A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Quel che non è stato, può essere. What has not been, may be.

Quel che non puoi aver, biasima. What you can’t have, abuse.

Quel che pare burla, ben sovente è vero. Many a true word is spoken in jest.

Quel che ripara il freddo, ripara il caldo. What keeps out the cold keeps out the heat.

Quello che costa poco, si stima meno. What costs little is little esteemed.

Quello è dolce a ricordare, che fu duro a sopportare. That is pleasant to remember which was hard to endure.

R

Ragazzi savj e vecchi matti non furon mai buoni a nulla. Wise lads and old fools were never good for anything.

Ragghio d’asino non arriva al cielo. The braying of an ass does not reach heaven.

Rete nuova non piglia uccello vecchio. A new net won’t catch an old bird.

Ride bene chi ride l’ultimo. He laughs well who laughs last.

Ritornan molti dalla guerra che non sanno raccontar la battaglia. Many return from the war who cannot give an account of the battle.

Romper la casa per vender il calcinaccio. To pull down the house for the sake of the mortar.

Rompe una pietra una goccia d’acqua. A drop of water breaks a stone.

Rotta la testa, si mette la celata. When his head is broken he puts on his helmet.

Rubar il porco, e darne i piedi per l’amor di Dio. To steal the pig, and give away the pettitoes for God’s sake.

S

Sacco pieno rizza l’orecchio. A full sack pricks up its ear.

Sacco rotto non tien miglio, il pover uom non va a consiglio. A ragged sack holds no grain, a poor man is not taken into counsel.

Sacco vuoto non sta ritto. An empty sack won’t stand upright.

Sa dove il diavolo tien la coda. He knows where the devil has his tail.

Sa meglio i fatti suoi un matto, che un savio quei degli altri. A fool knows his own business better than a wise man knows that of others.

San Francesco prima si faceva la barba per sè, poi la faceva a’ suoi frati. St. Francis shaved himself first, and then he shaved his brethren.

Sanità senza quattrini è mezza malattia. Health without money is a half-malady.

S’annegherebbe in un cucchiar d’acqua. He would drown in a spoonful of water.

Sanno più un savio ed un matto, che un savio solo. A wise man and a fool together, know more than a wise man alone.

Sa più il papa e un contadino che il papa solo. The pope and a peasant know more than the pope alone.

Savie all’impensata, alla pensata pazze son le donne. Women are wise impromptu, fools on reflection.

Savio è colui che impara a spese altrui. He is wise who learns at another’s cost.

Schiaffo minacciato non è mai ben dato. A threatened buffet is never well given.

Sciocco è chi pensa che un altro non pensi. He is a fool who thinks that another does not think.

Scoprire un altare per ricoprirne un altro. To strip one altar to cover another.

Scorticar il cane scorticato. To flay the flayed dog.

Sdegno cresce amore. Anger increases love.

Sdegno d’amante poco dura. A lover’s anger is short-lived.

Se ben ho perso l’anello, ho pur anche le dita. If I have lost the ring I still have the fingers.

Segreto confidato non è più segreto. A secret imparted is no longer a secret.

Se il giovane sapesse, se il vecchio potesse, e’ non c’è cosa che non si facesse. If the young man knew, if the old man could, there is nothing but would be done.

Se io andassi al mare, lo troverei secco. If I went to sea I should find it dry.

Se la moglie pecca, non è il marito innocente. If the wife sins the husband is not innocent.

Se la superbia fosse arte, quanti dottori avremmo. If pride were an art, how many doctors we should have.

Se ’l sol mi splende, non curo la luna. If the sun shines on me I care not for the moon.

Sempre ha torto il più debole. The weakest goes to the wall.

Sempre ne va il meglio. The best always goes first.

Se non puoi mordere, non mostrar mai i denti. If you can’t bite, don’t show your teeth.

Senza debiti, senza pensieri. Without debt without care.

Se piovesser maccheroni, che bel tempo pei ghiottoni! If it rained maccaroni, what a fine time for gluttons!

Servizio de’ grandi non è eredità. Service is not inheritance.

Se sorcio sei, non seguitar rane. If you are a mouse don’t follow frogs.

Se tacesse la gallina, non si saprebbe che ha fatto l’uovo. If the hen had not cackled we should not know she had laid an egg.

Se ti lasci metter in spalla il vitello, quindi a poco ti metteranno la vacca. If you let them put the calf on your shoulders, it will not be long before they clap on the cow.

Si arriva più presto un bugiardo che un zoppo. A liar is sooner caught than a cripple.

