Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

English Proverbs in the Range

You must have come across English proverbs during your English literature classes in high school. But if you are looking for uncommon English proverbs, here is an interesting collection. When you read these English proverbs you will find them layered with meaning and insight.

* A good beginning makes a good end.

* A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

* A stumble may prevent a fall.

* If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden; if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree.

* Adversity makes strange bedfellows.

* Every woman would rather be beautiful than good.

* All cats are grey in the dark.

* A miss is as good as a mile.

* Children and fools tell the truth.

* A ragged coat may cover an honest man.

* A good conscience is a soft pillow.

* Better to be envied than pitied.

* A man is as old as he feels.

* Use soft words and hard arguments.

* A rose by any other name would smell so sweet.

* A contented mind is a perpetual feast.

* Buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest.

* A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

* He who fails to study the past is doomed to repeat it.

* A stitch in time saves nine.

* Even the weariest river winds somewhere safe to sea.

* Where there's a will, there's a way.

English Proverbs in the Range

You must have come across English proverbs during your English literature classes in high school. But if you are looking for uncommon English proverbs, here is an interesting collection. When you read these English proverbs you will find them layered with meaning and insight.

* A good beginning makes a good end.

* A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

* A stumble may prevent a fall.

* If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden; if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree.

* Adversity makes strange bedfellows.

* Every woman would rather be beautiful than good.

* All cats are grey in the dark.

* A miss is as good as a mile.

* Children and fools tell the truth.

* A ragged coat may cover an honest man.

* A good conscience is a soft pillow.

* Better to be envied than pitied.

* A man is as old as he feels.

* Use soft words and hard arguments.

* A rose by any other name would smell so sweet.

* A contented mind is a perpetual feast.

* Buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest.

* A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

* He who fails to study the past is doomed to repeat it.

* A stitch in time saves nine.

* Even the weariest river winds somewhere safe to sea.

* Where there's a will, there's a way.
African Proverbs Translated From Swahili to English:

* A chicken's prayer doesn't affect a hawk.

* The way a donkey expresses gratitude is by giving someone a bunch of kicks.

* An envious person requires no reason to practice envy.

* It's always good to save or invest for the future.

* Hurry; haste has no blessing.

* The water pot presses upon the small circular pad.

* Effort will not counter faith.

* The hen with baby chicks doesn't swallow the worm.

* When elephants fight the grass gets hurt.

* I pointed out to you the stars and all you saw was the tip of my finger.

* It is only a male elephant that can save another one from a pit.

* A deaf ear is followed by death and an ear that listens is followed by blessings.


* He who throws a stone in the market will hit his relative.

* A person who stammers would eventually say "father".

* One takes care of one's own: when a bachelor roasts yam, he shares it with his sheep.

* When a king's palace burns down, the re-built palace is more beautiful.

* A child lacks wisdom, and some say that what is important is that the child does not die; what kills more surely than lack of wisdom?

* You are given some stew and you add water; you must be wiser than the cook.

* One does not enter into the water and then run from the cold.

* One does not fight to save another person's head only to have a kite carry one's own away.

* One does not use a sword to kill a snail.

* One gets bitten by a snake only once.

* Whoever sees mucus in the nose of the king is the one who cleans it.


* No sun sets without its histories.

* A tree is known by its fruit.

* The groin pains in sympathy with the sore.

* You are sharp on one side like a knife.

* The wrong-headed fool, who refuses counsel, will come to grief.

* The lead cow (the one in front) gets whipped the most.

* Go you will find a stone in the road that you can't get over or pass.

* Hope does not kill; I shall live and get what I want one day.
African Proverbs Translated From Swahili to English:

* A chicken's prayer doesn't affect a hawk.

* The way a donkey expresses gratitude is by giving someone a bunch of kicks.

* An envious person requires no reason to practice envy.

* It's always good to save or invest for the future.

* Hurry; haste has no blessing.

* The water pot presses upon the small circular pad.

* Effort will not counter faith.

* The hen with baby chicks doesn't swallow the worm.

* When elephants fight the grass gets hurt.

* I pointed out to you the stars and all you saw was the tip of my finger.

* It is only a male elephant that can save another one from a pit.

* A deaf ear is followed by death and an ear that listens is followed by blessings.


* He who throws a stone in the market will hit his relative.

* A person who stammers would eventually say "father".

* One takes care of one's own: when a bachelor roasts yam, he shares it with his sheep.

* When a king's palace burns down, the re-built palace is more beautiful.

* A child lacks wisdom, and some say that what is important is that the child does not die; what kills more surely than lack of wisdom?

* You are given some stew and you add water; you must be wiser than the cook.

* One does not enter into the water and then run from the cold.

* One does not fight to save another person's head only to have a kite carry one's own away.

* One does not use a sword to kill a snail.

* One gets bitten by a snake only once.

* Whoever sees mucus in the nose of the king is the one who cleans it.


* No sun sets without its histories.

* A tree is known by its fruit.

