Speak more wisely in English by learning proverbs related to knowledge, education, truth, and advice.
11 topics140 words
Knowledge & Awareness16 words
what you see is (what|all) you getsentenceused to imply that the external appearance of something or someone accurately reflects their true nature or qualities
a straw will show which way the wind blowssentenceused to emphasize the importance of paying attention to small details or clues that can provide insights into larger situations or outcomes
real eyes realizesentenceused to imply that by seeing things clearly and without illusions or biases, one can gain a deeper understanding of reality, emphasizing the importance of being observant and aware
memory is the treasure of the mindsentenceused to imply that the ability to remember and recall past experiences, knowledge, and emotions is a valuable asset that can provide insights, lessons, and personal growth
the longest journey is the journey withinsentenceused to emphasize that the most challenging and rewarding journey is the exploration of oneself, discovering one's thoughts, emotions, and true nature
knowledge is powersentenceused to imply that education and learning are powerful tools that can help individuals achieve success, make informed decisions, and make a positive impact on the world
(a|) little (knowledge|learning) is a dangerous thingsentenceused to imply that having incomplete knowledge about something can lead to overestimating one's abilities or underestimating the complexity of the subject matter, which can be harmful
knowledge in youth is wisdom in agesentenceused to imply that gaining knowledge and education at an early age is valuable, as it can result in greater wisdom and understanding later in life
doubt is often the beginning of wisdomsentenceused to imply that being skeptical or uncertain about something can lead to a deeper understanding and knowledge, as it encourages one to question and seek answers
a good mind possesses a kingdomsentenceused to suggest that a good and intelligent mind is equivalent to possessing great power and influence
better brain than brawnsentenceused to suggest that intelligence, knowledge, and mental abilities are more valuable and useful than physical strength or brute force.
a disease known is half curedsentenceused to imply that identifying and understanding the root cause of a problem is a crucial step towards finding a solution or remedy
the nose knowssentenceused for emphasizing the significance of intuition, perception, and sensory awareness
for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soulsentenceused to suggest that seeking knowledge and wisdom can be a fulfilling experience that leads to better decision-making and a more meaningful life
wisdom (will|shall) save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perversesentenceused to suggest that possessing wisdom can protect an individual from the harmful actions and words of deceitful and immoral people
curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it backsentenceused to imply that while excessive curiosity can have negative consequences, the pursuit of knowledge or exploration can also be rewarding and fulfilling despite the risks
Education & Upbringing13 words
as the old cock crows, so does the youngsentenceused to imply that children often imitate the behavior and attitudes of their elders, and that they can be influenced by the examples set by those around them
as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclinedsentenceused to imply that a person's early experiences and upbringing shape their character and behavior in later life
it takes three generations to make a gentlemansentenceused to suggest that becoming a refined and well-mannered individual requires several generations of effort, education, and example
many a good cow has a bad calfsentenceused to emphasize that even a successful and capable individual can produce an offspring or product that is inferior or unsuccessful
little birds (that|who) can sing and will not sing must be made to singsentenceused to imply that sometimes, people need to be pushed or encouraged to fulfill their potential or to achieve their goals
an ordinary teacher tells, a good teacher explains, (but|) an excellent teacher (demonstrates and|) inspiressentenceused to highlight that a great teacher is one who not only imparts knowledge but also inspires and motivates students to achieve their full potential
money spent on the brain is never spent in vainsentenceused to emphasize that investing in education and intellectual pursuits is always worthwhile and valuable, as it can lead to personal and professional success and can never be wasted
spare the rod and (you will|) spoil the childsentenceused to suggest that without proper discipline, guidance, and correction when a child misbehaves, they may become spoiled, undisciplined, and poorly behaved
train up a child in the way he should gosentenceused to imply that proper guidance and instruction from an early age are essential for a child's proper development and success
better unborn than untaughtsentenceused to emphasizes the importance of education, suggesting that it is better not to be born at all than to be born and remain uneducated or ignorant
better (be|) untaught than ill-taughtsentenceused to imply that receiving poor or incorrect education can be more detrimental than having no education at all, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that education is of high quality
birth is much but breeding moresentenceused to imply that a person's upbringing and education are more important than their birth or social status in shaping their character and determining their success in life
