Collections http://www.afriprov.org
A collection of African proverbs
http://www.gmi.org/gmi/afr_prov.htm
African Proverbs Project. CD available with over 27,000 proverbs.
http://dmoz.org/Society/Folklore/Literature/Proverbs_and_Sayings/Latin_American/
Latin American proverbs
www.creativeproverbs.com
Proverbs from around the world.
African
"If the tiger sits, do not think it is out of respect."
-Nilotic proverb
"Equality is difficult, but superiority is painful."
- Serere proverb
"It is easier to transport an ant hill than exercise authorityin a village". - Mongo proverb
"A youth that does not cultivate friendship with the elderly is like a tree without roots". - Ntomba proverb
"If you have a lot, give some of your possessions; if you have little; give some of your heart." -Nilotic proverb
"A united family eats from the same plate."
- Kiganda proverb
"When an elder passes, a library dies."
Arabian
If you shoot an arrow at the truth be sure to coat it with honey. Australia
Build a bridge and get over it
Mutton dressed up as lamb.
(one attempting to cheat the forces of time)
Belgium
"It is no use waiting for your ship to come in unless you have sent one out."
China
"First thought, best thought."
"The tallest nail gets pounded flat"
The tree that stands above the others gets
blown down.
Just because you don't speak doesn't mean that
you're mute."
"Do not anxiously hope for what is not yet to come; do not vainly regret what is already past."
"One generation plants the trees;another gets the shade."
"A single conversations across a table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books."
"The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their rightful names."
"Teachers open the door but you must enter by yourself."
"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."
Colombia
"A baby that doesn't cry doesn't get mom."
Denmark
"The road to a friend's house if never long."
English
"Use soft words and hard arguments."
"A stumble may prevent a fall."
Estonia
"Who does not thank for little will not thank for much." Ethiopia
"Fifty lemons is a burden for one, a gift for fifty"
Flemish
"Who enters my house as a friend will never be too early, always too late."
Germany
"Good fences make good neighbors."
"Tomorrow,tomorrow,not today, all the lazy people say."
Greece
"When you hear that there are too many cherries, take a small basket"
(means, do not pay too much attention to promises and big words)
"The beginning is half of every action." Haiti
"You can judge big people by how they treat little people."
Ireland
"Two thirds of help is to give courage."
"You've got to do your own growing,no matter how tall your grandfather was."
Italy
"It is not good for all of 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."
Japan
"Even monkeys fall out of trees"
(everyone makes mistakes)
Jewish
"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."
Kenya
Having a good discussion is like having riches
Korea
"People make books; Books make people."
Malaysian
"Though a tree grows ever so high, the falling leaves return to the ground." Mali (Bambara and English)
Dooni, dooni, kononi be nyaga da
Slowly, slowly, the little bird builds its nest. Ji be do ko la, dooni, dooni
Water flows down theriver, slowly, slowly. Both meaning not to rush things.
Russia
"He who does not take risks does not drink champagne." (Risks may lead to success)
"It is better to have 100 friends than 100 roubles."
"An old friend is worth 3 new ones."
"We are not so rich that we can afford cheap things."
(they don't last and you have to replace them)
" A good soldier doesn't perform an order until the 3rd time it is given."
(the general might change his mind and you will have wasted your energy)
Yiddish
"When you have one tukish you cannot dance at two weddings."
"Where there are no oxen the stables are clean."
"The person who cannot dance, says the band cannot play."
"Don't approach a goat from the front,a horse from the back, or a fool from any side." USA
"The nut doesn't fall far from the tree"
"Work smarter not harder"
"A burr beneath the saddle makes the horse run faster." -Walt Disney
Charity - We are on Earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I do not know - W.H. Auden Zen
The largest bowl fills last. | 
