List of Greek Proverbs Sayings

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### 10 Timeless Greek Proverbs and Sayings

Greek culture is steeped in history and tradition, and one of the enduring legacies of this ancient civilization is its rich collection of proverbs and sayings. These proverbs offer timeless wisdom and insight into the human experience, and continue to be passed down through generations. Here are 10 Greek proverbs and sayings that continue to resonate with wisdom and truth:

1. "The tongue does not have bones."
*Meaning:* Words are powerful and should be chosen carefully.

2. "Slow and steady, one feels his own wound."
*Meaning:* Some things take time to realize and understand fully.

3. "From the broken grape, the dagger comes out."
*Meaning:* Sometimes, from a difficult situation, a solution presents itself.

4. "Love even brings flowers from the trash."
*Meaning:* Love has the power to transform and uplift even the most difficult situations.

5. "Whoever gets licked by the oil, wakes up with the salt."
*Meaning:* Those who enjoy good times may have to experience hard times as well.

6. "Time turns everything around."
*Meaning:* Things can change unexpectedly over time.

7. "Love is blind."
*Meaning:* Love does not see imperfections.

8. "You sinned with your tongue, now you'll suffer."
*Meaning:* Words can have consequences.

9. "I throw it to your individual responsibility."
*Meaning:* Taking responsibility for one's actions.

10. "The stumble doesn't sit for long."
*Meaning:* Mistakes happen, but they don't define us.

These timeless Greek proverbs and sayings continue to offer wisdom and insight into the human experience. Their enduring relevance speaks to the universal truths they embody, transcending time and place.

To deceive a diplomat speak the truth, he has no experience with it.

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All receive advice. Only the wise profit from it.

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If all the bees made honey, there would be enough for even gypsies to eat.

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Either remain quiet, or say things that improve the silence.

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Time is the best adviser.

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Never give a sword to a fool or power to an unjust man.

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To rebel in season is not to rebel.

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He who eats and drinks with the rich leaves the table hungry.

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A woman prefers a man without money to money without a man.

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Those who fight with silver spears are sure of their victory.

Those who fight with silver spears are sure of their victory.

No need to teach an eagle to fly.

No need to teach an eagle to fly.

Eat and drink with your relatives; do business with strangers.

Eat and drink with your relatives; do business with strangers.

Never consult a doctor who has never been ill himself.

Never consult a doctor who has never been ill himself.

Truth lies at the bottom of a well.

Truth lies at the bottom of a well.

If deeds are wanting, all words appear mere vanity and emptiness.

If deeds are wanting, all words appear mere vanity and emptiness.

A priest blesses his own bread first.

A priest blesses his own bread first.

Thinking evil is much the same as doing it.

Thinking evil is much the same as doing it.

He who has been angry becomes cool again.

He who has been angry becomes cool again.

No one loathes the smell of himself.

Under every stone sleeps a scorpion.

A lazy tailor finds his thread too long.

If it were not for hope, the heart would break.

Neither promise wax to the saint, nor cakes to the child.

Don't trouble a quiet snake.

Think with the wise, but talk with the vulgar.

We became gravediggers but nobody dies anymore.

All things good to know are difficult to learn.

Not speech, but facts, convince.

Empty barrels and insignificant people always make the most noise.

He who is born in jail loves jail.

A word out of season may mar a whole lifetime.

Think not on what you lack as much as on what you have.

We have two ears and one mouth that we may listen the more and talk the less.

If you cannot catch a fish, do not blame the sea.

Nothing in excess.

Endeavor to bear the ignorance of fortune with patience.

A drowning man takes hold of his own hair.

They throw stones at the walnut trees, but not at the maple.

We must endure what fortune sends.

Don't keep any secrets of yourself from yourself.

Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue; to the end we should hear and see more than we speak.

My donkey is dead; let no more grass grow.

A real scoundrel turned up and they took off their hats to him.

They sowed the seed of an "if' but it didn't germinate.

Nothing is so reckless as a blind horse.

Welcome is the best cheer.

He who is outside the door has already a good part of his journey behind him.

A mad bull is not to be tied up with a packthread.

There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.

Envy accomplishes nothing.

Mountains are used to snow.

