Young people often get offended by being called inexperienced and argue that wisdom and knowledge don't come with age. Someone in their 20s might have more experience than someone who has lived half a century. In rare cases, it may prove true. Yet, we should listen to older people, not because they are always right or have longer roamed this Earth and hence have more experience. Instead, we should respect them because they likely have more experience being wrong, and mistakes are man's best teachers.
Arguably, one of the most often heard, common English sayings is, "We all make mistakes." And while making mistakes and drawing lessons from failures is a path everyone must accept in life, there's plenty to learn from the mistakes and experiences of others. Common sayings are a legacy and a heritage from our ancestors that have remained true (or become outdated) over the years. Unlike history or scientifically proven truths, common sayings and phrases are accumulated wisdom and advice, rather than facts, shared by people whose life experiences proved them true.
The many common sayings about life are knowledge and practical advice put in a metaphoric form passed from generation to generation, much like an heirloom. Interestingly, the values and morals taught in common proverbs, whether those are African, Italian, or common British sayings, typically share numerous similarities with nations worldwide.
Below, we've compiled a list of proverbs from numerous nations that will ring true to many. Is there a common saying in your family that runs through generations? Also, do any of these words of wisdom originate from abroad yet are often said in your home country? Let us know!
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"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." – Chinese Proverb
Meaning: skipping fundamental educational steps to attain short-term success will stunt progression and development in the long run.
"It’s not enough to learn how to ride, you must also learn how to fall" – Mexican Proverb
Meaning: learn from your mistake and don't be afraid to make one.
"Bend the tree while it is young." – Lithuanian proverb
Menaing: deal with a problem early on rather than leave it until it is too late.
"Good advice is often annoying, bad advice never is." – French proverb
Meaning: you're not always going to hear what you want to hear.
"Better alone than in bad company." – Spanish proverb
Meaning: sometimes we might feel pressured by society and settle for someone who is not right for us.
"The pillow is the best advisor." – Swedish proverb
Meaning: Sleep on the problem and see how you feel in the morning.
"Empty barrels make the most noise." – Icelandic proverb
Meaning: people who only talk a lot, don't usually know much.
"When the sun rises, it rises for everyone." – Cuban proverb
Meaning: never feel excluded from this world, if you weren’t meant to be here, you simply wouldn’t be here.
"It is darkest before dawn." – Swedish proverb
Meaning: after bad things always come good ones.
"The mouth is the source of disaster." – Japanese proverb
Meaning: sometimes, it’s better to not say anything at all.
"It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness." – Chinese Proverb
Meaning: it’s no good to complain, and it’s far more effective to be proactive about your problems.
"However long the day, the evening will come." – Irish proverb
Meaning: this proverb is trying to say that no matter how bad something is, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." – Swedish proverb
Meaning: sharing one's suffering and receiving understanding makes the suffering more bearable and alleviates distress.
"The bear and the bear hunter have different opinions." – Norwegian proverb
Meaning: some disagreements cannot be resolved.
"Strike while the iron is hot." – English proverb
Meaning: you should take advantage of the moment.
"A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle." – Japanese proverb
Meaning: we can achieve more with a little support from others.
"Don’t spit in a well as one day you may drink from it." – Lithuanian proverb
Meaning: don't ruin something that we may need later.
"Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet." – African proverb
Meaning: you don’t jump straight into a situation without thinking about it first.
"After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box." – Italian proverb
Meaning: there is no room for arrogance or ego irrespective of one's position.
"He who always thinks it is too soon is sure to come too late." – German Proverb
Meaning: don't miss your opportunity.
"A beautiful thing is never perfect." – Egyptian proverb
Meaning: you are beautiful in spite of your flaws.
"He who has a head of wax must not walk in the sun." – Italian proverb
Meaning: know your weaknesses.
"A cat in mittens won't catch mice." – Gaelic proverb
Meaning: being careful not always helps you to do the job.
"Fruits from the same tree have different tastes." – Chinese proverb
Meaning: members of the same family can be different.