* The groin pains in sympathy with the sore.

* You are sharp on one side like a knife.

* The wrong-headed fool, who refuses counsel, will come to grief.

* The lead cow (the one in front) gets whipped the most.

* Go you will find a stone in the road that you can't get over or pass.

* Hope does not kill; I shall live and get what I want one day.

Famous and Everlasting Quotes by Gandhi

The name "Gandhi" is synonymous with peace and non-violence. His epic struggle to bring together the people of India in their search for sovereignty is unparalleled. This great man's wisdom and foresight are compelling. On this page, you will find ten of the most powerful Gandhi quotes.

1. Strength
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

2. Government
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?
3. Self-Help
The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.
4. Government
It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in international affairs. The machineries of government stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another.
5. God
As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.
6. Life
There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.
7. Change
We must be the change we wish to see.
8. Self-Help
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
9. Truth
The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted.
10. Wisdom
Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmuted into an ineffable joy.

Famous and Everlasting Quotes by Gandhi

The name "Gandhi" is synonymous with peace and non-violence. His epic struggle to bring together the people of India in their search for sovereignty is unparalleled. This great man's wisdom and foresight are compelling. On this page, you will find ten of the most powerful Gandhi quotes.

1. Strength
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

2. Government
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?
3. Self-Help
The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.
4. Government
It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in international affairs. The machineries of government stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another.
5. God
As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.
6. Life
There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.
7. Change
We must be the change we wish to see.
8. Self-Help
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
9. Truth
The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted.
10. Wisdom
Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmuted into an ineffable joy.

10 Precious Proverbs by Aristotle

Quick! Name a famous philosopher! Most people would respond to that with "Aristotle." He is indeed the most famous philosopher and thinker of all times. His breadth and depth of thought is truly amazing. This is a top 10 list of Aristotle quotes.

1. Aristotle
All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.

2. Aristotle
Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.
3. Aristotle
It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.
4. Aristotle
Law is mind without reason.
5. Aristotle
Pleasure in the job put perfection in the work.
6. Aristotle
Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
7. Aristotle
To perceive is to suffer.
8. Aristotle
It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen.
9. Aristotle
For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.
10. Aristotle
One swallow does not make a summer.

10 Precious Proverbs by Aristotle

Quick! Name a famous philosopher! Most people would respond to that with "Aristotle." He is indeed the most famous philosopher and thinker of all times. His breadth and depth of thought is truly amazing. This is a top 10 list of Aristotle quotes.

1. Aristotle
All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.

2. Aristotle
Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.
3. Aristotle
It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.
4. Aristotle
Law is mind without reason.
5. Aristotle
Pleasure in the job put perfection in the work.
6. Aristotle
Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
7. Aristotle
To perceive is to suffer.
8. Aristotle
It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen.
9. Aristotle
For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.
10. Aristotle
One swallow does not make a summer.

Chinese Proverbs Latest

Here are some Chinese proverbs that I found insightful. Chinese proverbs did not influence early English literature. But with the standardization and interpretation of the Chinese character set, these proverbs became available to the rest of the world.
  • The soldier who retreated 50 paces jeered at the one who retreated 100 paces.

  • Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone.

  • Fight poison with poison.

  • Tiger father begets tiger son.

  • Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven.

  • If you have money you can make the ghosts and devils turn your grind stone.

  • You want your horse to look good but you also want it not to have to eat grass.

  • There is no wave without wind.

  • You cannot push a cow's head down unless it is drinking water by it's own will.

  • The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure.

  • Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.

  • If you are in a hurry you will never get there.

  • The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair.

  • Use attack as the tactic of defense.

  • Set yourself as the standard.

  • When you have musk, you will automatically have fragrance.

  • You cannot fight a fire with water from far away.

  • Paper cannot wrap up a fire.

  • Men should worry about fame just as pigs about being fat.

  • Even the most resourceful housewife cannot create miracles from a rice less pantry.

Chinese Proverbs Latest

Here are some Chinese proverbs that I found insightful. Chinese proverbs did not influence early English literature. But with the standardization and interpretation of the Chinese character set, these proverbs became available to the rest of the world.
  • The soldier who retreated 50 paces jeered at the one who retreated 100 paces.

  • Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone.

  • Fight poison with poison.

  • Tiger father begets tiger son.

  • Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven.

  • If you have money you can make the ghosts and devils turn your grind stone.

  • You want your horse to look good but you also want it not to have to eat grass.

  • There is no wave without wind.

  • You cannot push a cow's head down unless it is drinking water by it's own will.

  • The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure.

  • Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.

  • If you are in a hurry you will never get there.

  • The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair.

  • Use attack as the tactic of defense.

  • Set yourself as the standard.

  • When you have musk, you will automatically have fragrance.

  • You cannot fight a fire with water from far away.

  • Paper cannot wrap up a fire.

  • Men should worry about fame just as pigs about being fat.

  • Even the most resourceful housewife cannot create miracles from a rice less pantry.