Si dice è mentitore. They say, is a liar.

Si dice sempre il lupo più grande che non è. The wolf is always said to be bigger than he is.

Simili con simili vanno. Like will to like.

S’io dormo, dormo a me; s’io lavoro, non so a che. If I sleep, I sleep for myself; if I work, I know not for whom.

Si può pagar l’oro troppo caro. One may buy gold too dear.

Si romperebbe il collo in un filo di paglia. He would break his neck against a straw.

Si trovano molti asini che non portano mai sacco. There are more asses than carry sacks.

Si trovano più ladri che forche. There are more thieves than gibbets.

Si vive bene all’ombra del campanile. It is good living under the shadow of the belfry.

Sorte, e dormi. Have luck, and sleep.

Sotto la bianca cenere sta la brace ardente. Under white ashes there is glowing coal.

Sotto l’istesso fuoco si purifica l’oro, e si consuma la paglia. The same fire purifies gold and consumes straw.

Spegner il fuoco con la stoppa. To put out the fire with tow.

Spesso chi crede fuggir il fumo, cade nel fuoco. They who shun the smoke often fall into the fire.

Spesso chi troppo fa, poco fa. Who does too much often does little.

Spesso d’un gran male nasce un gran bene. Out of a great evil often comes a great good.

Spesso i doni sono danni. Gifts are often losses.

Spogliar Pietro per vestir Paolo. To strip Peter to clothe Paul.

Sproni proprii e cavalli d’altri fanno corte le miglia. One’s own spurs and another’s horse make the miles short.

Suocera e nuora, tempesta e gragnuola. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, storm and hail.

Suon di campana non caccia cornacchia. The sound of the bell does not drive away rooks.

Superbo è quel cavallo che non si vuol portar la biada. It’s a very proud horse that will not carry his oats.

T

Taglia la coda al cane, e’ riman cane. Cut off the dog’s tail, he remains a dog.

Tal canta che allegro non è. Some sing who are not merry.

Tal ha belli occhi che niente vi vede. One may have good eyes and see nothing.

Tal ha paura che minacciar osa. Many a one threatens and yet is afraid.

Tal lascia l’arrosto, che poi ne brama il fumo. Many a one leaves the roast who afterwards longs for the smoke of it.

Tal padrone, tal servitore. Like master like man.

Tal si burla che si confessa. Some who jest tell tales of themselves.

Tal sprezza la superbia con una maggior superbia. There are some who despise pride with a greater pride.

T’annoia il tuo vicino? Prestagli uno zecchino. Does your neighbour bore you? Lend him a sequin.

Tante teste, tanti cervelli. So many heads, so many brains.

Tanti paesi, tante usanze. So many countries, so many customs.

Tanto buono che non val niente. So good that he is good for nothing.

Tanto è morir di male quanto d’amore. It is all one whether you die of sickness or of love.

Tanto va la secchia al pozzo che vi lascia il manico. The bucket goes so often to the well that it leaves its handle there.

Tanto vale il mio nò, quanto il tuo sì. My No is as good as your Yes.

Tardi furon savj i Troiani. The Trojans were wise too late.

Tardi si vien con l’acqua quando la casa è arsa. It is too late to come with water when the house is burnt down.

Tosto si trova il bastone per dare al cane. A stick is soon found to beat a dog.

Tra asino e asino, non corron se non calci. Nothing passes between asses but kicks.

Tra corsale e corsale, non si guadagna se non barili vuoti. Corsairs against corsairs, there is nothing to win but empty barrels.

Tra due poltroni, il vantaggio è di chi prima conosce l’altro. Between two cowards, he has the advantage who first detects the other.

Traduttori, traditori. Translators, traitors.

Tra la briglia e lo sprone consiste la ragione. Reason lies between bridle and spur.

Tra ’l cuoco e il canovaio non è mai nimicizia. There is never enmity between the cook and the butler.

Trar la cavezza dietro all’asino. To throw the halter after the ass.

Tre cose cacciano l’uomo di casa: fumo, goccia, e femmina arrabbiata. Three things drive a man out of doors: smoke, dropping water, and a shrew.

Tre donne e un papero fanno un mercato. Three women and a goose make a market.

Tre fratelli, tre castelli. Three brothers, three castles.

Tre lo sanno, tutti lo sanno. Three know it, all know it.

Trista è quella casa ove le galline cantano, e ’l gallo tace. It is a sorry house where the hens crow and the cock is silent.

