21 common sayings and what they all mean

11/23/2021 by

common-sayingsCommon sayings or proverbs are simple sayings that express an essential truth based on common sense, experience and/or the wisdom of the ancients.

Proverbs that describe a basic rule of conduct are particularly useful and well-worth remembering.

Today I offer you 21 thought-provoking proverbs and common sayings with an explanation as to what they all mean.

You would do well to remember some of these, I think.

Common Sayings:

1. Be contrary; be known

To be successful visibility matters. That means you must stand out in the crowd. And you can’t stand out in the crowd if you’re just like everyone else. You must be an original, not a copy.

2. Man who chases two rabbits catches neither

Learn to keep the main thing the main thing. Focus matters if you want to be successful. Try to do too many things and you won’t do any of them very well. And if you fail to do anything well then you’re unlikely to be successful.

3. Knowledge is power

Learning is a lifelong process and you should be educating yourself constantly. However, there is a more important point here. When negotiating in business the more you know about the other side, their needs, the pressures their under, and what they’re willing to pay and/or concede, the more likely you are to get what you want. Never underestimate the power of information.

4. When in Rome do as the Romans do

If you want to be successful in business around the world then show some respect for other people and the way they do things. Culture is simply the way things are done around here. No one culture is better than another. They are just different that’s all. So just because something might appear odd relative to what is considered ‘normal’ in your culture doesn’t make it wrong. Embrace differences and enjoy every new cultural experience.

5. Fortune favours the brave

If you want to live life to the full then it starts outside your comfort zone. Go for the low hanging fruit and the easy tasks and you won’t grow. Fail to take any risks and you’re unlikely to experience any significant rewards either. You can only be successful if you go after what you really want and that means you must take a few risks along the way. Remember this; risk and reward go together.

6. Hope for the best; prepare for the worst

If you want to be successful then be prepared for the rain because occasionally it will rain. Hope for permanent sunshine by all means but make sure you’re ready for the days when the sun refuses to shine and you need an umbrella.

7. A picture’s worth a thousand words

To be successful being able to communicate effectively is an important skill to develop. That means you need to know how to get a message across and often the most powerful way to deliver a message and make a point is often with a picture.

8. There’s no such thing as a free lunch

Everything comes with a price tag. There will always be a cost somewhere even if it’s not immediately apparent. The cost may not be financial but there will be a cost. Make sure you know what it is and make sure you’re willing to pay the price before you agree to anything.

9. Actions speak louder than words

Talk is cheap. It’s not what you say; it’s what you do and what you deliver that will make a difference. And if you want to be successful then you will need to make a difference.

common-sayings10. Practice makes perfect

Every master began as a complete beginner. Mastery is achieved by becoming a student of your craft and practising constantly until you are the best at what you do. And if you want to be successful then you will need to be amongst the best at what you do.

11. Easy come; easy go

You will only truly appreciate that which has cost you in blood, sweat and tears. Any success obtained easily is difficult to sustain. Easy money is easily squandered. It’s almost like you feel you’re not entitled to it if it all came too easy to you.

12. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

As they say in the north of England, ‘There’s brass in muck’. Meaning just because something appears to be no longer of use doesn’t mean it can’t be put to good use and can’t represent an excellent business opportunity. Old furniture can be restored. An old bicycle frame can be used in the making of some other item. Money can be made from the oddest things and, believe it or not, even from plain old rubbish.

13. Familiarity breeds contempt

If your career is starting to gain traction and you’ve been promoted to management then remember this; there must always be a little bit of distance between you and the troops you manage. You cannot be too familiar with people you manage if you want their respect. Yes, take an interest in people. Yes, show them you care occasionally. However, you can’t be their buddy. That doesn’t work.

14. Don’t judge a book by its cover

First impressions can be powerful and often they can be accurate too. However, they’re not always accurate so it is dangerous to form an opinion based on your first impression alone.

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

When it comes to money and savings, diversity is the name of the game. As you become successful, a good income should follow. Make sure you start building some capital and make sure you spread it around a bit. Put all your financial eggs in one basket and calamity could follow.

16. The squeaky wheel gets the most oil

Don’t be afraid to complain when things aren’t right. If you want something resolved be prepared to make a noise. Wait patiently and you’re unlikely to find anyone keen to help you. They’re all too busy. Sometimes you need to be a nuisance if you’re going to get attention.

17. Honesty is the best policy

The problem with telling lies is that you need to have a very good memory and it’s very easy to get caught out. Tell the truth and you don’t need to remember anything. All you have to do is say exactly what happened or what you said, et cetera. Being honest makes life easier and it also makes it less stressful.

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

There is only so much you can do for people. Offer to help them by all means but if they choose not to accept your offer then just leave it there. You can’t force someone to do something nor can you force them to accept your help or advice.

19. Keep friends close and enemies closer

There’s no point in fighting with your enemy. That won’t get you very far. It’s better to adopt cordial relations to keep them close. Keep them close and you can keep an eye on them. That way you’ll know what they’re up to and know what they’re planning too. Use your head not your heart in these matters.

20. Two heads are better than one

It is a fact that when people get their heads together the results are usually much better than one person’s thinking alone. Particularly with creative work, ideas bounce off each other and as those ideas come together the results can be exceptional.

21. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Treat other people in the way you’d prefer them to treat you. Show them respect and you’re much more likely to get their respect. Don’t be mean to people. You wouldn’t like it and neither will they. People will respond warmly to you if you are warm and kind to them.

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21 Wise sayings and quotes guaranteed to make you think

08/19/2021 by

21-Wise-sayings-and-quotesIf you’re looking for some wise sayings and quotes, dear reader, then here are 21 excellent proverbs from around the world guaranteed to make you think.

Proverbs hold the wisdom of the ancients. They are filled with the hard-bitten experience of people who’ve endured the toughest lives and yet have managed to find a way to live life regardless.

So, take a few moments to reflect on these wise sayings and quotes and see how many of them you can work into your day, as you offer the benefit of your experience to others.

And don’t forget, please feel free to share them.

Wise sayings and quotes:

  1. Luck helps the audacious. ~German Proverb
  2. Gold, when beaten, shines. ~Peruvian Proverb
  3. Smoke never rises without fire. ~Haitian Proverb
  4. A tree doesn’t fall with one blow. ~Yiddish Proverb
  5. Every truth is not good to be told. ~Italian Proverb
  6. Examine what is said, not who is speaking. ~African Proverb
  7. Money is a good servant, but a bad master. ~French Proverb
  8. Worry gives a small thing a great shadow. ~Swedish Proverb
  9. There is no King who is not gossiped about. ~African Proverb
  10. Better an honest enemy than a false friend. ~German Proverb
  11. Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water. ~Korean Proverb
  12. The moon does not care if the dog barks at it. ~Czech Proverb
  13. The goat’s business is not the sheep’s business. ~Haitian Proverb
  14. If there’s a way into the wood, there’s also a way out. ~Irish Proverb
  15. If you believe everything you read, better not read. ~Japanese Proverb
  16. Don’t insult the alligator until you’ve crossed the river. ~Haitian Proverb
  17. You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind. ~Irish Proverb
  18. When you shoot an arrow of truth, dip its point in honey. ~Saudi Proverb
  19. When you go to a donkey’s house, don’t talk about ears. ~Jamaican Proverb
  20. A new broom sweeps clean but an old broom knows the corners. ~Irish Proverb
  21. Better to have one thousand enemies outside the house, than one single enemy inside it. ~Lebanese Proverb

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31 Proverbs about life from around the world

08/13/2021 by

31-Proverbs-about-lifeDo you enjoy those short, pithy sayings that encapsulate an essential truth? I refer to those sayings that wiser folk often tell us to shine a light on a particular aspect of life. If you do, then I’ve put together some proverbs about life from around the world.

Wherever you go proverbs form an essential element of the culture. And that’s because, regardless of culture, the human condition is universal. As people, we have much more in common than those things that separate us.

So take a moment to reflect on these proverbs about life and the human condition. How many of them resonate with you, dear reader?

And please feel free to share them.

Proverbs about life (1-15):

  1. If you want to be criticized, marry. ~Irish Proverb
  2. A speaker of truth has no friends. African Proverb
  3. Nothing is difficult if one wants it. ~Polish Proverb
  4. God is the comfort of the poor. ~Georgian Proverb
  5. One spot stains the whole dress. ~Belgian Proverb
  6. He who is guilty has much to say. ~Ghanaian Proverb
  7. Do not draw your sword to kill a fly. ~Korean Proverb
  8. Pride is the mask of one’s own faults. ~Jewish Proverb
  9. A bad tree does not yield good apples. ~Danish Proverb
  10. Beginning is easy, continuing is hard. ~Japanese Proverb
  11. A bad son gives his mother a bad name. ~Ivorian Proverb
  12. Promised berries will not fill the basket. ~Latvian Proverb
  13. He who puts up with insults invites injury. ~Jewish Proverb
  14. Only a fool tests the water with both feet. ~African Proverb
  15. A man grows most tired while standing still. ~Chinese Proverbs

Proverbs about life (16-31):

  1. He who wants a rose must respect the thorns. ~Persian Proverb
  2. A letter from the heart can be read on the face. ~Swahili Proverb
  3. There is no greater fraud than a promise not kept. ~Gaelic Proverb
  4. Don’t open a shop unless you know how to smile. ~Jewish Proverb
  5. Who’s talking the truth, does not need a lot of words. ~Polish Proverb
  6. A friend you have to buy; enemies you get for nothing. ~Jewish Proverb
  7. Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains. ~Yiddish Proverb
  8. A dog will always be a dog, even if it is raised by lions. ~Lebanese Proverb
  9. Let the devil into church and he will climb into the pulpit. ~Latvian Proverb
  10. A brave man will face a situation no matter how dreadful. ~Filipino Proverb
  11. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. ~African Proverb
  12. Luck sometimes visits a fool, but it never sits down with him. ~German Proverb
  13. Everyone wants to live long, but no one wants to be called old. ~Icelandic Proverb
  14. If you tell your secret to your friend, you‘ll make him your master. ~Spanish Proverb
  15. The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. ~Chinese Proverb
  16. If you forgive the fox for stealing your chickens, he will take your sheep. ~Georgian Proverb

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When you share, everyone wins.

