Proverbial Wit

Some old adages I find insightful or just plain amusing:


A clear conscience is a soft pillow.--German Proverb

A close friend can become a close enemy.--Ethiopian Proverb

A dimple on the chin, the devil within.--Gaelic Proverb

A dog is wiser than a woman; it does not bark at its master.--Russian Proverb

A drowning man is not troubled by rain.--Persian Proverb

A friend's eye is a good mirror.--Irish Proverb

A good husband is healthy and absent.--Japanese Proverb

A lie travels round the world while truth is putting her boots on.--French Proverb

A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance to steal.--Yiddish Proverb

A prudent man does not make the goat his gardener.--Hungarian Proverb

A rumor goes in one ear and out many mouths.--Chinese proverb

A single Russian hair outweighs half a Pole.--Traditional Russian Saying

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.--Greek Proverb

A thief believes everybody steals.--Proverb of Unknown Origin

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.--Chinese Proverb

A woman has the form of an angel, the heart of a serpent, and the mind of an ass.--German Proverb

Advice when most needed is least heeded.--English Proverb

After shaking hands with a Greek, count your fingers.--Albanian Saying

An ass in Germany is a professor in Rome.--Traditional German Saying

An enemy will agree, but a friend will argue.--Russian Proverb

As sluttish and slatternly as an Irishwoman bred in France.--Traditional Irish Saying

Both your friend and your enemy think you will never die.--Irish Proverb

Children suck the mother when they are young and the father when they are old.--English Proverb.

Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.--Chinese Proverb

Death always comes too early or too late.--English Proverb

Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank him for not having given it wings.--Indian Proverb

Every ass loves to hear himself bray.--Proverb of Unknown Origin

Everyone loves justice in the affairs of another.--Italian Proverb

Glutton: one who digs his grave with his teeth.--French Proverb

God heals, and the physician takes the fee.--French Proverb

Gray hairs are death's blossoms.--English Proverb

He lied like an eyewitness.--Russian Insult

He that marries for money will earn it.--American Proverb

He that seeks trouble never misses.--English Proverb (17th century)

He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.--Spanish Proverb

He who sups with the devil has need of a long spoon.--English Proverb

Heaven lent you a soul Earth will lend a grave.--Chinese Proverb

If you wish to die young, make your physician your heir.--Romanian Proverb

In a calm sea every man is a pilot.--Spanish Proverb

It is better to exist unknown to the law.--Irish Proverb

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.--Chinese Proverb

Life without a friend is death without a witness.--Spanish Proverb

Love enters a man through his eyes, woman through her ears.--Polish Proverb

Love your neighbors, but don't pull down the fence.--Chinese proverb

Luck has a slender anchorage.--English Proverb