List of Egyptian Proverbs in English Quotes and Sayings

Egyptian proverbs are a reflection of the wisdom and richness of the Egyptian culture. These proverbs carry the essence of the people and their experiences. Despite being in Arabic, many Egyptian proverbs have been translated into English, carrying their profound meanings across languages. Here are some striking Egyptian proverbs, along with their English equivalents:

1. "The heart is a small thing, but desires great matters." - Egyptian proverb
Meaning: Ambition knows no bounds.

2. "The devil tempts all men, but idle men tempt the devil." - Egyptian proverb
Meaning: Idle minds are the devil's workshop.

3. "A beautiful thing is never perfect." - Egyptian proverb
Meaning: Perfection is an illusion.

4. "An army of sheep led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a sheep." - Egyptian proverb
Meaning: Leadership matters more than sheer numbers.

5. "He who has never tasted bitterness knows not what sweetness is." - Egyptian proverb
Meaning: Adversity makes us appreciate joy.

These proverbs not only offer insight into the Egyptian way of life, but also contain a universal truth that resonates with people from all walks of life. They remind us of the timeless wisdom that transcends borders and languages.

Money is sweet balm.

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Silence is more than just a lack of words.

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They couldn't beat the donkey so they beat the saddle.

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Dress up a stick and it'll be a beautiful bride.

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If you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes and the monkey remains as is.

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Who has not done any evil act, his or her heart may be found right.

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Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.

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Silence is the best answer to the stupid.

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He who couldn't overcome the donkey took on the saddle.

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They couldn't find any reason to criticize the roses, so they complained that they were red.

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An absent person has his excuse.

More precious than our children are the children of our children.

If you put a rope around your neck, many people will be glad to drag you by it.

in English

Whoever is ashamed to sleep with his wife will never have children.

Dress up a stick and you get a doll.

He who has a back is not beaten on the belly.

This cub is from that lion.

Stretch your legs as far as your quilt goes.

Never speak untruth and falsity knowingly.

Whoever lets himself be led by the heart will never lose his way.

Bed is the poor man's opera.

If your friend is honey, don't lick it all.

Education is what you know, not what's in the book.

The barking of a dog does not disturb the man on a camel.

He who knows not shame does whatever he likes.

A beautiful thing is never perfect.

Wise rising gives joy.

Those who are in the following of the prince of everlastingness and God of Life, sing with joy.

News that's for money today will be for free tomorrow.

He who understands music understands the cosmos.

Believe the liar up to the door of his house and no further than that.

The bullet that doesn't hit anything still makes a noise.

Wish thy friend joy of his journey, but pray in secret that he have no joy, for then may he return quickly to thee.

If your friend is like honey, don't lick all of it.

Old countries don't disappear overnight; they stay for breakfast.

Those who had some shame are dead.

Error carries away the unteachable.

A man's ruin lies in his tongue.

The costly news of today will be free tomorrow.

In his own nest a beetle is a sultan.

He whose house is made out of glass, shouldn't throw stones at people.

Yesterday's drunkenness will not quench today's thirst.

The day cuts off the promise of the night.

One should do nothing with a false heart.

To seek without finding, equals waste of time.

Better half a donkey than half a camel.

It is a wretched thing to injure a poor man.

The dream of cats is all mice.

Your friend chooses pebbles for you and your enemy counts your faults.

Every man must act in the rhythm of his time, such is wisdom.

One who drinks from the Nile must return.

An absent person should have his excuse.

Honorable is the person who is aware of his power, yet refrains from inflicting bad things onto others.

We let him in, he brought his donkey along.

Everything is formed by habit, even praying.

The glow soon becomes ashes.

One who marries for love alone will have bad days but good nights.

A blow to another's purse is like a blow to a mountain of sand.

We let him in; but then he brought his donkey along, too.

Youth is beauty, even in cattle.

Borrowing is bad, and paying back is always a loss.

I am talking to you, daughter-in-law, so that you could hear it, neighbor.

The heart of a servant that is not beaten is full of curses.

