Proverbs

Zen Proverbs
Better to see the face than to hear the name.

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind.

The infinite is in the finite of every instant.

The man who’s drunk water knows if it’s cool or warm.

No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.

From the withered tree, a flower blooms.

Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grow by itself.

If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.

Two monks were describing a flapping flag. One said,”The flag is moving.” The other said,”The wind is moving.” Hui Neng happened to be passing by. He said,”Not the wind, not the flag; the mind is moving.” ~ Zen Koan

Japanese Proverbs
True words are not always pretty; pretty words are not always true.

Some people like to make of life a garden, and to walk only within its path.

Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.

He is poor who does not feel content.

Chinese Proverbs
Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

The mind that turns forever outward will have no end to craving. Only the mind turned inward will find a still-point of peace.

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

Confucian Proverbs
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

If thy strength will serve, go forward in the ranks; if not, stand still.

If today will not, tomorrow may.

If two ride on a horse, one must ride behind.

Buddhist Proverbs
When the mind discriminates, there is manifoldness of things; when it does not, it looks into the true state of things.

Taoist Proverbs
To act sincerely with the insincere is dangerous.

No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

Tibetan Proverbs
A father deserted by a wise son is like being caught in a shower without a felt.

Excellent people are honoured wherever they go.

The wise understand by themselves, fools follow the reports of others.

Even if you have failed at something nine times, you have still given it effort nine times.

The wish is father to the thought.

Swedish Proverbs
Fear less, hope more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more;
hate less, love more;
and all good things are yours.

Myanmar Proverbs
The learned are apt to be taciturn.

The least and weakest man can do some hurt.

The least boy always carries the biggest fiddle.

Nepal Proverbs
Wealth is both an enemy and a friend.

Afghan Proverbs
In bad things be slow; in good things be quick.

Arabian Proverbs
The willing contemplation of vice is vice.

When you have spoken the word, it reigns over you. When it is unspoken you reign over it.

Do not stand in a place of danger trusting in miracles.

Islamic Proverbs
To you your religion and to me my religion.

Indonesian Proverbs
Different fields, different grasshoppers; different seas, different fish.

Different men have different opinions; some like apples, some onions.

Filipino Proverb
A fly that lands on a carabao feels itself to be higher than the carabao.

Balinese Proverbs
Goodness shouts. Evil whispers.

Bengali Proverbs
Unless a man is simple, he cannot recognise God, the Simple One.

Singhalese Proverbs
By committing foolish acts, one learns wisdom.

Eat coconuts while you have teeth.

Even the fall of a dancer is a somersault.

If you had teeth of steel, you could eat iron coconuts.

Tamil Proverbs
Abstinence is the best medicine.

Kind words conquer.

Popular agitation leads to justice.

Hindustani Proverbs
No sooner have you spoken than what you have said becomes the property of another.

It is a cart if it goes well, otherwise it is but timber.

Diet cures more than the lancer.

Give your ears to words but do not give your words to ears.

Bathe early everyday and sickness will avoid you.

Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount.

Cambodian Proverbs
Cultivate a heart of love that knows no anger.

Vietnamese Proverbs
All cats are grey in the dark.

Never forget benefits done you, regardless how small.

One often gets what one disdains.

People live with their own idiosyncrasies and die of their own illnesses.

The rich worry over their money, the poor over their bread.

Venture all; see what fate brings.

When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

When the tree falls, any child can climb it.

Persian Proverbs
You cannot please everyone.

You cannot polish a turd.

You cannot push on a rope.

You cannot put new wine in old bottles.

You cannot squeeze blood from a rock.

Philippine Proverbs
Alertness and courage are life’s shield.

Don’t empty the water jar until the rain falls.

He who boasts of his accomplishments will heap ridicule on himself.

He who gives alms to the poor faces heaven.

It is advantageous to follow advice, for you will succeed in life.

The pain of the little finger is felt by the whole body.

Loyalty is more valuable than diamonds.

Korean Proverbs
Malay Proverbs
Indian Proverbs
Hindu Proverbs
Kashmiri Proverbs

Cat Proverbs
He that denies the cat skimmed milk must give the mouse cream.

A cat pent up becomes a lion.

Never put the kitty to watch your chickens.

The cat loves fish but does not wish to wet its feet.

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