Tristo è quel barbiere che ha un sol pettine. He is a sorry barber who has but one comb.

Trotto d’asino poco dura. An ass’s trot does not last long.

Tua camicia non sappia il secreto. Let not your shirt know your secret.

Tutte le chiavi non pendono ad una cintura. All the keys do not hang at one girdle.

Tutte le dita non son pari. All the fingers are not alike.

Tutte le parole non voglion risposta. Not all words require an answer.

Tutte le strade conducono a Roma. All roads lead to Rome. (There are more ways to the wood than one.)

Tutte le volpi alla fine si riveggono in pellicceria. At last the foxes all meet at the furrier’s.

Tutti i gusti son gusti. All tastes are tastes. (There’s no disputing about tastes.)

Tutti i santi non fanno miracoli. All saints do not work miracles.

Tutti son bravi quando l’inimico fugge. All are brave when the enemy flies.

Tutto è bene che riesce bene. All’s well that ends well.

Tutto il cervello non è in una testa. All the brains are not in one head.

Tutto quello che crolla non cade. Not all that shakes falls.

Tutto s’accommoda eccetto l’osso del collo. Everything may be repaired except the neckbone.

Tutto sapere è niente sapere. To know everything is to know nothing.

U

Una aiuta a maritare l’altra. One daughter helps to marry the other.

Una bugia ne tira dieci. One lie draws ten after it.

Una campana fa a un comune. One bell serves a parish.

Una mano lava l’altra, e tutt’e due lavano il viso. One hand washes the other, and both wash the face.

Una parola tira l’altra. One word brings on another.

Una pecora rognosa ne guasta un branco. One scabby sheep spoils a flock.

Una pulce non leva il sonno. One flea does not hinder sleep.

Una rondine non fa l’estate. One swallow does not make a summer.

Una sella non s’adatta ad un dosso solo. A saddle fits more backs than one.

Una spina non fa siepe. One briar does not make a hedge.

Un avvertito ne val due. A man warned is as good as two.

Un buon boccone, e cento guai. One good morsel and a hundred vexations.

Un canestro d’uva non fa vendemmia. One basket of grapes does not make a vintage.

Un chiodo caccia l’altro. One nail drives out another.

Un coltello aguzza l’altro. One knife whets another.

Un coltello fa tener l’altro nella guaina. One knife keeps another in its sheath.

Un demonio non fa l’inferno. One devil does not make hell.

Un diavol conosce l’altro. One devil knows another.

Un diavol scaccia l’altro. One devil drives out another.

Un fior non fa ghirlanda. One flower does not make a garland.

Un male ed un frate rare volte soli. A misfortune and a friar seldom go alone.

Un matto sa più domandare che sette savj rispondere. A fool can ask more questions than seven wise men can answer.

Un nemico è troppo, e cento amici non bastano. One enemy is too much, and a hundred friends are not enough.

Uno leva la lepre, un altro la piglia. One starts the hare, another catches it.

Un pajo d’orecchie seccherebbero cento lingue. One pair of ears would exhaust a hundred tongues.

Un pazzo getta una pietra nel pozzo, e vi voglion cento savii a cavarnela. A fool throws a stone into a well, and it requires a hundred wise men to get it out again.

Un peccato confessato è mezzo perdonato. A sin confessed is half forgiven.

Un poco di vero fa creder tutta la bugia. A little truth makes the whole lie pass.

Un sorcio mette paura ad un ladro. A mouse will scare a thief.

Unto alle ruote. Grease to the wheels.

Un uomo di paglia vuole una donna d’oro. A man of straw needs a woman of gold.

Uomo amante, uomo zelante. A loving man, a jealous man.

Uomo ammogliato, uccello in gabbia. A married man is a caged bird.

Uomo lento non ha mai tempo. A slothful man never has time.

Uomo morto non fa guerra. A dead man does not make war.

Uomo ozioso è il capezzale del diavolo. An idle man is the devil’s bolster.

Uomo solitario, o bestia o angiolo. A solitary man is either a brute or an angel.

Uscito è dal fango, ed è cascato nel rio. He got out of the mud and fell into the river.

V

Va al mare, se ben vuoi pescare. Go to the sea if you would fish well.

Val più un asino vivo che un dottore morto. A living ass is better than a dead doctor.

Val più un’oncia di discrezione che una libra di sapere. An ounce of discretion is better than a pound of knowledge.

Vaso che va spesso al fonte, ci lascia il manico o la fronte. The pitcher that goes often to the fountain leaves there either its handle or its spout. (A pitcher that goes oft to the well is broken at last.)