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Wisdom from India in the form of proverbs and quotes

06/16/2021 by

Wisdom from IndiaIndia is a vast country with an enormous population and it’s a source of great wisdom too. Many great thinkers have been influenced by wisdom from India.

So today let’s explore some wisdom from India in the form of proverbs, sayings and quotes.

I have the greatest respect for India, its traditions and culture and I’ve learned much from Indian philosophy and thinking.

So take a few moments and reflect on some of the wisdom from one of the greatest civilisations on this planet we call Earth.

Wisdom from India (1-20):

  1. If you can, you must. ~Bikram Choudhury
  2. There is no hand to catch time. ~Indian Proverb
  3. Alertness and courage are life’s shields. ~Indian Wisdom
  4. When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited. ~Ramakrishna
  5. Where the needle goes, the thread follows. ~Indian Proverb
  6. You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. ~Indira Gandhi
  7. What was hard to bear is sweet to remember. ~Indian Wisdom
  8. Great anger is more destructive than the sword. ~Indian Wisdom
  9. Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision. ~Indian Wisdom
  10. Don’t bargain for fish that are still in the water. ~Indian Wisdom
  11. Pull someone by the ears and his head will follow. ~Indian Proverb
  12. Walking slowly, even the donkey will reach Lhasa. ~Indian Proverb
  13. Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success. ~Virat Kohli
  14. The eyes do not see what the mind does not want. ~Indian Wisdom
  15. The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest. ~Deepika Padukone
  16. I have lanced many boils, but none pained like my own. ~Indian Proverb
  17. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~Mahatma Gandhi
  18. Success is not a good teacher, failure makes you humble. ~Shah Rukh Khan
  19. Let come what comes, let go what goes. See what remains. ~Ramana Maharshi
  20. Cultivation of the mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence. ~BR Ambedkar

Wisdom from India (21-33):

  1. They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing. ~Indian Proverb
  2. I had no shoes and complained until I saw a man who had no feet. ~Indian Wisdom
  3. Certain things capture the eye but pursue only those that capture the heart. ~Indian Wisdom
  4. What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist. ~Salman Rushdie
  5. Excellence endures and sustains. It goes beyond motivation into the realms of inspiration. ~Azim Premji
  6. You can take the Indian out of the family, but you cannot take the family out of the Indian. ~Amit Kalantri
  7. Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. ~Swami Sivananda
  8. You sometimes forget the harm that was done to you, but never the harm you have done to others. ~Indian Wisdom
  9. There’s nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your former self. ~Indian Wisdom
  10. Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you. ~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
  11. We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. ~Swami Vivekananda
  12. A man is born alone and dies alone, and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone, and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode. ~Chanakya
  13. We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made. ~Albert Einstein

Please share this wisdom with your friends:

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101 inspirational world proverbs to help you reflect on life

06/11/2021 by

101 World ProverbsIf you’re looking for some inspirational world proverbs to help you reflect on life and its meaning then I’ve curated 101 of them just for you dear reader.

There are some excellent world proverbs here that’ll make you think and hopefully give you greater insight into life, its meaning, and different communities’ philosophies everywhere.

Proverbs contain the wisdom of the ancients and they provide us with useful reminders that people everywhere are just the same really. We’re all just trying to get through life as best we can.

So enjoy them all and feel free to pass them on.

World Proverbs (1-20):

  1. If there’s no wind, row. ~Latin Proverb
  2. Talk doesn’t cook rice. ~Chinese Proverb
  3. A half-truth is a whole lie. ~Yiddish Proverb
  4. A friend’s eye is a good mirror. ~Irish Proverb
  5. Honour is better than honours. ~Belgian Proverb
  6. Hope is the bread of the poor. ~Turkish Proverb
  7. Not my circus. Not my monkeys. ~Polish Proverb
  8. Hospitality is one form of worship. ~Jewish Proverb
  9. Conscience is the voice of the soul. ~Polish Proverb
  10. A wheel that turns gathers no rust. ~Greek Proverb
  11. Sunshine all the time makes a desert. ~Arab Proverb
  12. All married women are not wives. ~Japanese Proverb
  13. He that falls by himself never cries. ~Turkish Proverb
  14. No road is long with good company. ~Turkish Proverb
  15. Who lies for you will lie against you. ~Bosnian Proverb
  16. Real gold does not fear the furnace. ~Chinese Proverb
  17. Work like an ant and you’ll eat sugar. ~Yemeni Proverb
  18. A bad tree does not yield good apples. ~Danish Proverb
  19. A good deed dies when it’s spoken about. ~Arab Proverb
  20. He that knows patience knows peace. ~Chinese Proverb

World Proverbs (21-40):