he teaches ill who teaches allsentenceused to imply that a teacher who claims to know everything and teaches beyond their expertise may be doing more harm than good
Books21 words
a book holds a house of goldsentenceused to emphasize the great worth of books, indicating that they contain a vast amount of valuable knowledge and insights that can significantly improve a person's life
a book is like a garden carried in the pocketsentenceused to suggest that books can transport readers to new places, introduce them to new ideas and perspectives, and provide a sense of wonder and delight
a book, tight shut, is but a block of paperssentenceused to suggest that the true value of a book lies in the knowledge and ideas it contains, and that a book that is not read is essentially useless, no matter how impressive it may appear
a donkey that carries a lot of books is not necessarily learnedsentenceused to suggest that just because someone possesses or carries a large number of books does not automatically make them knowledgeable or educated
a great book is a great evilsentenceused to imply that a great book, although valuable in terms of knowledge, can also have negative consequences when its ideas are misused or promote harmful ideologies
a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need themsentenceused to imply that true happiness does not comes from owning books, but from internalizing and applying the lessons learned from books, allowing one to live without depending on them
after three days without reading, talk becomes flavorlesssentenceused to suggest that a lack of reading leads to a decrease in one's ability to engage in interesting and meaningful conversations
(beware|be wary) of a man of one booksentenceused to suggests that one should be cautious of people who base their entire worldview or beliefs on a single source of information, as they may be closed-minded and resistant to new ideas or information
choose an author as you choose a friendsentenceused to advise being selective in reading choices as books and authors, like friends, can have a significant impact on one's life and personal growth
every book must be chewed to get out its juicesentenceused to suggest that in order to fully understand and benefit from a book, one must read it carefully and thoughtfully, and also take the time to reflect on its content
reading books removes sorrow from the heartsentenceused to highlight the therapeutic and uplifting effect of reading on one's emotions
there’s no (greater|) thief like a bad booksentenceused to suggest that a bad book has the potential to take away a person's values, morals, and time, and could potentially harm or damage them
(unread|shelved) books make hollow mindssentenceused to suggest that neglecting to read and acquire knowledge can lead to a lack of substance and depth in a person's mind
when you read a book for the first time, you get to know a friend, read it for a second time and you (will|shall|) meet an old friendsentenceused to suggest that re-reading a book can reveal new insights and perspectives, and deepen one's understanding of the story and characters
books and friends should be few but goodsentenceused to imply that having a small number of high-quality books and trustworthy friends is more valuable than having many casual or unreliable ones
a book is a good friend (when|as) it lays bare the errors of the pastsentenceused to imply that books can be valuable companions when they reveal lessons learned from the past, allowing readers to gain knowledge and avoid making the same mistakes
teachers die, but (it's|) books (that|) live onsentenceused to imply that the knowledge and wisdom contained in books can have a lasting impact, even after the author or teacher has passed away
if (your|one's) books are not read, (your|one's) descendants will be ignorantsentenceused to highlights the importance of passing down knowledge through reading and education to prevent future generations from being deprived of valuable information
a drop of ink may make a million thinksentenceused to imply that a single piece of writing no matter how small, has the potential to inspire or influence a large number of people to think, reflect, or take action
it is better to be without a book than to believe a book entirelysentenceused to imply that it is important to approach information critically and thoughtfully, rather than accepting everything in a book without questioning its accuracy
scholars talk books, butchers talk pigssentenceused to imply that individuals with different backgrounds, professions, interests, or experiences will have different areas of knowledge or expertise, and so, will talk about different things
Truth & Revelation10 words
blood will outsentenceused to suggests that a person's true character or nature will eventually be exposed, despite any attempts to conceal it
blood will tellsentenceused to imply that a person's natural abilities, talents, or character traits are inherited from their family or ancestry, and will become apparent in their behavior, actions, or achievements
drunkenness reveals what soberness concealssentenceused to imply that when people are drunk, they are more likely to reveal their true personalities, emotions, and thoughts that they might otherwise keep hidden when sober
eyes are the windows of the soulsentenceused to suggest that a person's eyes can reveal their true emotions, feelings, or character, as they are a reflection of their innermost thoughts and emotions
