Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Estonian Proverbs

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"Wasting time is robbing oneself."

"When death comes, the rich man has no money; the poor man no debt."

"A debt is always new."

"He who rows goes far."

"A girl who cannot patch man's trousers in between the legs, must not marry at all, because what use does a man have of such a stupid wife."

"A girl without a needle is like a cat without a claw."

"Barking dogs don't catch hares."

"A good deed is written on snow."

"A man is who knows to marry a woman and buy a horse."

"A good deed bears interest."

"A man who has learned much is rich."

"An empty belly is the best cook."

"A much-used plow shines; stagnant waters stink."

"A name doesnÂ’t harm a man if a man doesnÂ’t harm the name."

"A poor beggar is the one who begs without a bag."

"Earth is dearer than gold."

"Better a goat that can give milk than a cow that cannot."

"Beauty does not fill your tummy."

"Do not choose your wife on your way to the church."

"Happy the marriage where the husband is the head and the wife the heart."

"Earth is more precious than gold."

"He who cooks the soup must eat it up himself."

"Coal that does not burn gives little heat."

"Don't put off today's work till tomorrow."

"Give good and get good."

"He who digs a pit for another should take his own measure."

"He who flatters the mother will hug the daughter."

"He who takes pains will get things done."

"He who suffers the bitter will taste the sweet."

"He who gets, a bitch who lets."

"He who seeks shall find."

"He's a fool who earns a square meal."

"He's a fool who promises more than he can make."

"If the bread in the oven is a failure you lose a week; if the harvest is a failure you lose a year; if marriage is a failure then you lose a life."

"In a garment made of silk there are no fleas."

"Hens that cackle much lay few eggs."

"If you go only once round the room, you are wiser than he who sits still."

"It is better to be without a wife for a minute than without tobacco for an hour."

"It is a sheep who lets himself sheared."

"Large household, thin soup."

"Justice knows no friendship."

"Live with a wolf, howl like a wolf."

"Lo does not thank for little will thank for much."

"Make fun of the man, not of his hat."

"Learn your way from old people."

"Man is a child twice."

"Little kettles soon boil over."

"Man is after money, but money is after his soul."

"Man learns till his death."

"Manure is the farmer's gold."