Great Throughts Treasury

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

Persian Proverbs

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"Step by step one ascends the stairs."

"The legs of those who require proofs of God’s existence are made of wood."

"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet."

"Blood cannot be washed out with blood."

"Good deeds return to the house of their author."

"By a sweet tongue and kindness, you can drag an elephant with a hair."

"He who wants a rose must respect the thorn."

"If you don't crack the shell, you can't eat the nut."

"In the hour of adversity be not without hope For crystal rain falls from black clouds."

"A bad wound heals but a bad word doesn't."

"He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool, shun him; He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child, teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep, wake him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise, follow him."

"Thinking is the essence of wisdom."

"Every man goes down to his death bearing in his hands only that which he has given away."

"Children are the bridge to heaven."

"There are four things every person has more of than they know; sins, debt, years, and foes.""

"Silence betokens consent."

"Use your enemy's hand to catch a snake."

"A stone thrown at the right time is better than gold given at the wrong time."

"The best memory is that which forgets nothing, but injuries. Write kindness in marble and write injuries in the dust."

"A tear at the right moment is better than a misplaced smile."

"A greedy man is always poor."

"Acquaintance without patience is like a candle with no light."

"Do not choose for anyone what you do not choose for yourself."

"Forgiveness hides a pleasure that you can't get back from revenge."

"He who wants the rose must respect the thorn."

"Doubt is the key to knowledge."

"God gives to us according to the measure of our hearts."

"It is a wise man who can laugh at his own jokes."

"There are three kinds of enemy: the enemy himself, the friends of your enemy, and the enemies of your friends. "

"One spark is enough to burn a hundred worlds."

"Thinking well is wise; planning well, wiser; but doing well is the wisest and best of all."

"While yearning for excess we lose the necessities."

"The best mode of instruction is to practise what we preach."

"Who has ever seen tomorrow?"

"Work is twice done by the man in a hurry."

"You can't please everyone."

"A bee is always behind the flower."

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

"A bad event had a good sequel."

"A blind person who sees is better than a seeing person who is blind."

"A beggar will always be a beggar even if they give him the whole world as a gift."

"A broken sleeve holdeth the arm back."

"A bungler blows into Sorna's bell."

"A broken hand works, but not a broken heart"

"A camel does not drink with a spoon."

"A camel that wants fodder stretches out its neck."

"A crazy person enjoys meeting another one."

"A dog by your side is better than a brother miles away."

"A child is a bridge to heaven."

"A coquettish woman is like a shadow -- as you chase her she runs away, and if you run away, she chases after you."