the facts speak for themselvessentenceused to imply that the truth is self-evident and can be easily understood by examining the available evidence
reality is (often|) disappointingsentenceused to suggest that the outcome of a situation can be different or less desirable than what one expected or hoped for
there is truth in winesentenceused to imply that people are more likely to speak their true thoughts and feelings when they are under the influence of alcohol
the truth will outsentenceused to emphasize that the truth will eventually be revealed or discovered, no matter how hard someone tries to conceal it or keep it a secret
facts are stubborn thingssentenceused to emphasize the idea that truth is objective and unchanging, and it cannot be altered or denied, even if people try to distort or manipulate it
the darkest place is under the candlesticksentenceused to imply that sometimes the things that are closest to us or most obvious are the things that we overlook or take for granted
Advice8 words
a fool may give a wise man counselsentenceused to suggest that one should be discerning and evaluate any advice or suggestions received, regardless of the source
a word to the wise is (sufficient|enough)phraseused to suggest that a wise person only needs a brief hint or explanation to fully understand something
advice is cheapsentenceused to imply that giving advice is easy and does not necessarily require much effort or expertise
advisors run no riskssentenceused to imply that those who give advice or counsel are typically not exposed to the potential dangers or negative consequences that may arise from the decisions made based on their recommendations
advice is least heeded when most neededsentenceused to convey the idea that people are often less likely to take advice or guidance when they are in dire or challenging situations
counsel is no commandsentenceused to imply that advice or suggestions are not the same as orders or commands, and that one is free to accept or reject them as they see fit
example is (far|way|) better than (any|) preceptsentenceused to suggest that leading by example is more effective than giving instructions or preaching, as people are often more influenced by actions than words
it is a silly goose that comes to a fox's sermonsentenceused to advise individuals to be cautious and discerning in choosing whom they trust and follow for advice or guidance
Foolishness18 words
when the (wine|ale) is in, (the|) wit is outsentenceused to warn that excessive drinking impairs a person's judgment and ability to think clearly
a fool knows more in his own house than a wise man in anothersentenceused to imply that a foolish person can have more knowledge in their own area of expertise than a wise person who is unfamiliar with that area
a fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven yearssentenceused to imply that some people may ask questions without thinking deeply, while a wise person considers the subject matter before responding
a fool's bolt is soon shotsentenceused to imply that a foolish person acts quickly without much thought or consideration
a (lawyer|man) who represents himself has a fool for a clientsentenceused to imply that it is generally unwise for someone to act as their own advocate or counselor in matters that require objectivity and specialized knowledge
fools build houses and wise men (live in|buy) themsentenceused to suggest that wise individuals make practical choices by considering various factors and avoiding unnecessary risks, while fools may make hasty or unwise decisions
not know B from a battledoresentenceused to imply that someone is completely ignorant or uneducated
some are wise, (and|) some are otherwisesentenceused to emphasize that people have varying levels of intelligence, knowledge, or common sense
stupid is as stupid doessentenceused to imply that a person's actions and behavior are a better indicator of their intelligence or lack thereof than their words or appearance
there is (a sucker|one) born every minutesentenceused to imply that there are always gullible or naive people who can be easily deceived or taken advantage of by others
there is no fool like an old foolsentenceused to suggest that an older person who behaves foolishly is especially deserving of criticism for not having learned from their past experiences
young folks think old folks to be fools, but old folks know young folks to be foolssentenceused to imply that young people tend to underestimate the wisdom and experience of older people, while older people are aware of the shortcomings and lack of experience of younger people
ask a silly question and get a silly answersentenceused to suggest that the quality of a question influences the quality of the answer, and that a poorly thought-out or irrelevant question is unlikely to result in a useful answer
knaves and fools divide the worldsentenceused to imply that dishonest and foolish people often create conflict and division in society, as both intentionally or unintentionally are enemies of truth
little things please little mindssentenceused to imply that people with limited intellect or imagination find satisfaction in small and trivial things, while those with greater intelligence seek more meaningful experiences
monkey see, monkey dosentenceused to imply that people tend to imitate the actions of others, especially those they admire or consider as role models, without necessarily understanding the reasons behind those actions
a fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men can not (pull|get) outsentenceused to imply that a single foolish action can have significant and sometimes irreversible consequences that may require much effort and wisdom to fix