What is good to know is difficult to learn.

An eagle's old age is worth a sparrow's youth.

Nothing will content him who is not content with a little.

He who plunders with a little boat is a pirate; he who plunders with a fleet is a conqueror.

A young man should not marry yet, an old man not at all.

The unknown is ever imagined.

What is true is no more sure than the probable.

If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.

Milk the cow, but do not pull off the udder.

Do not lean on a worm-eaten staff.

The tongue has no bones, yet it breaks bones.

A poor man who takes a rich wife has a ruler, not a wife.

Whatever is good to know is difficult to learn.

An iron rod bends while it is hot.

Observe your enemies, for they first find your faults.

Even from a foe a man may learn wisdom.

The style is the man himself.

Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain.

Men who have lost heart never yet won a trophy.

Whatever kind of word thou speakest, the like shalt thou bear.

A goat thief came along and they put him in jail.

Old age and poverty are wounds that can't be healed.

Do not compare a fly with an elephant.

A small evil may be a great good.

The sins we often regret are the sins we never commit.

He who respects his parents never dies.

When at a loss how to go on, cough.

Men prone to tears are good.

Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

An old cat likes young mice.

Even from an enemy a man can learn wisdom.

The rest of the world does not know what newlyweds know.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.

When God throws the dice are loaded.

A beard signifies lice, not brains.

Every country is a fatherland.

Old men are twice children.

The people make the town.

Act quickly, think slowly.

Deeds are fruits, words are only leaves.

When God throws the dice, they are loaded.

One hand washes the other and both wash the face.

An old enemy never becomes a friend.

Men never moan over the opportunities lost to do good, only the opportunities to be bad.

He who revealeth his secret maketh himself a slave.

The old age of an eagle is better than the youth of a sparrow.

Many men, many minds.

A lucky person is someone who plants pebbles and harvests potatoes.

Ill beef ne'er made gude broo.

When the devil grows poor he becomes a tax collector.

The net of the sleeper catches fish.

Every story can be told in different ways.

One minute of patience can mean ten years of peace.

A miser is ever in want.

The more the mother-in-law drinks the more friendly is her greeting.

Many men know how to flatter, few men know how to praise.

Death is never at a loss for occasions.

He who suffers much will know much.

When the fox cannot reach the grapes he says they are not ripe.

One minute of patience, ten years of peace.

The knee is closer than the calf.

An open enemy is better than a false friend.

Many a pupil has gained more wealth than his master.

Ill-timed laughter is a dangerous evil.

When the gods are angry with a man, they give him what he asks for.

Every tale can be told in a different way.

Add not fire to fire.

One witness one liar; more witnesses, all liars.

Man is the measure of all things.

A cat with gloves never catches mice.

When you go to bed with a clear head, you will not get up with a headache.

Curses are like chickens; they come home to roost.

In baiting a mousetrap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse.

A library is a repository of medicine for the mind.

The heart that loves is always young.

One word spoken in anger may spoil an entire life.

Live today, forget the past.

He who thinks the worst usually is right.

Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.

The grumbling mother-in-law forgets that she once was a bride.

Where there is a sea there are pirates.

Appear always what you are and a little less.

Other days, other ways.

Listen to valuable statements even if they come from your enemy's mouth.

First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.

The frog wanted to be an ox and swelled up until he burst.

Outside a sheep, inside a wolf.

Where there is love there is no darkness.

A drop of wisdom is better than a sea of gold.

Character is habit long continued.

Listen to that which is well said even if it is from the mouth of an enemy.

Affairs sleep soundly when fortune is present.

Who ceases to be a friend never was one.

Painless poverty is better than embittered wealth.

A miser and a liar bargain quickly.

The fox that waits until the chicken falls from the perch dies from hunger.

He who wants to be happy must stay at home.

Young wood makes a hot fire.

Learn to walk before you run.

Ask for advice but do what you think is best.

Pleasure is the greatest incentive to vice.

In hospitality, the chief thing is the good will.

Who hunts two hares will catch neither.

The fly sat upon the axle of the chariot-wheel and said "What a lot of dust I raise!"

You must keep quiet or say only things that improve silence.

