French proverbs
Traditional saying. The library holds 1542 of them. Here are the 60 most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
Often about: wisdom, nature, money, time, faith, love
The 60 best known
-
The nearer the church the farther from God.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He that reckons without his host must reckon again.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
When the cat’s away the mice will play.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Ask my comrade, who is as great a liar as myself.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Fools invent fashions and wise men follow them.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Save a thief from the gallows, and he will cut your throat.
-
Give out that you have many friends, and believe that you have few.
translated by Walter K. Kelly -
To one who has a pie in the oven you may give a bit of your cake.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
To know a man well one must have eaten a bushel of salt with him.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Let every one mind his own business, and the cows will be well tended.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He knows enough who knows how to live and keep his own counsel.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Were it not for “if” and “but,” we should all be rich for ever.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A man travels as far in a day as a snail in a hundred years.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He sins as much who holds the sack as he who puts into it.
translated by Walter K. Kelly -
It is better to have to do with God than with his saints.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
An old dog does not bark for nothing.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
One “take this” is worth more than two “you shall have.”.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Marry in haste and repent at leisure.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Love makes time pass away, and time makes love pass away.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Necessity is the mother of invention.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Never speak of a rope in the house of one who was hanged.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Save a rogue from the gallows, and he will hang you up.
-
He is past preaching to who does not care to do well.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Strike while the iron is hot.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A hundred years is not much, but never is a long while.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Hunger is the best sauce.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Short reckonings make long friends.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The doctor is often more to be feared than the disease.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A ragged colt may make a good horse.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
What the colt learns in youth he continues in old age.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The bagpipe never utters a word till its belly is full.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He has great need of a fool who makes himself one.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
An ass does not stumble twice over the same stone.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
What is learned in the cradle lasts till the grave.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He knocks boldly at the door who brings good news.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
There are more foolish buyers than foolish sellers.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
You cannot make an ass drink if he is not thirsty.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Better be mad with all the world than wise alone.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Take a woman’s first advice and not her second.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Many a one is good because he can do no mischief.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A hawk’s marriage: the hen is the better bird.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
There is no such thing as an insignificant enemy.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
He is like a cat, he always falls on his feet.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
As you make your bed so you must lie on it.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Every one should sweep before his own door.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
By dint of going wrong all will come right.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
A little gall spoils a great deal of honey.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The eye of the master fattens the steed.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Lawyers’ houses are built of fools’ heads.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
One barber shaves another.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Better bend than break.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
Better be envied than pitied.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
The devil was handsome when he was young.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
To build castles in the air.
translated by Henry G. Bohn -
One good turn deserves another.
translated by Henry G. Bohn