Great Throughts Treasury

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

German Proverbs

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"A good conscience makes a good pillow."

"Praise from your own mouth stinks."

"Proverbs are the wisdom of the ages."

"There is no one luckier than he who thinks himself so."

"He who dies for the truth finds holy ground everywhere for his grave."

"Too much humility is pride."

"Pray as though no work could help, and work as though no prayer could help."

"To change and to change for the better are two different things."

"Wealth lost, something lost; honor lost, much lost; courage lost, all lost."

"When in prayer you clasp your hands, God opens his."

"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost!"

"Who begins too much accomplishes little."

"Charity sees the need not the cause."

"Boldly ventured is half won."

""But" is a fence over which few leap."

"One today is better than ten tomorrows."

"Praising is not loving."

"One does evil enough who does nothing good."

"Everyone must pay his debt to nature."

"Love your neighbor, but do not visit everyday."

"When the fox preaches, look to your geese."

"Where there's no modesty there's no honor."

"The anvil is not afraid of the hammer."

"Whoever has bitten a sour apple will enjoy the sweet one all the more."

"Would you be strong, conquer yourself."

"Who takes the child by the hand takes the mother by the heart."

"A bad beginning may make a good ending."

"A bad penny always turns up."

"A bargain is a bargain."

"A bad penny always comes back."

"A bad cause requires many words."

"A better seldom comes after."

"A blind leader of the blind."

"A blind horse goes straightforward."

"A bashful dog never fattens."

"A blind man swallows many a fly."

"A bold onset is half the battle."

"A cat has nine lives."

"A cat is a lion to mouse."

"A bolt does not always fall when it thunders."

"A cat has nine lives, as the onion seven skins."

"A cat in gloves catches no mice."

"A clean mouth and an honest hand"

"A closed mouth and open eyes never did anyone harm."

"A clean mouth and honest hand, will take a man through any land."

"A closed mouth catcheth no flies."

"A clear conscience is a soft pillow."

"A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs"

"A dainty stomach beggars the purse."

"A danger foreseen is half avoided."