A gift, though small, is welcome.

Learn to obey before you command.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, prepare to die.

You will break the bow if you keep it always bent.

Pleasures are transient, honors are immortal.

The excess of a virtue is a vice.

A stout bearded woman always bears something malicious.

In the young, silence is better than speech.

After the war, aid.

For lazy people it is always party time.

Know yourself.

The best fish hook cannot catch limp cheese.

Who wouldn't lick his fingers when they have been dipped in honey?

A different man, a different taste.

Poor men's words have little weight.

You learn to limp if you live with cripples.

From a broken violin do not expect fine music.

Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant.

The beginning is the half of every action.

A dove has no place amongst the crows.

Know all and you will pardon all.

Proportion your expenses to what you have, not what you expect.

Whoever feeds the wolf in the winter will be eaten by him in the spring.

He who would be happy should stay at home.

From a thorn comes a rose, and from a rose comes a thorn.

Terrifying are the weaknesses of power.

In times of difficulty, friendship is on trial.

You know who the good seamen are when the storm comes.

Better the friend we can see than the money we cannot.

Kindness begets kindness.

A thousand people cannot undress a naked person.

Remorse is worse than a beating.

Without a general an army is lost.

Give me today and you may keep tomorrow.

Take a young woman for the pleasure of possessing her until she is old.

A fat belly did not invent gun powder.

Good accounts make good friends.

I feel pain that envy is exchanged for beautiful deeds.

Kindheartedness and honesty can be expected only from the poor.

Women are as changeable as the sea.

Sharing the figs can leave you with none at all.

Before you can score, you must first have a goal.

Swift gratitude is the sweetest.

It is better in times of need to have a friend rather than money.

Age brings experience, and a good mind wisdom.

Gray hair is a sign of age, not of wisdom.

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

She who laughs not in the morning, laughs not at noon.

You have to put a young girl onto an old man.

Keep no secrets of thyself from thyself.

A fox is not caught twice in the same snare.

It is better to be envied than pitied.

Sweet is the memory of past labor.

Wonders will never cease.

Better a drop of wisdom than an ocean of gold.

It is useless to knock at the door of a deaf man.

Someone with an unrelenting heart is his own executioner.

A truth spoken before its time is dangerous.

Gray hair is a sign of age, not wisdom.

Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.

I hate a jovial table companion with a good memory.

It is easier to talk than to hold one's tongue.

You can tell who the good seamen are during a storm.

Alexander the Great was not very tall. *

Sometimes you have to throw yourself into the fire to escape from the smoke.

Great abilities produce great vices as well as virtues.

You easily forget the eyes that don't see you any more.

It is not what they profess but what they practice that makes them good.

A man with a skinny wife is a deceitful man.

You can't hide behind your finger.

Success is doing what you like and making a living at it.

I send thee myrrh, not that thou mayest be by it perfumed, but it perfumed by thee.

Better a sick body than an ignorant mind.

Son of a priest, grandson of the devil.

A good bird begins chirping while in the egg.

Great birth is a very poor dish at table.

You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.

A wheel that turns gathers no rust.

If advice will not improve him, neither will the rod.

Success has many friends.

Alexander the Great wasn't tall.

Greeks only agree with each other about going to the toilet.

You cannot reason with a hungry belly; it has no ears.

Better the first of its kind than the last.

If all men were just, there would be no need of valour.

Birth, ancestry, and that which you yourself have not achieved can hardly be called your own.

In business you need two Jews for one Greek, two Greeks for one Syrian and two Syrians for one Armenian.

If you steal something small you are a petty thief, but if you steal millions you are a gentleman of society.

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.

The house of envy lies in the lowest hollows, golden, sunless, breathed upon by no wind, grim and filled full of inert chill, and lacking warmth, is always roiled in fog.

It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.

To have five drachmas in the hand is better than ten drachmas on paper.

To have five drachmas in the hand is better than ten drachmas on paper.

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He who cannot bear misfortune is truly unfortunate.

He who cannot bear misfortune is truly unfortunate.

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Eat beans for lunch and have no friends at the dinner table.

Eat beans for lunch and have no friends at the dinner table.

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No mill, no meal.

No mill, no meal.

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