Strengthen your bonds and improve your empathy by learning English proverbs about human relationships.
7 topics82 words
Human Bonding13 words
better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate issentenceused to emphasize the value of genuine connections and meaningful interactions over superficial or extravagant experiences
the company makes the feastsentenceused to imply that good company can enhance the enjoyment of a meal or gathering, emphasizing the value of social connections and relationships in creating a positive atmosphere
(adversity|politics) makes strange bedfellowssentenceused to imply difficult situations can bring together unlikely allies, as people may put aside their differences to work toward a common goal in the face of adversity
(absence|distance) makes the heart grow fondersentenceused to suggest that being separated from someone or something can increase one's affection and appreciation for them
better be alone than in bad companysentenceused to emphasize the importance of choosing one's companions carefully and avoiding negative influences, even if it means being alone
clothing is cherishable when new, but relationship when oldsentenceused to imply that while new things may bring temporary joy, long-lasting relationships are more valuable and worthy of cherishing
familiarity breeds contemptsentenceused to suggest that the more familiar one becomes with someone or something, the more likely one is to develop a negative attitude or lack of respect toward them
good company on the road is the shortest cutsentenceused to imply that having good companionship on a journey can make the journey seem shorter and more enjoyable
long absent, soon forgottensentenceused to imply that when someone is away for a long time, people tend to forget about them or lose interest in them
out of sight, out of mindphraseused to imply that people tend to forget about things or people that are no longer visible or present in their lives
far from eye, far from heartphraseused to suggest that when people or things are physically distant, there is a tendency for individuals to forget about them and feel less emotionally attached
they are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behindsentenceused to imply that people who have passed away continue to live on through the memories and love they leave behind in the hearts of those who knew them
the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the wombsentenceused to suggest that chosen relationships based on shared experiences and mutual loyalty are more important than those based solely on blood ties that are not chosen
Trust & Reliability9 words
if you trust before you try, you may repent before you diesentenceused to advise against trusting or believing in someone or something without first verifying their reliability or effectiveness, as it may lead to regret or negative consequences in the future
you should know a man seven years before you stir his firesentenceused to advise patience and careful consideration in forming close relationships, indicating that trust and loyalty are built over time and through experience
a dog that will (bring|fetch) a bone will carry a bonesentenceused to imply that a person who shares gossip with one cannot be trusted, as they are likely to spread gossip about one as well
promises are like pie [crust], (they are|) made to be brokensentenceused to suggest that promises are often insincere or easily broken, and should not be relied upon too heavily
be slow to promise, but quick to (perform|deliver)sentenceused to emphasize that one should not make promises lightly or without careful consideration, but once a promise is made, it should be fulfilled promptly and without delay
jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam todaysentenceused to caution people against being deceived or distracted by empty promises that offer future rewards or benefits that are not fulfilled in the present moment
a fool's speech is a bubble of airsentenceused to suggest that the words spoken by a fool lack substance or depth, and therefore should not be trusted or taken seriously
bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tailssentenceused to suggest that people or things that seem harmless or kind may conceal hidden dangers or harmful intentions, advising one to be wary and cautious of potential risks or threats
good accounting makes (for|) good friendssentenceused to imply when people are honest and accurate in their accounting, they are less likely to have disagreements about money which can help to keep friendships peaceful and harmonious
Help & Support17 words
a candle loses nothing by lighting another candlesentenceused to imply that helping others or sharing knowledge and resources does not diminish our own abilities or resources, and can lead to mutual benefit and growth
the sun loses nothing by shining into a puddlesentenceused to suggest that sharing one's resources or knowledge with others does not diminish one's own value or worth
(when|) you help (someone|somebody), you help everyonesentenceused to say that one should never stop helping others or being kind to them as one's actions, no matter how small, can make the world a better place for others
you scratch my back and I will scratch yourssentenceused suggest that if one does a favor for someone, they will be more likely to reciprocate that favor in the future
claw me, and I will claw (thee|you)sentenceused to suggest that people may be inclined to respond to aggression or hostility with aggression of their own, leading to a cycle of violence or animosity