Vaso vuoto suona meglio. Empty vessels make most noise.

Vedi Napoli e poi muori. See Naples and then die.

Vedon più quattr’occhi che due. Four eyes see more than two.

Vender il miele a chi ha le api. To sell the honey to one who has the bees.

Vender la pelle dell’orso innanzi che sia preso. To sell the skin of the bear before it is caught.

Vender l’uccello in su la frasca. To sell the bird in the bush.

Vendetta di cent’anni ha ancora i lattaiuoli. Revenge a hundred years old has still its milk-teeth.

Ventre digiuno non ode nessuno. A hungry belly has no ears.

Ventura aver poco senno basta. To have luck needs little wit.

Vicino alla chiesa, lontan da Dio. Near the church far from God.

Vien la fortuna a chi la procura. Fortune comes to him who strives for it.

Vino dentro, senno fuora. When the wine is in the wit is out.

Virtù di silenzio è gran scienza. The virtue of silence is a great piece of knowledge.

Vivendo s’impara. Live and learn.

Vive più il minacciato che l’impiccato. A threatened man lives longer than one that is hanged.

Vivi, e lascia vivere. Live and let live.

Voce di popolo, voce di Dio. The people’s voice, God’s voice.

Voce d’uno, voce di niuno. One voice, no voice.

Voler lasciar andare dodici danari al soldo. To be content to let twelve pennies pass for a shilling.

GERMAN PROVERBS

A

Abends wird der Faule fleißig. At evening the sluggard is busy.

Adam muß eine Eva haben, die er zeiht was er gethan. Adam must have an Eve, to blame for his own faults.

Adler brüten keine Tauben. Eagles do not breed doves.

Aendern und bessern sind zwei. To change and to better are two different things.

Affen bleiben Affen, wenn man sie auch in Sammet kleidet. Apes remain apes, though you clothe them in velvet.

”Alle Frachten lichten,” sagte der Schiffer, da warf er seine Frau über Bord. “All freight lightens,” said the skipper, when he threw his wife overboard.

Alle Freier sind reich, und alle Gefangenen arm. All wooers are rich, and all captives poor.

Alle wissen guten Rath, nur der nicht, der ihn nöthig ist. Everybody knows good counsel except him that has need of it.

Aller Anfang ist schwer, sprach der Dieb und zuerst stahl einen Amboß. Every beginning is hard, said the thief, when he began by stealing an anvil.

Alles wäre gut, wär kein “aber” dabei. Everything would be well were there not a “but.”

Allzuviel ist nicht genug. Too much is not enough.

Allzuviel zerreißt den Sack. Too much bursts the bag.

Als Adam henkte und Eva spann, wer war denn da der Edelmann? When Adam delved and Eve span, where was then the gentleman?

Als Christus allein war, versuchte ihn der Teufel. When Christ was alone, the devil tempted him.

Als David kam ins Alter, sang er fromme Psalter. When David grew old he sang pious psalms.

Alte Bäume lassen sich nicht biegen. Old trees are not to be bent.

Alte Kirchen haben dunkle Fenster. Old churches have dark windows.

Alte Krähen sind schwer zu fangen. Old crows are hard to catch.

Alte Leute sehen am Besten in die Ferne. Old people see best in the distance.

Alte Liebe rostet nicht. Old love does not rust.

Alte Ochsen treten hart. Old oxen tread hard.

Alte Schweine haben harte Mäuler. Old pigs have hard snouts.

Alte Vögel sind schwer zu rupfen. Old birds are hard to pluck.

Alte Wunden bluten leicht. Old wounds easily bleed.

Amt ohne Sold macht Diebe. Office without pay makes thieves.

An armer Leute Bart lernt der Junge scheeren. On poor people’s beards the young barber learns his trade.

An der Armuth will jeder den Schuh wischen. Every one likes to wipe his shoes on poverty.

Andere Städtchen, andere Mädchen. Other towns, other lasses.

Anfang heiß, Mittel lau, Ende kalt. The beginning hot, the middle lukewarm, the end cold.

Anfang und Ende reichen einander die Hände. Beginning and ending shake hands.

Armer Leute Reden gehen viel in einen Sack. Poor people’s words go many to a sackful.

Armuth ist der sechste Sinn. Poverty is the sixth sense.

Armuth ist listig, sie fängt auch einen Fuchs. Poverty is cunning; it catches even a fox.

Armuth und Hunger haben viel gelehrte Jünger. Poverty and hunger have many learned disciples.

