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The Proverbs are arranged by geographical/national locations.
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| Portuguese proverb A bad knife cuts one's finger instead of the stick.A barking dog was never a good hunter.A beard lathered is half shaved.A beggar's wallet is never full.A bustling mother makes a slothful daughter.A contented ass enjoys a long life.A dead man does not speak.A dog in the manger, that neither eats nor lets others eat.A dull ass near home trots without the stick.A fast horse does not want the spur.A fault confessed is half forgiven.A finger's length in a sword, and a palm in a lance, are a great advantage.A friend is to be taken with his faults.A friend's fault should be known but not abhorred.A full man is no eater.A girl, a vineyard, an orchard, and a bean-field, are hard to watch.A good cock was never fat.A good thing is known when it is lost.A good word quenches more than a cauldron of water.A goose, a woman, and a goat, are bad things lean.A gossiping woman talks of everybody, and everybody of her.A great thrust of a lance at a dead Moor.A house without either a cat or a dog is the house of a scoundrel.A hungry belly hears nobody.A hungry wolf is not at rest.A little gall spoils much honey.A little injury dismays, and a great one stills.A little makes a debtor and much an enemy.A man of straw is better than a woman of gold.A morsel eaten gains no friend.A pig on credit makes a good winter and a bad spring.A poor man is hungry after eating.A ragged colt may make a handsome horse.A rash man, a skin of good wine, and a glass vessel, do not last long.A resolute heart endures no counsel.A rich widow weeps with one eye and laughs with the other.A rich widow weeps with one eye and signals with the other.A seat in the council is honour without profit.A servant and a cock must be kept but one year.A shut mouth keeps me out of strife.A small hatchet fells a great oak.A stout heart breaks ill fortune.A well-formed figure needs no cloak.A woman and a hen are soon lost through gadding.A word and a blow.A word and a stone once let go cannot be recalled.A word from the mouth, a stone from the hand.Alas for the son whose father went to heaven.All bite the bitten dog.All the wool is hair, more or less.An angry man heeds no counsel.An empty purse and a new house make a man wise, but too late.An empty purse, and a finished house, make a man wise, but too late.An estate inherited is the less valued.An honest man's word is as good as the king's.An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation.An innocent heart suspects no guile.An old man in love is like a flower in winter.An open box tempts an honest man.Another man's trade costs money.Another's misfortune does not cure my pain.As they pipe to me, I will dance.Baskets after the vintage.Before you marry consider what you do.Before you marry reflect, for it is a knot you cannot untie.Better a distant good than a near evil.Better a red face than a black heart.Better a sparrow in the hand than two flying.Better an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.Better anticipate than be anticipated.Better be killed by robbers than by the kick of an ass.Better be one-eyed than quite blind.Better be silent than speak ill.Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.Better deserve honour and not have it, than have it and not deserve it.Better go round than be drowned.Better have friends in the market-place than money in your coffer.Better have to give than have to beg.Better is a leap over the ditch than the entreaties of good men.Better is my neighbour's hen than mine.Better is one "Take this," than two "I-will-give-you."Better keep, than have to beg.Better lose that lose more.Better mine than ours.Better repair the gutter than the whole house.Better straw, than nothing.Between the hand and the lip the morsel may slip.Beware of a door that has many keys.Beware of a man that does not talk, and of a dog that does not bark.Beware of a pledge that eats.Beware of the dog that does not bark.Birds of prey do not flock together.Bite the biter.Brackish water is sweet in a drought.Broken friendship may be soldered but can never be made sound.Buy your greyhound, don't rear him.By going gains the mill, and not by standing still.Chairs sink and stools rise.Change yourself, and fortune will change with you.Chastise the good man, he will grow better; chastise the bad, and he will grow worse.Children married, cares increased.Children tell in the highway what they hear by the fireside.Conceal not your secret from your friend, or you deserve to lose him.Counterfeit coin passes current at night.Crows do not peck out crow's eyes.Dead men tell no tales.Dear is cheap, and cheap is dear.Death spares neither Pope nor beggar.Deeds are love, and not sweet words.Despise your enemy and you will soon be beaten.Do ill, and expect the like.Do not rear a bird of a bad breed.Don't be a baker if your head is made of butter.Don't leave the high road for a short cut.Don't make yourself poor to one who won't make you rich.Don't pull hard enough to break the rope.Eat of your own, and call yourself mine (i.e. Be my servant and find yourself).Eat with him, and beware of him.Every ant has its ire.Every cock is valiant on his own dunghill.Every fly has its shadow.Every land to its own custom, every wheel its own spindle.Every one is a king in his own house.Every one is wise for his own profit.Every one reaps as he sows.Every peddler praises his own needles.Every pig has it Martinmas.Everybody's friend or nobody's friend, is all one.Everything has its time.Favour oft avails more than justice or reason.Feet accustomed to go cannot be still.Feign death and the bull will leave you.Follow the road and you will reach an inn.Fools sometimes give wise men counsel.Foot firm till death.For a bad tongue scissors.For a voracious beast pebbles in his feed.For lack of