  1. A fish gets bigger when it gets away. ~Japanese Proverb
  2. Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. ~German proverb
  3. You won’t gain knowledge by drinking ink. ~Arab Proverb
  4. You cannot strike a face that is smiling. ~Korean Proverb
  5. Money buys everything but good sense. ~Yiddish Proverb
  6. The real hero doesn’t say that he’s one. ~Filipino Proverb
  7. Five fingers are brothers but not equals. ~Afghan Proverb
  8. Fear an ignorant man more than a lion. ~Kurdish Proverb
  9. A bad son gives his mother a bad name. ~Ivorian Proverb
  10. Eat what is cooked, listen to what is said. Russian Proverb
  11. A good meal ought to begin with hunger. ~French Proverb
  12. He who puts up with insult invites injury. ~Jewish Proverb
  13. Do not push the river, it will flow by itself. ~Polish Proverb
  14. Save money and money will save you. ~Jamaican Proverb
  15. Always leave a little room for a mistake. ~Chinese Proverb
  16. Against stupidity, God himself is helpless. ~Jewish Proverb
  17. Many a time a man’s mouth broke his nose. ~Irish Proverb
  18. Do not be wise in words, be wise in deeds. ~Jewish Proverb
  19. Put off for one day and ten days will pass. ~Korean Proverb
  20. The blind cannot see. The proud will not. ~Russian Proverb

World Proverbs (41-60):

  1. What is cheap is always the most costly. ~German Proverb
  2. A silent man is the best one to listen to. ~Japanese Proverb
  3. For every wise man, there’s one still wiser. ~Kurdish Proverb
  4. A lie has no author, nor a liar a conscience. ~Indian Proverb
  5. The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness. ~Chinese Proverb
  6. The frog forgets that he was once a tadpole. ~Korean Proverb
  7. Loose tongues are worse than wicked hands. ~Jewish Proverb
  8. The beard does not make the philosopher. ~American Proverb
  9. He that speaks, sows; He that hears, reaps. ~Turkish Proverb
  10. Better an honest enemy than a false friend. ~German Proverb
  11. A wooden bed is better than a golden coffin. ~Russian Proverb
  12. There’s nothing so bad that it couldn’t be worse. ~Irish Proverb
  13. Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water. ~Korean Proverb
  14. He who never doubts doesn’t know anything. ~Spanish Proverb
  15. Patience is a bitter plant, but its fruit is sweet. ~Chinese Proverb
  16. He who wants the rose must respect the thorn. ~Persian Proverb
  17. Birds are caught with seed, men with money. ~Armenian Proverb
  18. If you want to build high, you must dig deep. ~Mongolian Proverb
  19. If you’re going to seek revenge, dig two graves. ~Chinese Proverb
  20. There’s no greater fraud than a promise not kept. ~Gaelic Proverb

World Proverbs (61-80):

  1. A hungry wolf is stronger than a satisfied dog. ~Ukrainian Proverb
  2. Listen with one ear; be suspicious with the other. ~Laotian Proverb
  3. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. ~Italian Proverb
  4. The riches that are in the heart cannot be stolen. ~Russian Proverb
  5. If there’s a way into the wood, there’s also a way out. ~Irish Proverb
  6. Ask the experienced rather than the learned. ~Saudi Arabian Proverb
  7. You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind. ~Irish Proverb
  8. A friend you have to buy; enemies you get for nothing. ~Jewish Proverb
  9. Lower your voice and strengthen your argument. ~Lebanese Proverb
  10. People show their character by what they laugh at. ~German Proverb
  11. Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains. ~Yiddish Proverb
  12. You can’t wake a person who’s pretending to be asleep. ~Navajo Proverb
  13. When a habit begins to cost money, it’s called a hobby. ~Jewish Proverb
  14. Why would you use poison if you can kill with money? ~Bosnian Proverb
  15. A dog will always be a dog, even if he is raised by lions. ~Lebanese Proverb
  16. It’s the same life whether we spend it laughing or crying. ~Japanese Proverb
  17. A closed mouth and open eyes never did anyone any harm. ~German Proverb
  18. Better to be guilty in the eyes of men than in the eyes of God. ~Malagasy Proverb
  19. A fool says what he knows, and a wise man knows what he says. ~Yiddish Proverb
  20. He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left. ~Chinese Proverb

World Proverbs (81-90):

  1. A man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others. ~Jewish Proverb
  2. A light is still a light, even though the blind man cannot see it. ~Austrian Proverb
  3. The glory is not in never falling but in rising every time you fall. ~Chinese Proverb
  4. Who has not tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet. ~German Proverb
  5. Teachers open the door but you must walk through it yourself. ~Chinese Proverb
  6. A woman prefers a man without money to money without a man. ~Greek Proverb
  7. The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. ~Chinese Proverb
  8. If you don’t have time to do it right, you must have time to do it over. ~Russian Proverb
  9. If you do not experience anything, it’s impossible to gain knowledge. ~Chinese Proverb
  10. Better to write down something one time than to read something ten times. ~Japanese Proverb

World Proverbs (91-101):

  1. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. ~Chinese Proverb
  2. A clean mouth and an honest hand will take a man through any land. ~German Proverb
  3. Don’t let your mouth carry you where your foot can’t bring you back from. ~Bahamian Proverb
  4. Never trust the man who tells you all his troubles but keeps from you all his joys. ~Jewish Proverb
  5. We count our miseries carefully and accept our blessings without much thought. ~Chinese Proverb
  6. A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows public opinion. ~Chinese Proverb
  7. The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. ~Japanese Proverb
  8. The man who gives little with a smile gives more than the man who gives much with a frown. ~Jewish Proverb
  9. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. ~Chinese Proverb
  10. The secret to living well and longer is eating half, walking double, laughing triple, and loving without measure. ~Tibetan Proverb
  11. We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, learn, grow, love, and return home. ~Indigenous Australian Proverb

Please share this post with your friends:

Did you find these world proverbs interesting and thought-provoking?