Arzt hilf dir selbst. Physician heal thyself.

Auch der beste Gaul stolpert einmal. Even the best hack stumbles once.

Auch der Löwe muß sich vor der Mücke wehren. Even the lion must defend himself against the flies.

Auch ein Haar hat seinen Schatten. Even a hair casts its shadow.

Auf heiler Haut ist gut schlafen. It is good to sleep in a whole skin.

Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben. Forbearance is no acquittance.

Auf den Abend soll man den Tag loben. In the evening one may praise the day.

Auf einen guten Bissen gehört ein guter Trunk. To good eating belongs good drinking.

Auf Regen folget Sonnenschein. After rain comes sunshine.

Auf seinem Miste ist der Hahn ein Herr. The cock is a lord on his own dunghill.

Aus andrer Leuten Häuten ist gut Riemen schneiden. Good thongs may be cut out of other people’s hides.

Aus dem Regen unter die Traufe kommen. To get out of the rain under the spout.

Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn. Out of sight, out of mind.

Aus des Esels Wadel wird kein Sieb. You cannot make a sieve of an ass’s tail.

Aus klattrigen Fohlen werden die schönsten Hengste. Ragged colts make the handsomest stallions.

Aus ungelegten Eiern werden spät junge Hühner. Unlaid eggs are a long time becoming chickens. (Count not your chickens before they are hatched.)

B

Bär und Büffel können keinen Fuchs fangen. Bear and bull catch no fox.

Bald geben ist doppelt geben. To give quickly is to give doubly.

Begonnen ist halb gewonnen. Begun is half done.

Behaupten ist nicht beweisen. Assertion is no proof.

Bei großen Herren muß man fünf gerade sein lassen. With great men one must allow five to be an even number.

Bei Nacht sind alle Katzen grau. By night all cats are grey.

Beinahe bringt keine Mücke um. Almost never killed a fly.

Beleidigst du einem Mönch, so knappen alle Kuttenzipfel bis nach Rom. Offend one monk, and the lappets of all cowls will flutter as far as Rome.

Bellende Hunde beißen nicht. Barking dogs don’t bite.

Bellet ein alter Hund, so soll man aufschauen. When an old dog barks, look out.

Besser allein, als in schlechter Gesellschaft. Better alone than in bad company.

Besser: Da läuft er, als: Da hängt er. Better, There he goes, than, There he hangs.

Besser einäugig als gar blind. Better one-eyed than stone-blind.

Besser ein Flick als ein Loch. Better a patch than a hole.

Besser ein halb Ei als eitel Schale. Better half an egg than empty shells.

Besser ein lebender Hund als ein todter Löwe. Better a living dog than a dead lion.

Besser ein lebendiges Wort als hundert todte. Better one living word than a hundred dead ones.

Besser ein magrer Vergleich als ein fetter Proceß. Better a lean agreement than a fat lawsuit.

Besser frei in der Fremde als Knecht daheim. Better free in a foreign land than a serf at home.

Besser freundlich versagen, als unwillig gewähren. Better a friendly denial than an unwilling compliance.

Besser ist besser. Better is better.

Besser was als gar nichts. Better something than nothing at all.

Besser nichts geben als geraubtes Almosen. Better give nothing than stolen alms.

Besser ohne Abendessen zu Bette gehen als mit Schulden. Better to go to bed supperless than run in debt.

Betrug ist der Krämer Wagen und Pflug. Cheating is the chapman’s cart and plough.

Betrügen ist ehrlicher als stehlen. Cheating is more honourable than stealing.

Bettelsack ist bodenlos. The beggar’s bag is bottomless.

Bezahlen wir die Musik, so wollen wir dabei auch tanzen. If we pay for the music we will take part in the dance.

Bist du Amboß, sei geduldig; bist du Hammer, schlage zu. If you are an anvil, be patient; if you are a hammer, strike hard.

Bittre Pillen vergoldet man. Bitter pills are gilded.

Bliebe der Wolf im Walde, so würd er nicht beschreien. If the wolf had stayed in the wood there would have been no hue and cry after him.

Blinder Gaul geht geradezu. A blind horse goes straightforward.

Blödes Herz buhlt keine schöne Frau. Faint heart never won fair lady.

Blut ist dicker als Wasser. Blood is thicker than water.

Böser Brunnen, da man Wasser muß eintragen. It is a bad well into which one must put water.

Böser Vögel, böses Ei. Bad bird, bad egg.

Böser Pfennig kommt immer wieder. A bad penny always comes back.