men they made my father a justice.For poor people small coin.Friends and mules fail us at hard passes.Friends are known in adversity.From a closed door the devil turns away.From great rivers come great fish.From the soldier who has no cloak, keep your own in your chest.Gain has a pleasant odour, come whence it will.Gifts break rocks.Give a grateful man more than he asks.Give a hint to the man of sense, and consider the thing done.Give me money, not advice.Give me money, not advice.Give orders, and do it yourself, and you will be rid of anxiety.Give orders, and do no more, and nothing will be done.Go not with every ailment to the doctor, nor with every plaint to lawyer.Go not with every hunger to the cupboard, nor with every thirst to the pitcher.Go to bed late, rise early, you will see your own harm and that of others.Go to bed without supper, you will rise without debt.Go to your rich friend's house when invited; to your poor friend's without invitation.God gives clothes according to the cold.God grant me to dispute with those who understand me.God has given nuts to one who has no teeth.God heals, and the doctor gets the money.God permits, but not for ever.Good and bad make up a city.Good fruit never comes from a bad tree.Good is the delay which makes sure.Good management is better than good income.Good manners and plenty of money will make my son a gentlemen.Good table, bad will.Good wind needs no bush.Good words and bad acts deceive both wise and wimple.Hard upon hard does not make a good wall.He avoided the fly and swallowed the spider.He buys very dear who begs.He doubts nothing who knows nothing.He has a head, and so has a pin.He has nothing who is not content with what he has.He has nothing, for whom nothing is enough.He is an old saint, any may leave it in the hands of God.He is no friend that eats his own by himself, and mine with me.He is your friend who gets you out of a scrape.He never was a friend who ceased to be so for a slight cause.He should not complain of being cheated who buys the cloth by the sample.He that does ill never wants for excuses.He that will, does more that he that can.He that would be old long must begin betimes.He threatens many who affronts one.He who has a glass roof must not throw stones at his neighbour's.He who has a good next, finds good friends.He who has four and spends five, has no need of a purse.He who is well prepared has won the battle.He who knows little soon blabs it.He who make more of you than he is wont, either means to cheat you or wants you.He who makes one basket can make a hundred.He who would catch fish must not mind wetting himself.Hedgehogs are not to be killed with the fist.Honey is not for the ass's mouth.Honour a good man that he may honour you, and a bad man that he may not dishonour you.Honour and profit will not keep in one sack.How did you rear so many children? By being fondest of the little ones.Hunger and cold surrender a man to his enemy.I am on good terms with the friend who eats his bread with me.I hate fetters though they be of gold.I have nothing for dinner, sit down to table.I kiss thee hide, because thou art to be a wine-bag.I meant to cross myself and put out one of my eyes.I renounce the friend who eats what is mine with me, and what is his own by himself.I renounce the golden basin in which I have to spit blood.I saw a man, who saw another man, who saw the sea.I see by my daughter's face when the devil lays hold of my son-in-law.I want more for my teeth than for my relations.If a poor man gives to you, he expects more in return.If you have a friend who is a physician, send him to your enemy's house.If you know what a dollar is worth, try to borrow it.If you want clear water, draw it from the spring.If you want to be served, serve yourself.If you would be a good judge, hear what every one says.If you would be healthy, be sage betimes.If you would be in good repute, let not the sun find you in bed.If you would grow poor without perceiving it, employ workmen and go to sleep.If you would make an enemy, lend a man money, and ask it of him again.Ill befal the belly that forgets eaten bread.Ill fares the young bird in the urchin's hand.In default of bread, meal cakes are good.In war, hunting, and love, for one pleasure a hundred pains.Iron that is not used soon rusts.It befits the king to be liberal, for he is sure of never falling into poverty.It dawns none the sooner for all one's early rising.It fares ill with the house when the distaff commands the sword.It is bad to have a servant, but worse to have a master.It is nothing, they are only killing my husband.It is the nature of the greyhound to carry a long tail.It is well to know how to be silent till it is time to speak.Jack is as good as his master.Keep good company and you shall be of the number.King's entreaties are commands.Laws go where dollars please.Laws go where money pleases.Laws go where money pleases.Lay your hand on your bosom and you will not speak ill of another.Lean meat from a fat pig.Let every man look to the bread upon which he must depend.Let every man mind his own business, and leave others to theirs.Let every one be content with what God has given him.Let every sheep hand by its own leg.Let him eat the tough morsel who eat the tender.Let not him that has a mouth ask another to blow.Let the dog bark at me, so he don't bite me.Let the giver be silent and the receiver speak.Like father, like son.Like king, like law; like law, like people.Little chips kindle fire, and big logs sustain it.Live to live and you will learn to live.Love has no law.Love knows no law.Lovers' quarrels are love redoubled.Lying pays no tax.Mad love, I for you and you for another.Make a silver bridge for a flying enemy.Make good flour and you need no trumpet.Make the night night, and the day day, and you will live pleasantly.Make your son you heir and not your steward.Many kiss the hand they would gladly see cut off.Marry me forthwith, mother, for