You did? I really do hope so anyway.

If that’s the case then please share this post with your friends on social media because when you share everyone wins.

So go on, please share this post now. If you can do that for me I’ll be ever so grateful and you’ll be helping a keen blogger reach a wider audience.

Thank you.

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55 African proverbs reflecting the wisdom of the ancients

06/10/2021 by

55 African ProverbsThere’s a world of wisdom reflected in all those common sayings we tend to take for granted. Take a look around the world and it’s not hard to find wisdom wherever you go. So today I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some African proverbs.

I’ve curated 55 proverbs credited with originating from various parts of Africa and I thought many of them were truly inspirational.

Take a look at them all and see what you think. See how many of them you can work into your conversations with people over the next few days.

African Proverbs (1-20):

  1. He who learns teaches.
  2. A tree is known for its fruit.
  3. A man’s ruin lies in his tongue.
  4. It’s not work that kills but worry.
  5. A thief does not like to be robbed.
  6. Rising early makes the road short.
  7. Hold a true friend with both hands.
  8. Seeing is different from being told.
  9. He who forgives ends the argument.
  10. Don’t set sail on someone else’s star.
  11. A horse has four legs, yet it often falls.
  12. The fool speaks. The wise man listens.
  13. A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
  14. God is good but never dance with a lion.
  15. He who refuses to obey cannot command.
  16. Peace is costly but it’s worth the expense.
  17. A lie has many variations, the truth none.
  18. Examine what is said, not who is speaking.
  19. However long the night, the dawn will break.
  20. The teeth that laugh are also those that bite.

55 African ProverbsAfrican Proverbs (21-40):

  1. When spiders’ webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
  2. Not to know is bad. Not to wish to know is worse.
  3. If you’re not going to bite, don’t show your teeth.
  4. One who truly loves you loves you with your dirt.
  5. If you think education is expensive try ignorance.
  6. It’s the calm and silent water that drowns a man.
  7. If you and a fool have an argument, he succeeds.
  8. Do not try to fight a lion if you’re not one yourself.
  9. If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.
  10. Ashes fly back into the face of he who throws them.
  11. When an old man dies a library burns to the ground.
  12. For the beauty of the rose, we also water the thorns.
  13. Never beat a snake when you haven’t seen its head.
  14. The lion does not turn around when a small dog barks.
  15. Character is like pregnancy, it cannot be hidden forever.
  16. A wise man never knows all, only fools know everything.
  17. A friend who frowns is better than an enemy who smiles.
  18. If you’re filled with pride, you’ll have no room for wisdom.
  19. When the mouse laughs at the cat, there’s a hole nearby.
  20. As you do for your ancestors, your children will do for you.

55 African ProverbsAfrican Proverbs (41-55):

  1. A man does not wander far from where his corn is roasting.
  2. When the roots are deep there’s no reason to fear the wind.
  3. The rain wets the leopard’s spots but does not wash them off.
  4. Those who pray for rain should be ready to deal with the mud.
  5. Every closed eye is not sleeping and every open eye is not seeing.
  6. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
  7. When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.
  8. A child who is carried on the back will not know how far the journey is.
  9. In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.
  10. An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.
  11. The man may be the head of the home but his wife is the heart of the home.
  12. True teaching is not an accumulation of knowledge it’s an awakening of consciousness.
  13. People who drink to drown their sorrows should be told that sorrow knows how to swim.
  14. A family is like a forest. When you’re outside, it’s dense. When you’re inside you see that each tree has its place.
  15. You can out-distance that which is running after you, but you cannot out-distance that which is running inside you.

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101 inspirational proverbs from around the world

06/03/2021 by

101 Proverbs from around the worldI find proverbs inspirational and I’ve been collecting some more proverbs from around the world.

I thought readers might find it interesting if I shared some of them.

So here are 101 great proverbs, which I hope will inspire.

Enjoy them all and feel free to share them with your friends.

Proverbs from around the world (1 – 20):

  1. Mewing cats catch no mice. ~Georgian Proverb
  2. To begin is easy, to persist is art. ~German Proverb
  3. Anger and madness are brothers. ~African Proverb
  4. He who is guilty has much to say. ~Ghanaian Proverb
  5. Dig the well before you are thirsty. ~Chinese Proverb
  6. A man dies when he stops working. ~Hebrew Proverb
  7. Nothing seems expensive on credit. ~Czech Proverb
  8. Wisdom has long ears and a short tongue. ~Swedish Proverb
  9. A man grows most tired while standing still. ~Chinese Proverb
  10. Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure. ~Jewish Proverb
  11. A fool cannot undo the knot tied by a wise man. ~African Proverb
  12. A good neighbour increases the value if your property. ~Czech Proverb
  13. It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. ~Irish Proverb
  14. Don’t tell the man who’s carrying you that he stinks. ~African Proverb
  15. Everyone wants to live long, but no one wants to be called old. ~Icelandic Proverb
  16. Love many, trust few and always paddle your own canoe. ~American Proverb
  17. When the character of a man is not clear, look at his friends. ~Japanese Proverb
  18. A man profits more by the spectacle of a fool than by the speeches of the wise. ~African Proverb
  19. The child who’s not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel the warmth. ~African Proverb
  20. The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them. ~Turkish Proverb