two in distress makes [sorrow] lesssentenceused to suggest that sharing one's troubles with someone who is going through a similar experience can help to ease the burden of sorrow or hardship
company in misery makes it lightsentenceused to suggest that sharing one's problems with others who are going through similar experiences can make those difficulties easier to bear and provide comfort and support
grief divided is made lightersentenceused to suggest that when people come together to share their grief, they can help one another through the difficult period and find a way to cope with the pain
company in distress makes trouble lesssentenceused to imply that facing difficulties together with others can provide comfort and support, and can make the situation more bearable
a (trouble|problem) shared is a trouble halvedsentenceused to imply that sharing one's problems or worries with others can help to reduce the emotional burden and make them easier to bear
behind every (great|successful) man (there|) stands a womansentenceused to suggest that the success of a man is often due to the support, hard work, and sacrifices of a woman in his life
the best helping hand is at the end of your sleevesentenceused to suggest that the most effective way to get things done is by relying on one's own skills, abilities, and resources, rather than depending on others for assistance
bring not a bagpipe to a man in troublesentenceused to imply that one should not be insensitive or thoughtless by bringing up trivial or joyful matters to someone experiencing difficulty or suffering
he gives twice who gives quicklysentenceused to imply that by giving help or support immediately when it is needed, one can have a greater impact and make a bigger difference
one good turn deserves anothersentenceused to imply that acts of kindness and generosity should be repaid with similar acts, emphasizing the importance of mutual benefit and showing gratitude for the kindness of others
it is (far|way|) better to give than to receivesentenceused to imply that the act of giving can bring greater joy, satisfaction, and personal growth than simply receiving something
give a man fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetimesentenceused to emphasize that temporary aid may solve immediate needs, but teaching skills and knowledge empowers individuals to become self-sufficient and independent in the long term
Empathy & Understanding10 words
charity begins at homesentenceused to imply that one should focus on taking care of their own family and community first, before extending acts of kindness to others
a gentle heart is tied with an easy threadsentenceused to imply that kind and compassionate people can form effortless and meaningful connections with others, as they are more receptive to simple acts of kindness and affection
do unto others as you would have them do unto yousentenceused to emphasize that one should treat others in the same way that one would like to be treated themselves
pity is akin to lovesentenceused to imply that there is a strong connection between the emotions of pity and love, as feeling sorry for someone can lead to empathy and affection toward them
love covers a multitude of sinssentenceused to imply that when one truly loves another, they are more likely to overlook or forgive their faults or mistakes, emphasizing the power of love to overcome shortcomings or flaws
he that is warm thinks all sosentenceused to suggest that when someone is comfortable or satisfied, they may view things more positively and underestimate the difficulties faced by others
it takes one to know onesentenceused to suggest that in order to truly understand someone, one must possess similar qualities, experiences, or characteristics themselves
to know all is to forgive allsentenceused to imply that if one understands the full context or circumstances behind someone's actions or behavior, they will be more likely to forgive them
life is too short to make others' shortersentenceused to emphasize the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, and avoiding actions that cause harm or suffering, recognizing the finite and precious nature of life
there but for the grace of god go isentenceused to encourage gratitude and empathy, reminding individuals that they could have been in a similar situation as those facing difficulties if not for external factors beyond their control
Friendship14 words
a dog is man's best friendsentenceused to refer to the strong and loyal bond between dogs and humans, and their ability to provide comfort, companionship, and protection
a friend in need is a friend indeedsentenceused to imply that a true friend is someone who supports and helps one during difficult times, showing their loyalty and trustworthiness
a man is known by the company he keepssentenceused to imply that a person's character and reputation can be influenced by the qualities and behavior of their friends and associates
a good friend never offendssentenceused to imply that a true friend is someone who is considerate and respectful of their friends' feelings, avoiding actions or words that could be hurtful or damaging to the relationship
all men's friend (is|,) no man's friendsentenceused to suggest that someone who tries to be friends with everyone is not truly a loyal friend to anyone, as they may not prioritize any one person's needs or interests over another's