a fool at forty is a fool (indeed|forever)sentenceused to say that when a person remains foolish and lacks wisdom even after reaching the age of forty, it strongly signifies their inherent foolishness that is unlikely to be corrected
Ignorance10 words
nothing so bold as a blind maresentenceused to imply that when someone is ignorant of the dangers involved in a situation, they may act more boldly or recklessly than someone who is aware of the risks
there (are|is) none so deaf as those (that|who) will not hearsentenceused to suggest that some people are so stubborn and resistant to new ideas or information that they refuse to listen or pay attention, even if it is in their best interest
what the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve oversentenceused to imply that people may choose to remain ignorant of certain things to protect themselves from potential emotional distress
admiration is the daughter of ignorancesentenceused to suggest that when someone lacks knowledge or understanding about a certain subject, they tend to have a heightened admiration or reverence for it
frog in the well knows nothing of the seasentenceused to imply that someone with a narrow-minded perspective can never fully understand the vastness and diversity of the world beyond their limited environment or worldview
ignorance is a voluntary misfortunesentenceused to imply that ignorance is a result of one's own choices or lack of effort to gain knowledge and understanding, and that it can lead to negative consequences
ignorance is blisssentenceused to suggest that not knowing certain information can be preferable to facing it, particularly when it is unpleasant or burdensome
there (are|is) none so blind as those (that|who) will not seesentenceused to imply that some people choose to ignore the truth and refuse to see what contradicts their beliefs
men are blind in their own causesentenceused to imply that people may be unable to see the flaws or potential dangers in something they strongly believe in, due to their emotional investment in it
half the world knows not how the other half livessentenceused to suggest that people often lack knowledge or understanding of the lives of others, especially when their lifestyles, experiences, and perspectives are very different
Gossip & News7 words
bad news travels fastsentenceused to suggest that negative information or gossip tends to spread quickly, emphasizing the idea that people are often more interested in hearing and sharing bad news than good news
ill news spreads apacesentenceused to imply that negative or distressing information tends to spread quickly, and that people are often more eager to share or spread negative news than positive news
no news is good newssentenceused to suggest that in the absence of any information, one can assume that everything is going well or according to plan
there is no smoke without firesentenceused to suggest that even if the details of a particular story or rumor are not entirely accurate, there is usually some underlying truth or basis for the rumor
gossiping and lying go hand in handsentenceused to imply that people who engage in gossip are often prone to lying or spreading false information
loose lips sink shipssentenceused to warn against the dangers of careless talk or gossip, particularly in situations where secrecy or confidentiality is important, as it can have serious consequences
a tale never loses in the tellingsentenceused to suggest that stories or rumors tend to become more exaggerated or distorted as they are passed on, and so one should take steps to verify information before accepting it as true
Giving Warning11 words
beware of a silent dog and still watersentenceused to suggest that it is important to be wary of situations that appear calm and quiet on the surface, as they may conceal hidden dangers or threats
forewarned is forearmedsentenceused to imply that being informed or aware of a potential danger or problem in advance allows one to be better prepared to deal with it
{not} go near the water until you learn how to swimsentenceused to emphasize that it is important to be prepared and have the necessary skills before engaging in a potentially dangerous or risky activity
beware of the young doctor and the old barbersentenceused to suggest that it is important to be aware of potential risks or shortcomings when dealing with individuals who may lack experience or who may be past their prime
(one shall|) drive gently over the stonessentenceused to suggest that it is important to be cautious and gentle in one's approach, particularly in situations where there may be potential obstacles or challenges
it is all fun and games until someone loses an eyesentenceused to suggest that even if a situation may seem harmless or amusing, it is important to take proper precautions and be mindful of potential risks or dangers to prevent serious harm or injury
to beware of (the|) Greeks bearing giftsphraseused to advise people to be cautious of accepting gifts from those who may have ulterior motives or hidden intentions, especially when the gift giver may be an adversary or enemy
(be|) careful what you wish forsentenceused to warn people to think carefully about their desires, as the things they wish for may have unforeseen and unintended consequences
he who sups with the devil should have a long spoonsentenceused to imply that when dealing with morally corrupt or untrustworthy individuals, one should be cautious and take measures to protect oneself from potential harm or negative consequences