Proverbs from around the world (21 – 40):

  1. Need is a bad negotiator. ~Icelandic Proverb
  2. Gold, when beaten, shines. ~Peruvian Proverb
  3. The bitter heart eats its owner. ~Bantu Proverb
  4. A closed mouth catches no flies. ~French Proverb
  5. Truth is the first victim of war. ~African Proverb
  6. A tree doesn’t fall with one blow. ~Yiddish Proverb
  7. Character can be built on daily routine. ~Japanese Proverb
  8. Only a fool tests the water with both feet. ~African Proverb
  9. A talkative bird will not build a nest. ~West African Proverb
  10. The longer the tongue, the shorter the hands. ~Czech Proverb
  11. Worries go down better with soup than without. ~Jewish Proverb
  12. There is a deep-sea between saying and doing. ~Italian Proverb
  13. Calm water does not mean there are no crocodiles. ~Indonesian Proverb
  14. Persistence can grind an iron beam into a needle. ~Chinese Proverb
  15. A mother will understand what her dumb son says. ~Georgian Proverb
  16. A diplomat must always think twice before he says nothing. ~Irish Proverb
  17. Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once. ~Turkish Proverb
  18. Luck sometimes visits a fool, but it never sits down with him. ~German Proverb
  19. Rejoice not at thine enemy’s fall, but don’t rush to pick him up either. ~Jewish Proverb
  20. A doctor will take care of the rich man; the poor man is cured with work. ~Polish Proverb

Proverbs from around the world (41 – 60):

  1. Blame is a lazy man’s wages. ~Danish Proverb
  2. A contented man is always rich. ~Latin Proverb
  3. A speaker of truth has no friends. ~African Proverb
  4. Silence is a fence around wisdom. ~German Proverb
  5. When deeds speak, words are nothing. ~African Proverb
  6. Bad is called good when worse happens. ~Norwegian Proverb
  7. The mother of idiots is always pregnant. ~Italian Proverb
  8. A man who cries all the time is not heard. ~African Proverb
  9. The smoother the path the easier it is to slip. ~Estonian Proverb
  10. Do not stand in a place of danger trusting in miracles. ~African Proverb
  11. Where you sit when you’re old shows where you stood in youth. ~African Proverb
  12. No matter the economy of the jungle, the lion will never eat grass. ~African Proverb
  13. Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter. ~African Proverb
  14. To talk much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish. ~Chinese Proverb
  15. Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time. ~Chinese Proverb
  16. The doctor demands his fees whether he has killed the illness or the patient. ~Polish Proverb
  17. Educate a man and you educate an individual. Educate a woman and you educate a nation. ~African Proverb
  18. The wise man, even when he holds his tongue, says more than the fool when he speaks. ~Yiddish Proverb
  19. If men swear that they want to harm you when you’re asleep, you can go to sleep. If a woman says so, stay awake. ~African Proverb
  20. He who asks a question is a fool for a minute. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. ~Chinese Proverb

Proverbs from around the world (61 – 80):

  1. Who gives, has. ~Lithuanian Proverb
  2. Advisers run no risks. ~English Proverb
  3. Nothing is easy for the unwilling. ~Gaelic Proverb
  4. Adversity is the mother of wisdom. ~German Proverb
  5. Being happy is better than being king. ~African Proverb
  6. When the music changes, so does the dance. ~African Proverb
  7. f your face is ugly, you can’t blame the mirror. ~Chinese Proverb
  8. He who’s afraid of asking is ashamed of learning. ~Danish Proverb
  9. The eyes do not see what the mind does not want. ~Indian Proverb
  10. If you don’t want anyone to find out, don’t do it. ~Chinese Proverb
  11. Speak the truth but leave immediately afterwards. ~Slovenian Proverb
  12. A people without faith in themselves cannot survive. ~Chinese Proverb
  13. Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid of standing still. ~Japanese Proverb
  14. He who conquers his anger has conquered an enemy. ~German Proverb
  15. Never promise a poor person, and never owe a rich one. ~Brazilian Proverb
  16. Everybody loves a fool, but nobody wants him for a son. ~Ivorian Proverb
  17. Every time you laugh a nail is removed from your coffin. ~Honduran Proverb
  18. If you tell your secret to your friend, you will make him your master. ~Spanish Proverb
  19. If you forgive the fox for stealing your chickens, he will take your sheep. ~Georgian Proverb
  20. Honorable is the person who is aware of their power, yet refrains from inflicting harm onto others. ~Egyptian Proverb

Proverbs from around the world (81 – 101):