"A crow will never be a falcon." – Ukrainian proverb
Menaing: there are certain skills that some people have and some don't.
"Don’t leave today’s work for tomorrow." – Turkish proverb
Meaning: this one emphasizes that one should not delay doing something that can be done today.
"Life is like a mist or a shadow; it quickly passes by." – African proverb
Meaning: life is too short, and you only live it once.
"Words should be weighed, not counted." – Yiddish proverb
Menaing: it's very important to consider the impact of the words we say to ourselves and about ourselves.
"Drop by drop you break the rock" – Italian proverb
Meaning: a task might appear mountainous and pretty much impossible to complete, but by completing a bit at a time and never giving up, you can get there.
"Measure a thousand times and cut once." – Turkish proverb
Meaning: this proverb demonstrates the importance of preparation and taking the time to be sure.
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb
Meaning: teamwork makes the dream work. No one can climb the ladder to the top without at least one leg up. Trust the people around you.
"Slippery ground does not recognise a king." – Kenyan proverb
Meaning: even the most powerful people are just humans.
"A frog in a well doesn't know the great sea." – Japanese proverb
Meaning: there's more going on than you know.
"As small as it is, the sparrow has all the rights organs." – Chinese proverb
Meaning: good things come in small packages.
"If the world flooded, it wouldn't matter to the duck." – Turkish proverb
Meaning: if things are bad for you it doesn't mean they are bad for everyone.
"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." – Chinese proverb
Meaning: there is a lot of beauty in the written word.
"You will know a horse by his teeth and a man by his talk." – Lithuanian proverb
Menaing: what we say, reveals who we truly are.
"A chain is as strong as its weakest link." – Danish proverb
Meaning: a group can only be as successful as its least successful or powerful person.
"A tree is known by its fruit." – Southern African proverb
Meaning: a person's or group's character or worth is determined by others based on their actions or the results thereof.
"Before you score, you first must have a goal." – Greek proverb
Meaning: you need to have a goal to get the results.
"Who begins too much accomplishes little." – German proverb
Meaning: the more you take on, the less time you have to complete it all to a standard you’re happy with.
"To be willing is only half the task." – Armenian proverb
Meaning: you have to put in the work for what you want.
"He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured." – Ethiopian proverb
Meaning: it’s important to ask for help when you need it.
"Don't take too much hay on your pitchfork." – Dutch proverb
Meaning: don't do too much at onece.
"When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt." – Kenyan proverb
Meaning: fights of the powerful only hurt the little ones.
"A dog bitten by a snake is afraid of sausages." – Brazilian proverb
Meaning: after being hurt you become more careful.
"A hungry stomach has no ears." – French proverb
Meaning: it is hard to concentrate when you are hungry.
"There is a bad potato in every sack." – Welsh proverb
Meaning: you can find someone who will be a bad influence in every group.
"The egg thinks it's smarter than the hen." – Polish proverb.
Meaning: young people think they know better than older people.
"A bad worker blames his tools." – Australian proverb
Menaing: said when someone has blamed a mistake or failure on the things that they use to work.
"The tree with the most leaves will not necessarily produce juicy fruit." – Brazilian proverb
Meaning: don't judge someone by how they look.
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." – English proverb
Meaning: it may seem like everyone around you has a better life, but you never know what is really happening in their life.
"Borrowed bread lies heavy on the stomach." – Ukrainian proverb
Meaning: people don't appreciate what they have.
"God gave teeth, God will provide the bread." – Lithuanian proverb
Meaning: don't worry about the future.
"It takes a whole village to raise a child." – African proverbs
Meaning: the society is responsible for the moral characters it creates.
"Even a sea bream loses its flavor when eaten alone." – Japanese proverb
Meaning: this saying shows Japan’s emphasis on shared meals with friends and family, and how it’s always better to eat food with those you care about.
"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." – English proverb
Meaning: someone who gets enough sleep and starts work early in the day will have a successful life.