you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your familysentenceused to imply that one has the freedom to choose one's friends, but not one's family, emphasizing the need to accept and navigate familial relationships with patience
a broken friendship may be soldered but will never be soundsentenceused to suggest that repairing a damaged friendship or relationship is possible, but it will never be as strong and reliable as before due to lingering mistrust or resentment
a hedge between keeps friendship greensentenceused to suggest that having boundaries and some privacy in a friendship can help to maintain its health and longevity, as it can prevent conflict and strain
a friend to all is a friend to nonesentenceused to imply that a person who tries to be friends with everyone often lacks genuine loyalty and deep connections, as true friendship requires personal investment and a certain level of exclusivity
friendship is like money, easier made than keptsentenceused to imply that while it is easy to form new friendships, maintaining them over time requires effort and investment
better lose a jest than a friendsentenceused to imply that it is better to avoid making a joke that might offend a friend and risk damaging the friendship
be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing himsentenceused to advise one to be cautious and deliberate in choosing friends, but to be loyal and patient with them once they are chosen
lend your money and lose your friendsentenceused to suggest that lending money to a friend can strain the relationship and potentially lead to the loss of the friendship
save us from our friendssentenceused to suggest that even close friends can sometimes cause harm or trouble, and it is important to be cautious and protect oneself from negative consequences
Family7 words
blood is thicker than watersentenceused to suggest that family bonds are stronger and more significant than other relationships, indicating that familial ties should be prioritized over friendships or other associations
the apple does not [fall] far from the treesentenceused to highlight the notion that children often share similarities or traits with their parents or family members
a bad tree does not yield good applessentenceused to imply that bad parents are unlikely to raise good children
children are certain cares but uncertain comfortssentenceused to imply that while raising children can bring happiness, it also brings a lot of responsibilities and worries
children are poor men's richessentenceused to imply that poor men may lack material riches, but they can still find emotional fulfillment and pride in their children's accomplishments
happy is he that is happy in his childrensentenceused to suggest that a parent's joy is not in their own achievements or possessions but in the well-being and happiness of their children
it is a wise child that knows (its|his|her) own fathersentenceused to suggest that one should make an effort to learn about one's roots and history in order to be wise
Marriage12 words
a good Jack makes a good Jillsentenceused to imply that a person's positive qualities and behavior can have a positive influence on their partner
happy wife, happy lifephraseused to imply that a husband's happiness is closely linked to the happiness of his wife, and taking care of her needs and wants is important for a fulfilling marriage
he that will thrive must first ask his wifesentenceused to imply that a husband and wife's partnership is essential for achieving success, and that the husband's willingness to listen to and consider his wife's opinion can lead to more favorable outcomes
marry in haste, repent at leisuresentenceused to emphasize that rushing into a marriage without careful consideration can lead to regret and long-term consequences
a young man married is a young man marredsentenceused to imply that marrying at a young age can be detrimental to a person's personal and professional development, as it can create additional responsibilities and limit opportunities
honest men marry quickly, wise men not at allsentenceused to suggest that straightforward and sincere men tend to get married early in life, while more prudent men may choose to remain unmarried
first thrive, (and|) then wivesentenceused to suggest that it is wise to achieve financial stability and independence before committing to the responsibilities of marriage and family
better be an old man's darling than (to be|) a young man's slavesentenceused to suggest that it is better to be cherished and valued by an older person than to be under the control and mistreatment of a younger person
better wed over the mixen than over the moorsentenceused to advise that it is wiser to marry someone who lives nearby, even if they are not perfect, than to seek a perfect partner far away in a remote place
a rouk-town's seldom a good housewife at homesentenceused to suggest that someone who spends a lot of time gossiping or meddling in other people's affairs is unlikely to be a good homemaker or caretaker of their own household
a good husband makes a good wifesentenceused to imply that a woman's behavior and character are influenced by the way her husband treats her, emphasizing that both parties are important in creating a successful marriage
never marry for money, but marry where money issentenceused to suggest that one should not choose a life partner based solely on their wealth, but it is important to consider financial stability when choosing a partner
Learn all 82 words in this list with spaced repetition