Know those who are faithful to you when you are in low estate.

Pass by your enemy hungry but never naked.

Wealth can come through your Creator's good-will.

A monkey is a gazelle in its mother's eyes.

The idiot who has his eye on your wife is like a blood sucking fly.

Evil words fill some with astonishment.

Knowledge is in the head, not the copybook.

I believe what you say, I'm only surprised at what you do.

Pride and dignity would belong to women if only men would leave them alone.

What comes easily is lost easily.

A borrowed coat does not keep one warm.

Learn politeness from the impolite.

Cover your candle, it will light more.

What comes this way, goes this way.

False ambition serves the neck.

Pride feels no pain.

The man who has plenty of means of existence, conducts himself pretty much as he himself wishes.

A person with a wound on his head keeps touching it.

The man who marries my mother, I call him uncle.

I curse my son and I hate who says amen.

Pride goes before a fall.

A camel does not tease another camel about his humps.

When a slave mounts a camel he wants to ride on both humps.

Learn to rise up out of the enigmatic egg in the hidden land.

If there were no fault, there would be no pardon.

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

The marksman hitteth the mark partly by pulling, partly by letting go.

Declare your line of conduct without reticence.

Follow the saint no further than his doorstep.

Lie to a liar, for lies are his coin; Steal from a thief, for that is easy; lay a trap for a trickster and catch him at first attempt, but beware of an honest man.

The miser destroys what he collected.

Protect the flame of your candle and it will light more.

An onion shared with a friend tastes like roast lamb.

When a son attends to his father, it is a twofold joy for both; when wise things are prescribed to him, the son is.

If there were no wrongdoing, there would be no forgiveness.

Listen with kindness for a clear explanation.

A small house can lodge a hundred friends.

The miserable got together with the hopeless.

If you are a leader of peace, listen to the discourse of the petitioner. Be not abrupt with him; that would trouble him.

Bathe her and then look at her.

When a whore repents she becomes a matchmaker.

Do not rejoice over what has not yet happened.

Put a rope around your neck and many will be happy to drag you along.

The opinion of the intelligent is better than the certainty of the ignorant.

Love and let the world know, hate in silence.

For the benefit of the flowers, we water the thorns, too.

If you are wise, look after your house; love your wife without alloy.

Making money on manure is better than losing money on musk.

When a woman is not singing, she is not working much either.

The person who is not ashamed does whatever he wants.

Put a stout heart to a steep hill.

A goose's child is a swimmer.

Friendship doubles joy and halves grief. *

The son of the swan is a good swimmer.

Making money selling manure is better than losing money selling musk.

Do not weaken the attention of him who is occupied.

When He opens up His path, may He carry me along, safe and sound.

Give saturday, you will find sunday.

Put a stout heart to a stey brae.

If you have to drag a dog to the hunt, neither he nor his hunting is any good.

The tears of the adulteress are ever ready to be shed.

Malice drinketh its own poison.

When I hear you, I believe you. When I see what you do, I'm surprised.

Put by for a rainy day.

The tyrant is only the slave turned inside out.

Great God is the ruler of all the gods.

When the angels appear, the devils run away.

If you live in a glass house, don't throw stones.

Be patient with a bad neighbor. Maybe he'll leave or a disaster will take him out.

A woman will be twice bound when her chains feel comfortable.

Man fears time - Time fears the pyramids.

When the Angels arrive, the devils leave.

Grapes are eaten one by one.

May no lies be spoken against me in the presence of God.

The wise man is great through his own merits.

Does sheep manure turn to caramel?

Rather a piece of bread with a happy heart than wealth with grief.

The wise man never takes a step too long for his leg.

If you love, love the moon; if you steal, steal a camel.

When the angels present themselves, the devils abscond.

Money goes to peacocks.

Run as hard as a wild beast if you will, but you won't get any reward greater than that destined for you.

The woman who does not covet the possessions of her husband is in love with another man.

When you speak, know that which can be brought against you.

Beautiful discourse is rarer than emerald, yet it can be found among the servant girls at the grindstones.