my face is growing wrinkled.Marry, marry, and what about the housekeeping.Marry, marry, sounds well but tastes ill.Martha sings well when she has had her fill.Meddle not in what you don't understand.Michael, Michael, you have no bees, and yet you sell honey!Money is not gained by losing time.Money is the measure of all things.Money lent, an enemy made.Money soothes more than the words of a cavalier.Money wins the battle, not the long arm.More grows in a garden than the gardener sows there.Mouth of honey, heart of gall.Much caution does no harm.Much chatter, little wit.Much laughter, little wit.Much straw and little corn.My chest locked, my soul safe.My life and soul at your service, but not the pack-saddle.My money, your money, let us go to the tavern.Neither a dumb barber nor a deaf singer.Neither handsome enough to kill nor ugly enough to frighten away.Neither trust or contend, nor lay wagers or lend, and you'll have peace to your end.Never cut what can be untied.Never mention a rope in the house of a thief.Never say, of this water I will not drink, of this bread I will not eat.Never tell all that you know, or do all that you can, or believe all that you hear. No one has seen to-morrow.No one is a good judge in his own cause.No one is always right.No one is content with his lot.No one is poor but he who thinks himself so.No woman is ugly if she is well dressed.No word is ill spoken, that is not ill taken.Of evils, choose the least.Of oil, wine, and friends, the oldest.Of soup and love, the first is the best.Of the good man a good pledge, and of the bad neither pledge nor surety.Of two cowards, the one who attacks conquers the other.Pay what you owe, you will get well of your malady.Peace with a cudgel in hand is war.Pigs in the cold and men in drink make a great noise.Play with an ass, and he will slap your face with his tail.Poverty never sped well in love.Pray to the saint until you have passed the slough.Prepare a nest for the hen and she will lay eggs for you.Promising is not giving, but serves to content fools.Seat yourself in your place, and they will not make you rise.Send a man of sense on the embassy, and you need not instruct him.Serve a lord, and you will know what it is to be vexed.Show me a poor man, I will show you a flatterer.Shut your door, and you will make your neighbour good.Soft water constantly striking the hard stone, wears it at last.Speak little and well, they will think you somebody.Spilt salt is never well collected.Spinner, spin softly, you disturb me; I am praying.Supper is soon served up in a plentiful house.Taking out without putting in, soon comes to the bottom.Talk of the wolf and behold his skin.Tell your friends a lie; if he keeps it secret tell him the truth.The ass dead, the corn at his tail.The ass embraced the thistle, and they found themselves relations.The ass of many owners is eaten by wolves.The ass that is hungry eats thistles.The ass that trespasses on a stranger's premises will leave them laden with wood (i.e. cudgelled).The ass well knows in whose house he brays.The ass's son brays one hour daily.The beast that goes well never wants a rider to try its paces.The belly does not accept bail.The belly warm, the foot at rest.The bigger the river the bigger the fish.The bigger the river the bigger the fish.The blind man has picked up a coin.The blunders of physicians are covered by the earth.The cat is a good friend, only she scratches.The cat well knows whose beard she licks.The dead open the eyes of the living.The devil is not so ugly as he is painted.The dog that barks much is never good for hunting.The dog that barks much, bites little.The envious man's face grows lean and his eye swells.The fingers of the same hand are not alike.The fisherman fishes in troubled water.The gentle calf sucks all the cows.The guests will go away, and we will eat the pasty.The headache is mine and the cows are ours.The key at the girdle keeps me good and my neighbour too.The king of the bees has no sting.The lame goat does not take a siesta.The law devised, its evasion contrived.The mouth that says "Yes," can say "No."The nest made, the bird dead.The ox that tossed me threw me into a good place.The poor man eats at double cost.The pot that boils too much loses its flavour.The rat does not leave the cat's house with a bellyful.The rat that knows but one hole is soon caught.There are ills that happen for good.There is plenty of corn in Castile, but he who has none, starves.There's no catching trouts with dry breeches.There's no handsome woman on the wedding day, except the bride.There's no living without friends.Though the heron flied high the falcon kills it.Though we are negroes, we are men, and have souls.Times passes like the wind.To be like a fish in the water.To get out of the mire and fall into the river.To get out of the smoke and fall into the fire.To live in clover.To make of a flea a knight cap-a-pie.To rain upon the wet.To reckon without one's hostess.To sell honey to one who keeps hives.To start the hare for another's profit.To steal a sheep and give away the trotters for God's sake.To the bold man Fortune holds out her hand.To the lean pig a fat acorn.Too much familiarity breeds contempt.Too much wax burns the church.Trust not a dog that limps.Trust not tow with firebrands, not a woman with men.Truth and oil come to the surface.War is sweet to him who does not go to it.Water washes everything.We have not saddled and yet we are riding.What's everybody's work is nobody's work.Who holds his peace and gathers stones, will find a time to throw them.Would you have me serve you, good king, give me the means of living.Would you know your daughter? See her in company.You can't make a good shaft of a pig's tail.You have lent and not recovered; and if recovered, not so much; and if so much, not such; and if such, a mortal enemy.Your wife and sheep early at home. |
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