I Love Proverbs

Here are a few more proverbs from various countries. Are they true or not?

Do you perhaps have examples from your own life of how true they are — that you would dare to tell!

Make your bargain before beginning to plow.
Arab

Seize opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind.
Bulgarian

Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve.
Do not employ handsome servants.
Chinese

Wait until it is night before saying that it has been a fine day.
French

Divorcing a wife is easy for a single guy.
Turkish

By asking for the impossible we obtain the possible.
Italian

To buy cheap is to buy twice.
Catalan

A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs.
German

Now some proverbs that could have come from Heavenletters themselves:

Examine what is said, not him who speaks.
(sorry, lost the language source)

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
German

Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Indian

And this, which may be my favorite of all:

When you drink the water, remember the spring.
Chinese

And what proverbs do you have to add?

Posted by Gloria on March 25th, 2008 under these topics
Heaven Letters, Godwriting Journal

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13 Replies

Reply from Jo on March 25, 2008

This is not exactly a proverb, but I think it should become one. As a recovering grudge-holder, it always makes me smile (sheepishly!).
“Holding a grudge is like eating rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.”
Anne Lammot

Reply from Beverly Herman on March 26, 2008

Many years ago in your town of Fairfield people had a great sense of safety and were very trusting. I guess that is still one of the many charming features of Fairfield. People were leaving their doors unlocked, including their car doors. After a few car thefts occurred, this expression was floating around town:

“Trust Allah, but tie up your camel.�?

Much like “Trust in God, but row away from the rocks,�? this suggests that we act responsibly and take some precautions without being fearful or obsessive.

Reply from Gloria on March 26, 2008

Oh, Bev, I love this proverb: “Trust Allah, but tie up your camel.”

Can there be one better?

Reply from mia on March 27, 2008

I don’t know if this is a comment or not.

I call it a saying;

‘All is as it should be’

These few words have kept me sane when things have gone wrong.

To me they mean that whatever is happening is supposed to happen and I must just get on with it.

Because I have thought that way and accepted, all turns out well.

Love mia

Reply from One on March 27, 2008

Alas I am struck by rare syndrome known as goldfishemnesia so I’ll have to make one up…

From the heart, love flows. The waterfall does not aim for the volcano.

Reply from One on March 27, 2008

another one…

The king has many riches , but the thief rules the kingdom.

and another…

If the innocent lamb smells awful, it’s probably a wolf.

oh no they keep coming…!

Before looking in the mirror, give it a wipe.

Reply from One on March 27, 2008

The door must be held open, the welcome mat placed in front. Love is no thief.

Reply from Gloria on March 27, 2008

One, did you make up all of these precious proverbs? They are so real, yet I think you made them up. You could tell me they were written thousands of years ago, and I would believe you.

Reply from One on March 29, 2008

Here’s another…

Through Mother’s love, can one win Father’s grace.

on the same theme…

Father is far, Mother is close. Both are here.

To reach the top of the Mountain, one must climb.

I wonder if these count as proverbs? Senora, you’re the English expert. You should know.

Reply from Pam (fortheloveofGodde) on March 30, 2008

Wow, One … proverbs for the here and now. These are wonderful!

And here all I could think of was “Always wear clean underwear. You never know when you’ll be in an accident.”

My grandmother’s favorite when one of us screwed up big time and were feeling blue … “You aren’t the first one and I doubt if you’ll be the last.” I’m not sure if that counts as a proverb, but it was surprisingly comforting to know that whatever it was we did, we weren’t the only ones who ever had.

Reply from kamal affaoui on September 25, 2009

many proverbs are true and real as they all express human feeling about specific things in life

Reply from affaoui kamal on September 25, 2009

heres funny poverbs:
few bees better than thousands flees.
he cries wth the sheepboy and eat wth the wolf.
who has already biten by the snake would be afraid from the corde.
if ur friend a honey dont suck him all.
if u want to missur firend lend him money
he has been asked wat do you need ,you naked man he answered ? he answered a ring sir.

Reply from affaoui kamal on September 25, 2009

heres funny poverbs:
few bees better than thousands flees.
he cries wth the sheepboy and eat wth the wolf.
who has already biten by the snake would be afraid from the corde.
if ur friend a honey dont suck him all.
if u want to miss ur friend lend him money
he has been asked wat do you need ,you naked man ? he answered a ring sir.

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