  1. Hate as no medicine. ~Ghanaian Proverb
  2. A dog with a bone knows no friend. ~Dutch Proverb
  3. A blind cat catches only a dead rat. ~Chinese Proverb
  4. Day has its eyes, night has its ears. ~Japanese Proverb
  5. Pride is the mask of one’s own faults. ~Jewish Proverb
  6. He that promises most will perform least. ~Gaelic Proverb
  7. A slave does not choose his master. ~Ghanaian Proverb
  8. A tailless dog cannot express his joy. ~Albanian Proverb
  9. Beloved children have many names. ~Hungarian Proverb
  10. Ask for advice then use your head. ~Norwegian Proverb
  11. Fear an ignorant man more than a lion. ~Turkish Proverb
  12. An idiot is eloquent when he stays silent. ~Japanese Proverb
  13. Always tell the truth in the form of a joke. ~Armenian Proverb
  14. A dog that barks all the time gets little attention. ~Argentine Proverb
  15. Choose your company before you choose your drink. ~Gaelic Proverb
  16. Familiarity breeds contempt; distance brings respect. ~African Proverb
  17. He who is unkind to his own will not be kind to others. ~Galician Proverb
  18. Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. ~Burmese Proverb
  19. Offer the lazy man an egg and he’ll want you to peel it for him. ~Lithuanian Proverb
  20. Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing. ~African Proverb
  21. Even though you know a thousand things, ask the man who knows one. ~Turkish Proverb

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10 short inspirational quotes to increase your motivation

05/25/2021 by

10 Short Inspirational QuotesDo you have a problem getting enthusiastic about what you’re doing? Here are 10 short inspirational quotes to help you increase your motivation.

Short inspirational quotes:

  1. Use those talents you have. You will make it. You will give joy to the world. Take this tip from nature: The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except those who sang best. ~Bernard Meltzer
  2. The mind is for seeing, the heart is for hearing. ~Arab Proverb
  3. I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. ~Bill Cosby
  4. I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. ~George Burns
  5. If you want to achieve things in life, you’ve just got to do them, and if you’re talented and smart, you’ll succeed. ~Juliana Hatfield
  6. You have the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. What you accomplish depends on how wisely they are used. ~Roy Sutton
  7. You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. ~Bernard Meltzer
  8. Making a hundred friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a single friend who will stand by your side even when hundreds are against you. ~Author Unknown
  9. True love isn’t about being inseparable; it’s about two people being true to each other even when they are separated. ~Author Unknown
  10. Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. ~Mark Twain

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50 wise and wonderful proverbs from around the world

01/28/2021 by

Proverbs from around the worldIf you enjoy those pithy sayings expressing a general truth then here are some wise and wonderful proverbs from around the world just to inspire you, dear reader.

Personally, I love proverbs and the more memorable they are, the more I feel inspired by them. And I think they’re great to use when you’re finishing off a presentation and you want to reinforce an underlying message.

Now people will often say that proverbs are little more than clichés but I disagree. Proverbs are the wisdom of the ancients and they do express general truths, regardless of how clichéd they seem to have become.

So take a few moments to review these proverbs and see whether there are any you can put to good use any in your daily life.

Proverbs from around the world: 1 – 20

  1. All beginnings are hard. ~German Proverb
  2. Well begun is half done. ~Italian Proverb
  3. Deceit sleeps with greed. ~Norse Proverb
  4. Be contrary and be known. ~Arab Proverb
  5. A tree is known by its fruit. ~Zulu Proverb
  6. A parasite cannot live alone. ~African Proverb
  7. The pillar of the world is hope. ~Nigerian Proverb
  8. The bitter heart eats its owner. ~Bantu Proverb
  9. A beautiful thing is never perfect. Egyptian Proverb
  10. Do not draw your sword to kill a fly. ~Korean Proverb
  11. Nothing seems expensive on credit. Czech Proverb
  12. Better to ask the way than go astray. ~Korean Proverb
  13. Sunshine all the time makes a desert. ~Arab Proverb
  14. Beware the person with nothing to lose. ~Italian Proverb
  15. Patience is bitter but it bears sweet fruit. ~Turkish Proverb
  16. He who begins many things finishes few. ~German Proverb
  17. Sharp acids corrode their own containers. ~Albanian Proverb
  18. While the grass grows, the steed starves. ~Romanian Proverb
  19. Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together. ~Ghanaian Proverb
  20. Peace is costly, but it’s worth the expense. ~Kenyan Proverb

Proverbs from around the world: 21 – 40

  1. It is difficult to steal when the boss is a thief. ~Icelandic Proverb
  2. If you want to build high, you must dig deep. ~Mongolian Proverb
  3. He who wants a rose must respect the thorn. ~Persian Proverb
  4. A hungry wolf is stronger than a satisfied dog. ~Ukranian Proverb
  5. Do not scare the birds you are going to shoot. ~Malagasy Proverb
  6. If you speak too much, you will learn too little. ~Armenian Proverb
  7. Don’t bargain for fish that are still in the water. ~Indian Proverb
  8. There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience. ~French Proverb
  9. If you don’t want anyone to find out, don’t do it. ~Chinese Proverb
  10. The goat’s business is not the sheep’s business. ~Haitian Proverb
  11. Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. ~Chinese Proverb
  12. A joke is often a hole through which truth whistles. ~Japanese Proverb
  13. A pretty face and fine clothes do not make character. ~Congolese Proverb
  14. Do not stand in a place of danger trusting in miracles. ~African Proverb
  15. He that is unkind to his own will not be kind to others. ~Galician Proverb
  16. A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey. ~Zen Proverb
  17. A dog will always be a dog, even if he is raised by lions. ~Lebanese Proverb
  18. He who buys what he does not need steals from himself. ~Swedish Proverb
  19. When poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window. ~English Proverb
  20. Never wrestle with a strong man nor bring a rich man to court. ~Latvian Proverb