"An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep." – Arabic proverb
Meaning: a group of incompetent people would succeed it their task if led and guided by a potent leader.
"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers." – Jewish proverb
Meaning: a mother is therefore a reflection of God's love, affection, and other qualities.
"The path is made by walking." – African proverb
Meaning: if we don't take a step forward, we are always going to be standing in the same exact place.
"Do not push the river, it will flow itself" – Polish proverb
Meaning: don't force something in life.
"Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you." – Spanish proverb
Meaning: be careful who you share your secrets with because not everyone is looking out for your best interest.
"A large chair does not make a king" – Sudanese Proverb
Meaning: it’s easy to say you are a leader without actually possessing any of the attributes of a true leader.
"A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning." – Kenyan proverb
Meaning: don't get intimidated or upset by somebody who raises their voice, keep yourself cool. If they were coming from a place of reason, they wouldn’t have to raise their voice or intimidate people into doing what they want.
"You must kill the spider to get rid of the cobweb." – Maltese proverb
Meaning: you have to find the root of the problem to get rid of the symptoms.
"He who digs a pit for others will fall in it himself." – Romanian proverb
Meaning: what goes around, comes around.
"A bad ballerina blames the hem of her skirt." – Polish proverb
Meaning: skill isn't in what you use, but how you use it.
"When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion." – Ethiopian proverb
Meaning: by uniting with others we can achieve a lot.
"The spoon maker's children often have the worst spoons." – Icelandic proverb
Meaning: some neglect close ones while helping others.
"A mother understands what a child does not say." – Yiddish proverb
Meaning: a mother always understands what her child needs.
"Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched." – Australian proverb
Meaning: don't be too confident in anticipating success or good fortune before it is certain.
"Tell me who your friends are, so I can tell you who you are."– Bulgarian proverb
Meaning: like minds stick together.
"Save the hay, its time will come." – Turkish proverb
Meaning: if you hold onto something you have for long enough, it will eventually become useful.
"If your sweetheart is made of honey, don’t lap it all up." – Egyptian proverb
Meaning: don’t take advantage of kindness.
"It’s easier to give birth than to think about it." – Japanese proverb
Meaning: it’s easy to stress over the future, but often what we worry so much about is easier than we think it will be.
"A leopard cannot change its spots." – American proverb
Meaning: people cannot change their basic personalities, habits, etc.
"The old horse in the stable still yearns to run." – Asian proverb
Meaning: those who are older still have things they would like to accomplish.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." – Asian proverb
Meaning: it is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something than to do it for them.
"A monkey in silk is a monkey no less." – American proverb
Meaning: just because someone dresses in a fancy way or elegantly, this does not mean that they are fancy or of good character.
"Laugh and the world laugh with you, weep and you weep alone." – English proverb
Meaning: people prefer cheerfulness in others.
For this brave old Earth must borrow its mirth, but has tears enough of its own.
"The tree often hides the forest." – French proverb
Meaning: to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details.
"Some men go through a forest and see no firewood." – English Proverb
Meaning: sometimes you either have it or you don’t.
More commonly expressed as "can't see the wood for the trees", what this actually means is that perspective is everything.
"A nice fig is often full of warm." – Zulu proverb
Meaning: don't judge anyone by how they look.
"Shrimp that fall asleep are carried away by the current." – Colombian proverb
Meaning: don't get left behind.
"Leave it to a Batman." – Filipino proverb
Meaning: some problems need to be solved by superheroes.
"Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall behind you." – Maori proverb
Meaning: our sense of optimism and pessimism can determine the outcomes.
"Wise men learn from other men's mistakes." – Ukrainian proverb
Meaning: do not repeat the mistakes that other people have made.
"The one who stays the last, is left for the frost." – Turkish proverb
Meaning: the people who lag behind will either lose or not have any benefits.
"Knowledge is like a garden: If it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested." – African proverb
Meaning: if you don’t make efforts to acquire knowledge then you would not expect to have it and if you do not put the knowledge you have to use, you cannot expect to gain anything from it.
