Danish proverbs
Traditional saying. The library holds 1044 of them. Here are the 60 most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
Often about: wisdom, money, nature, family, truth, time
The 60 best known
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Fire and water are good servants but bad masters.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A silent man’s words are not brought into court.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Falsehood is the Devil’s daughter, and speaks her father’s tongue.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
It is too late to throw water on the cinders when the house is burnt down.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Love’s plant must be watered with tears and tended with care.
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Little children, little sorrows; big children, great sorrows.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Fortune often knocks at the door, but the fool does not invite her in.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He who builds according to every man’s advice will have a crooked house.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
It is good to lend to God and the soil; they pay good interest.
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Many a cow stands in the meadow and looks wistfully at the common.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Put your hand quickly to your hat, and slowly in your purse, and you will take no harm.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every tub must stand on its own bottom.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A wound never heals so well that the scar cannot be seen.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Let a saint be ever so humble, he will have his wax taper.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Joy is like the ague; one good day between two bad ones.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
An honest man is not the worse because a dog barks at him.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He who says what he likes must hear what he does not like.
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One ploughs, another sows, who will reap no one knows.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He who is of no use to himself is of no use to any one.
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When every one minds his own business the work is done.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He who tastes every man’s broth often burns his mouth.
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Old friends and old ways ought not to be disdained.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Better suffer for truth than prosper by falsehood.
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God comes at last, when we think he is farthest off.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
No one is rich enough to do without his neighbour.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
One man is born to money, and another to the purse.
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No one gets into trouble without his own help.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every man must carry his own sack to the mill.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
It is a poor horse that is not worth its oats.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every one finds sin sweet and repentance bitter.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Father and mother are kind, but God is kinder.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
To circumstances and custom the law must yield.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
No one falls low unless he attempt to climb high.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
When it rains porridge the beggar has no spoon.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He is nearest to God who has the fewest wants.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Labour has a bitter root but a sweet taste.
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Every one rakes the fire under his own pot.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He who would be everywhere will be nowhere.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every little fish expects to become a whale.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
God gives the will, necessity gives the law.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He is not a bad driver who knows how to turn.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Riches and favour go before wisdom and art.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Rust consumes iron, and envy consumes itself.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
If the beard were all, the goat might preach.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every man carries an enemy in his own bosom.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He is not yet born who can please everybody.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
God never sends mouths but he sends meat.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
One sword keeps another in the scabbard.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Weighty work must be done with few words.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Hope and expectation are a fool’s income.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Praise a fool and you may make him useful.
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God help the sheep when the wolf is judge.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The nobler the blood the less the pride.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Many kiss the child for the nurse’s sake.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
What youth learns, age does not forget.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Beauty carries its dower in its face.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A good king is better than an old law.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Follow the customs or fly the country.
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Trust not still water nor a silent man.
translated by Henry G. Bohn