ADVERTISEMENT

Living a life is not an easy task, especially if you want to live it well. There are things you have to learn from your own experience as you go, but there are also things that are universal and don’t change as centuries pass by. From time immemorial, people have tried to accumulate that knowledge and relay it to the coming generations. This is how proverbs came to exist.

A proverb is a short saying, usually just one or two sentences, that contains a piece of truth about life. They are very succinct and express a deep philosophical concept in just a few words. These old sayings come from the time when people still very much relied on oral communication and instead of writing things down, would just repeat them from one person to another until they became common knowledge.  

As it often happens when things are disseminated by word of mouth, some parts of proverbs have been forgotten. Some of the common proverbs we use today initially had a different meaning, but parts of it got lost over time. That’s why if you want to know the full meaning of a particular proverb, it can be helpful to consult a scientific source.   

Interestingly, some common sayings can be found in different cultures. Though worded in various ways, they essentially portray the same truth. This shows that some things are equally important for everyone, no matter where you come from. 

For this article, we collected popular proverbs from all over the world. Which one do you like the most? Let us know in the comments if you have any favorite sayings that you live by. 

#2

Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall behind you.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
AnnaJ718
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's that song from the movie "Home"!!!! I am in love with that song

View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

It’s not enough to learn how to ride, you must also learn how to fall.

Report

#5

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Mind your own business.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Charles Mayberry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. Ignorance is normal, there's always things we don't know. Willful ignorance is another matter. Ignorance can be fixed. But you can't fix willful ignorance (willful ignorance can also rightly be called stupid)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Report

#11

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Robert T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Letterboxes need to learn from this one. Got bitten by several of them delivering leaflets the other day!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

All good things must come to an end.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Headless Roach
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright - it’s not the end.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Better late than never.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
lauralett50
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always heard it continues as follows:. You can give a man a brain, but you can't make him think .

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Laughter is the best medicine.

Report

#19

It takes a whole village to raise a child.

Report

#20

Even though you know a thousand things, ask the man who knows one.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Report

#22

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#23

Even from a foe a man may learn wisdom.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

Curiosity killed the cat.

Report

#28

The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.

Report

#31

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Report

#33

You can’t always get what you want.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#34

Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#35

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Report

#37

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Report

#39

If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#40

A watched pot never boils.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#41

Beggars can’t be choosers.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
K W
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They deserve to have boundaries and dignity though.

#42

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless you are throwing them away because they are rotten.

#43

If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.

Report

#44

If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

Report

#45

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Report

#46

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#47

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#49

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Report

#50

Out of sight, out of mind.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#51

Learn to walk before you run.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hugh Cookson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A more prescient one is ' learn to swim before you jump into deep water'

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#54

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Report

#55

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#56

Where one door shuts, another opens.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Robert T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or "When one door opens, another slams shut", or at least it does in my house when it's windy out. ;-)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

Time waits for no one.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What if I get stuck in traffic and call to let Time know I'm running a bit behind?

View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#60

The tree with most leaves will not necessarily produce juicy fruit.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#62

Cheese, wine, and friends must be old to be good.

Report

#63

Easy come, easy go.

Report

#64

God helps those who help themselves.

Report

#65

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#66

There is no time like the present.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#68

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Report

#69

Many hands make light work.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why there are so many people standing around during road construction and why it takes so damn long for them to finish.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#70

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
lauralett50
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took I believe three years. In other words something may take longer than you think it will

#72

Don’t make a mountain out of an anthill (or molehill).

Report

#73

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#74

Every dog has its day.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#75

Practice what you preach.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#79

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Report

#80

The longest mile is the last mile home.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#81

If you snooze, you lose.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#84

Birds of a feather flock together.

Report

#86

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#88

If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#89

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#90

All that glitters is not gold.

Report

#93

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#94

Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#95

Cowards die many times before their deaths.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#96

Beauty is only skin-deep.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nicole Weymann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"..., but no man ever fell for an attractive pair of kidneys", as PTerry wrote.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#97

While the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Report

#98

It never rains, but it pours.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
lauralett50
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get a bigger umbrella.,Ella ,Ella ,Ella,eh eh,eh, eh eh eh,eh.

#99

Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.

Report

#101

You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#103

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Report

#105

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

Report

#106

Practice makes perfect.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Will Cable
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again It is something you would think is right but let us look at the evidence....politicians have been in power for many years and they still haven't got things right.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#109

Begin to weave and God will give the thread.

Report

#110

The work praises the man.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Joy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really agree with this one. A job well done delivers its own pat on the back.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#114

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#117

You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Report

#119

Birds of a feather flock together.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And sometimes the males fight to the death for the females attention

#120

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to act.

Report

#121

Love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#122

Don't cast pearls before swine.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Emily Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pearls: knowledge, Swine: animals Don't waste your time sharing all your ideas and wisdom with those who are incapable of appreciating it or doing anything with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#125

Truth is more valuable if it takes you a few years to find it.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#126

Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nicole Weymann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a very abstract analogy. Might as well compare a missing shingle in a palace roof with a homeless person's leaky cardboard fridge box and say both their homes suffer in the rain. They sure do, but for one of them it's a permanent danger to their health while for the other one it's a momentary inconvenience equivalent to a mild itch on the nose.

#127

The best candle is understanding.

Report

#128

Don’t put too many irons in the fire.

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#129

Like father, like son.

Report

#130

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Report

#131

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#132

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Report

#133

Half truth is whole lie.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#136

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nicole Weymann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only in some very abbreviated dictionaries (thanks again, PTerry) and if you're a sanctimonious, conceited prick.

#138

He who hesitates is lost.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
lauralett50
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend was hesitant about getting on the plane. The one that hit a tower on 9-11.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#143

An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
John Barber
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*hands, not brain. You should do some research before you post this stuff. You're not very good at it.