proverbs – common wisdom

[bivol]

hi!

i thought we could dedicate this thread to proverbs, these short but wise, often humorous sentences originated among the common, often rural, population.
but they are much more than that, they contain life wisdom, and some a window into human soul and nature.

so, some proverbs, mostly from Croatia, and Balkans:

no tools, no trade
have patience! time makes grass to milk
others cow always has the bigger udder
every hen is strong in her nest
who burns himself on milk, blows to cold the yogurt
better your own egg than another’s chicken
one mangy sheep makes the entire flock mangy
hay is not for geese
saddle is not for a sow
where horses fight and play, there is no place for a donkey
a frog saw horses being shod so it lifted a leg
one shouldn’t be afraid of last year’s snow
people’s greatest troubles are daily bread and love
better to give the wool than an alive sheep
when the cat’s not around, the mice are in charge
a good sheep isn’t loud, but gives lots of wool
every cow licks her own calf
save good money for bad days
who doesn’t inhale some smoke doesn’t get warmed by the fire
dig a new well, and don’t spit in the old one
it’s better to sing in a hut than to cry in a palace
oxen are tied by their horns, and man by his tongue
if an owl’s opinion would count, there would be no day
a lovely lamb suckles two sheep
to ask milk of a barren cow
next to a dry tree a healthy one burns too
don’t make a horse out of a donkey
don’t climb a tree that throws the fruit down itself
there’s no winter until the nature freezes, no spring until the sun warms it up, and no happiness until you share it with someone.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Interesting, how similar some of the Croatian/Balkan sayings are to some we have over here. Some, honestly, I haven’t quite figured out yet.
My personal favorite:
“In the Land of the Blind, a one-eyed man is King.”

[bivol]

well, tell me which, i can give it a try!

[CharlyBonifaz]

others cow always has the bigger udder

translates here into:
the gras is always greener on the other side of the fence

better your own egg than another’s chicken

a sparrow in the hand is better than the pigeon on the roof

one mangy sheep makes the entire flock mangy

one rotten egg spoils the whole broth
or
one ill weed mars a whole pot of pottage

when the cat’s not around, the mice are in charge

is the cat away, the mice will play

fun to compare the sayings and their meanings :rolleyes:

our cats have 7 lives
british cats have 9 😀

elke

[near horse]

One of the best sayings for DAP website:
“Every jack has his jenny.”

Another good one:
“That’s slicker than salmon patties at a cat convention.”

If you’re playing poker and someone bids high one might comment:
“That’s stronger than Nellie’s breath!”

None too inspirational but memorable.

[john plowden]

How ’bout – colder than a well diggers ass-

[near horse]

Hey John,

Why would a well digger’s ass be really cold? I’ve heard that one but don’t get it.

Some for stuff that’s really old –
“hasn’t happened since Moses was a senior” or “since Jesus was a freshman”.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Geoff; If you get down into a 60 or 70 foot deep hole, as old-time (pre-well drills) well DIGGERS did, it gets quite chilly… add cold sub-surface water on a successful dig and… you get the phrase mentioned. :p In line with your ‘really old’ adages: “When Christians were lunchmeats for lions”.
One of my favorites about not messing with things best left alone:
“Thou shalt not anger dragons… for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.” 😮

[bivol]

@Robert MoonShadow 8357 wrote:

“Thou shalt not anger dragons… for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.” 😮

this reminds me of our, similar one: “don’t poke the she-bear!”

… i wonder why!:rolleyes: 😀

[near horse]

Not a proverb but the last one from “biovol” about bears reminded me of an old Gary Larsen Far Side comic where a polar bear is talking to his buddy after biting into an igloo w/ eskimos inside and says” I love these things. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.”

[Author]

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