Proverbs from around the worldProverbs from around the world: 41 – 50

  1. The coroner and the lawyer grow fat on the quarrels of fools. ~Gaelic Proverb
  2. A man in this world without learning is as the beast of the field. ~Hindu Proverb
  3. A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures for anything. ~Irish Proverb
  4. A fool says what he knows, and a wise man knows what he says. ~Yiddish Proverb
  5. When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. ~Japanese Proverb
  6. There is no shame in not knowing, the shame lies in not finding out. Russian Proverb
  7. Do not judge by appearances, a rich heart may be under a poor coat. ~Scottish Proverb
  8. What an old man can see while seated, a young man cannot see standing. ~Eritrean Proverb
  9. To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. ~Chinese Proverb
  10. If you want to know who your friends are, lie by the roadside and pretend to be drunk. ~Jamaican Proverb

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You did? Well, I hope so anyway.

If that’s the case then please share this post with your friends because when you share everyone wins.

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101 Proverbs that everyone should know

01/06/2021 by

ProverbsThere are literally thousands of proverbs. These are simple sayings which express essential truths and they exist in every language.

Most have become clichés but they’re based on common sense and centuries of experience and they’re no less valid for their overuse.

Here are 101 proverbs that everyone should know.

These proverbs can be very useful when your aim is to emphasise a point. So, see how many of them you can work into your conversations today.

101 Proverbs:

  1. There’s no place like home
  2. Beggars can’t be choosers
  3. Opportunity never knocks twice at any man’s door
  4. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
  5. Possession is nine-tenths of the law
  6. A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse
  7. A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men
  8. Adversity makes for strange bedfellows
  9. There’s honour among thieves
  10. There’s no fool like an old fool
  11. Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion
  12. Don’t get mad, get even
  13. The road to hell is paved with good intentions
  14. Give a man enough rope and he’ll hang himself
  15. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
  16. East, west, home is best
  17. Every picture tells a story
  18. Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
  19. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance
  20. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
  21. A change is as good as a rest
  22. The proof of the pudding is in the eating
  23. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach
  24. Faint heart never won fair lady
  25. Fortune favours the brave
  26. Give credit where credit’s due
  27. Children and fools tell the truth
  28. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face
  29. He who sups with the Devil should have a long spoon
  30. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
  31. Once a thief, always a thief
  32. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty
  33. If anything can go wrong, it will
  34. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
  35. Into every life a little rain must fall
  36. It never rains but it pours
  37. There are none so blind as those that will not see
  38. There’s an exception to every rule
  39. It’s better to travel hopefully than to arrive
  40. The early bird catches the worm
  41. Once bitten, twice shy
  42. It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease
  43. Judge not, that ye be not judged
  44. Least said, soonest mended
  45. Let the buyer beware
  46. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place
  47. Many a true word is spoken in jest
  48. Many are called but few are chosen
  49. Marry in haste, repent at leisure
  50. Necessity is the mother of invention
  51. ProverbsNever give a sucker an even break
  52. No pain, no gain
  53. Nothing is certain but death and taxes
  54. Oil and water don’t mix
  55. Old soldiers never die, they just fade away
  56. One good turn deserves another
  57. One volunteer is worth ten pressed men
  58. Prevention is better than cure
  59. Procrastination is the thief of time
  60. Revenge is a dish best served cold
  61. Rome wasn’t built in a day
  62. Still waters run deep
  63. Stupid is as stupid does
  64. Talk is cheap
  65. The apple never falls far from the tree
  66. The customer’s always right
  67. The darkest hour is just before the dawn
  68. The Devil finds work for idle hands
  69. When in Rome, do as the Romans do
  70. Where there’s muck there’s brass
  71. You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family
  72. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs
  73. You can’t win them all
  74. You’ll catch more flies with sugar than you will with vinegar
  75. You reap what you sow
  76. The Devil is in the details
  77. The end justifies the means
  78. The exception which proves the rule
  79. If you want a thing done well, do it yourself
  80. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
  81. In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king
  82. The pen is mightier than sword
  83. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts
  84. There’s no such thing as a free lunch
  85. There’s no such thing as bad publicity
  86. Familiarity breeds contempt
  87. There’s nowt so queer as folk
  88. There’s one born every minute
  89. There’s safety in numbers
  90. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it
  91. Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
  92. Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas
  93. Time and tide wait for no man
  94. Time is money
  95. To the victor go the spoils
  96. Tomorrow never comes
  97. Truth is stranger than fiction
  98. There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle
  99. There’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip
  100. You win some, you lose some
  101. Youth is wasted on the young

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