kindle not a fire you cannot put outsentenceused to suggest that it is important to take precautions and avoid situations that may quickly become out of control or difficult to manage
{not} (test|measure) the depth of (water|river) with both feetsentenceused to suggest that one should be cautious and take measured steps when approaching a new or unfamiliar situation
Importance of Cautiousness19 words
children and fools must not play with edged toolssentenceused to caution against engaging in activities or using tools that could be dangerous, particularly for individuals who lack experience or knowledge
above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from itsentenceused to emphasize that it is important to protect one's thoughts and emotions, as they have a powerful influence on one's actions and behavior
better go about than fall into the ditchsentenceused to emphasize that it is better to take a longer or more circuitous route if it reduces the risk of danger or failure
careless talk costs livessentenceused to caution against speaking without proper consideration or caution, particularly in situations where the stakes are high or the consequences of one's words could be serious
discretion is the better part of valorsentenceused to suggest that sometimes it may be wiser to exercise caution and avoid a potentially risky or dangerous situation, even if it may seem less courageous or brave to do so
a live dog is better than a dead lionsentenceused to suggest that it is better to be humble and appreciate the gift of life, than to pursue fame or power at the cost of one's own well-being or life
a postern door makes a thiefsentenceused to caution against creating opportunities for wrongdoing or crime, as even an honest person may be tempted to engage in wrongdoing if an opportunity presents itself
an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of witsentenceused to suggest that it is often better to be cautious and use good judgment, than to rely solely on one's wit or cleverness
fast bind, fast findsentenceused to imply that by securing or organizing something well, it will be easier to find or retrieve when needed
good swimmers are often drownedsentenceused to warn against overconfidence, suggesting that even those who are skilled or experienced can still experience failure or harm
it is the pace that killssentenceused to suggest that it is often the speed or intensity of one's actions that can lead to failure or harm
the highest branch is not the safest roostsentenceused to caution against blindly pursuing the most prestigious or desirable option, without considering the potential risks or drawbacks
those who play at bowls, (must|should) look out for rubberssentenceused to emphasize the importance of being prepared because even if one is skilled or experienced in a particular activity, unexpected challenges or obstacles may still arise
though honey is sweet, do not lick it off a briarsentenceused to emphasize the importance of considering the potential harm or danger associated with something attractive or tempting
the only free cheese (is|lies) in the mousetrapsentenceused to warn that there is often a hidden cost or risk associated with something that appears to be free or easy to obtain
words must be weighed, not countedsentenceused to emphasize that it is more important to consider the meaning and impact of what is being said, rather than simply focusing on the number of words being used
{not} mention rope in the house of a (man who has been hanged|hanged man)sentenceused to advise individuals to avoid certain topics or words in sensitive situations, showing respect for others' feelings and experiences
{not} shit where you eatsentenceused to advise people to avoid doing things that could have negative consequences on their current situation or environment, particularly in the workplace or personal relationships
if you cannot be good, be carefulsentenceused to say that if someone cannot behave or act in an ethical manner, they should at least be cautious and take steps to minimize the negative consequences of their actions
Learning From Mistakes7 words
failure teaches you more than successsentenceused to suggest that failures and setbacks offer opportunities for learning and growth that are often more valuable than those presented by success
wise men learn by other's harmsentenceused to imply that wise individuals can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid similar situations, rather than experiencing the negative consequences themselves
fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on mesentenceused to imply that it is important to learn from one's mistakes and to be cautious and skeptical when dealing with people or situations that have previously caused harm or disappointment
the past is a guidepost, not a hitching postsentenceused to emphasize the importance of learning from the past without being weighed down by it, and of using our experiences to create a better future
it is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same baitsentenceused to imply that it is foolish to fall for the same trick or deception twice, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes to avoid being fooled again
once bitten, twice shysentenceused for saying that after experiencing a negative or painful event, individuals become more cautious and wary in similar situations
live and learninterjectionused to imply that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, and that one should not be discouraged by failure but instead use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement
Learn all 140 words in this list with spaced repetition