known till he takes a wife. French
1. He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. English
1. If you want to thrash your wife ask her for a drink of water in
the sun.
(i.e. to find fault with its purity.) Spanish
1. If thou desirest a wife, choose her on a Saturday rather than on
a Sunday.
(i.e. on Sunday she is fully clothed.) English
1. Hold a wife like a bottle. Estonian
1. A man who will can do more than ten who must. German
1. When the will is prompt the legs are nimble. Italian
1. He who wills the end wills the means. English
1. No wind can do him good who steers for no port.
1. What can the wind do to a stone? Finnish
1. One sees best the direction of the wind from tall trees. Swiss
1. From the window it is easy to frighten the bull. Italian
1. He cries wine and sells vinegar. English
1. Wine in the bottle doth not quench the thirst. English
1. The wine is drawn; it must be drunk. English
1. Winnow while the wind blows. Indian
1. Warm days in winter are also cold, and cold days in summer are also warm. Finnish
1. The winter does not go without looking backward. Finnish
1. Winter pulls the mittens out of your pocket. Estonian
1. The wisdom of this year is the folly of the next. Sudanic
1. The least foolish is wise. English
1. The wind in one’s face makes one wise. English
1. Everybody is wise after the thing has happened. French
1. Think with the wise, but talk with the vulgar. English
1. The wise is only once betrayed. German
1. The wise read a letter backward. German
1. Better weep with the wise than laugh with fools. German
1. A wise man builds two words out of one. Yiddish
1. If the wise man does not approve it is bad, but if the fool applauds it is worse. Chilean
1. A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows public opinion. Chinese
1. A wise man moveth one foot and standeth fast with the other. Sanskrit
1. The wise man never says “I did not think.” Spanish
1. Send a wise man on an errand, and say nothing to him. English
1. The wise man strikes twice against one and the same stone. Russian
1. Many things have two handles, and a wise man takes hold of the best. English
1. He is not a wise man who cannot play the fool on occasion. English
1. A wise man will make tools of what comes to hand. English
1. Even ill luck is good for something in a wise man’s hand. English
1. The views of wise men are pretty much the same. Chinese
1. Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them. Scottish
1. What you wish you readily believe. Hungarian
1. After wit is everybody’s wit. English
1. Do not measure the tail of a live wolf. Bulgarian
1. Report makes the wolf bigger than he is. German
1. The wolf changes his hair, but not his skin. Albanian
1. It is a hard winter when one wolf eats another. English
1. The wolf has the wolf’s luck. Estonian
1. When the wolf is advised to walk in front of the sheep, he says his foot hurts him. Kurdish
1. The wolf is always left out of the reckoning. Italian
1. The wolf is always said to be more terrible than he is. Italian
1. To be kind to the wolf is to be cruel to the lamb. Persian
1. Where a wolf lives no bird starves. German
1. Though the wolf may lose his teeth, he never loses his inclinations. English
1. On a little pretext the wolf seizes the sheep. Italian
1. Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl. English
1. The wolf’s death is the life of the sheep. German
1. God guards the moon from the wolves. French
1. Woman is a chain round the feet and a child a bit in the mouth. India
1. If a woman knew how much an apple is worth she would never give any to a man. French
1. Choose neither a woman nor linen by candle-light. English
1. Even if the woman’s candlestick be made of gold, it is the man who puts the candle in. Turkish
1. A woman’s tears and a dog’s limping are not real. Spanish
1. The three animals that spend the most time over their toilet are cats, flies and women. French
1. Two women – a market; three – a fair. Russian
1. Three women and a goose make a market. Italian
1. Women and fish are best in the middle. German
1. With women and ships there is always the fear that they may capsize. French
1. Handsome women generally fall to the lot of ugly men. Italian
1. Good women have no ears. German
1. Two women placed together make cold weather. English
1. Women resist in order to be conquered. Italian
1. He that is won with a nut may be lost with an apple. English
1. If “Mr. Won’t” won’t, “Mr. Will” will. Bosnian
1. With dry wood, green wood also burns. Turkish
1. Wood half-burnt is easily kindled. English
1. It is a strange wood that has never a dead bough in it. English
1. The wood pile doesn’t grow much on frosty nights. Negro
1. One doesn’t play with wool and fire at the same time. Turkish
1. A tiny little word can be a clap of thunder. French
1. The word invites you to stay the night, but the countenance sends you home again the same day. Malay
1. The best word is the word that remains to be spoken. Spanish
1. A word spoken at the right moment is like a golden apple on a silver dish. Silesian
1. Of big words and feathers many go to the pound. German
1. Words are dwarfs, but examples are giants. Swiss
1. Words are empty, but the writing-brush leaves traces. Chinese
1. Unless words are spoken a son will not understand his own father; unless a proclamation is hoisted in the market-place every man will do as he listeth. Tibetan
1. Words do not make flour. Italian
1. It is in vain to use words when deeds are expected.
1. One is more likely to get hunchbacked than rich through work. Russian
1. Work is in awe of the master-craftsman. Estonian
1. The work praises the master. Estonian
1. Every work revenges itself on its master. German
1. The work will teach you.
(Said when one is asked to do some work and says he does not
know how to do it.) Estonian
1. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. English
1. The worm sees nothing pretty in the robin’s song. Negro
1. A wound is not cured by the unbending of the bow. English
1. He that’s afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle. English
1. When wrath and vengeance marry, cruelty is born. Russian
1. What is written counts. Peruvian
Y.
1. Lack of years is a fault that is corrected every day. German
1. Before us stands yesterday. Finnish
1. Now is yesterday’s tomorrow. English
1. Young maids are grapes, old ones raisins. German
The End