Latin
Latin sayings that generally originate with Ancient Rome or Ancient Greece.Ab uno disce omnesFrom one, learn all. | Ad impossibile nemo tenetur.No one can be asked to do the impossible. |
Aquila non capit muscasThe eagle doesn’t catch flies. | Ars est longa, vita brevis.Art is long, life is short. |
Ars gratia artisArt for art's sake | Audentes fortuna iuvatFortune favors the bold. |
Audi alteram partemListen to the other side. | Bene qui latuit, bene vixitHe who has lived well has lived unnoticed. |
Carpe diemSeize the day. | Carpe noctemSeize the night. |
Damnant quod non intelliguntPeople condemn what they do not understand. | Dies diem docetOne day teaches the next. |
Disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturusLearn as if you will always live, live as if you will die tomorrow. | Docendo discimusBy teaching, we learn. |
Docendo discimusBy teaching, we learn. | Dum spiro, speroWhile I breathe, I hope. |
Dum vita est, spes estWhile there is life, there is hope. | Dum vita est, spes estWhile there is life, there is hope. |
Dum vivimus, vivamusWhile we live, let us live. | Dum vivimus, vivamusWhile we live, let us live. |
Errare est humanum, perseverare autem diabolicumTo err is human, to persist in error is diabolical. | Esse quam videriTo be, rather than to seem. |
Ex nihilo nihil fitNothing comes from nothing. | Faber est suae quisque fortunaeYou are the architect of your own fortune. |
Fac totum, quod in te estDo all that you can do. | Facta non verbaActions, not words. |
Fata viam invenientThe Fates will find a way. | Festina lenteSlowly go fast. |
Fiat luxLet there be light. | Fide, sed cui videTrust, but watch whom you trust. |
Fortis cadere, cedere non potestThe brave may fall, but cannot yield. | Fugit horaTime escapes. |
Homo homini lupus estMan is a wolf to man. | Ignorantia non est argumentumIgnorance is not an argument. |
In cauda venenumIn the tail is the poison – the worst is yet to come. | In dubio pro reoThe benefit of doubt goes to the accused. |
In medio virtusThe middle is virtuous. | Inveniam viam aut faciamI will find a way or make one. |
Ipsa scientia potestas estKnowledge is power. | Iustitia omnibusJustice for all. |
Labor omnia vincitWork conquers all. | Libertas inaestimabilis res estFreedom is a powerful thing. |
Luctor et emergoStruggle and emerge. | Memento moriRemember that you will die. |
Memento vivereRemember to live. | Nihil sub sole novumThere is nothing new under the sun. |
Nil desperandumNever despair. | Nosce te ipsumKnow thyself. |
Omne trium perfectumThree is perfection. [this probably inspired the rule of three] | Omnia vincit amorLove conquers all things. |
Pacta sunt servandaAgreements must be kept. | Per angusta ad augustaThrough difficulties to greatness. |
Primum non nocereFirst, do no harm. | Quod est in animo, est in corpore.What is in the mind is in the body. |
Si vis amari, amaIf you wish to be loved, love. | Si vis pacem, para bellumIf you want peace, prepare for war. |
Tempus edax rerumTime devours all things. | Tempus fugitTime flies. |
Japanese
Well known Japanese proverbs.Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naruDust can become a mountain. | Hana yori dango.Practical things over luxuries. Literally: food before flowers. |
Hotoke no kao mo sando made.Even Buddha loses his temper three times. | Ichigo ichie.Moments never repeat. |
Ii hajime wa hanbun no seikou.A good start is half the success. | Iro wa nioedo chirinuru o, waga yo tare zo tsune naran.All things, even beautiful things, must inevitably come to an end. |
Iwanu ga hana.Silence is golden. | Kawaii ko ni wa tabi saseyo.You can’t be overprotective of those you love. Literally: sending a child on a journey. |
Kuchi wa wazawai no motoThe mouth is the source of trouble. | Me wa kuchi hodo ni mono wo iu.Eyes speak as much as the mouth. |
Nanakorobi yaoki.Fall down seven times, stand up eight. | Nou aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu.A skilled hawk hides its talons. |
Okite hanjou, nete ichijouThe more active you are the less you need. Literally: When awake, half a tatami mat is sufficient; when sleeping, one tatami mat is not enough. | Ryoyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi.Good medicine tastes bitter. |
Saru mo ki kara ochiru.Even monkeys fall from trees. | Sente hisshouHe who strikes first wins. |
Shikata ga nai.Some things are beyond our control. Literally: It can't be helped. | Shiranu ga hotoke.Not knowing is bliss. |
Suki koso mono no jouzu nare.Practice makes perfect in what you love. | Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru.Good fortune comes to those who smile. |
Wazawai tenji te fuku to nasu.Turn calamity into a blessing. |
German
Traditional German sayings.Alles zu seiner Zeit.Everything in its season. | Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst.Starting is easy, persistence is an art. |
Aufschub bringt Gefahr.There is danger in delay. | Bald reif hält nicht steif.Premature success is often shortlived. |
Das Billige ist immer das Teuerste.The cheapest is always the most expensive. | Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.Misfortune seldom comes alone. |
Ein guter Ruf ist schwer zu erwerben, aber leicht zu verlieren.A good reputation is hard to earn, but easy to lose. | Geduld bringt Rosen.Patience brings roses. |
Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht.Barking dogs seldom bite. | Wer rastet, der rostet.He who rests grows rusty. |
French
French sayings and proverbs.Après la pluie, le beau temps.After the rain, good weather. | Autres temps, autres mœurs.Different times, different customs. What was acceptable before may not be now. |
C'est la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase.It's the drop of water that makes the vase overflow. | C'est la vie.That's life. |
C'est le ton qui fait la musique.It's the tone that makes the music. It’s not what you say but how you say it. | Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.It takes all sorts to make a world. |
Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger.One must eat to live, not live to eat. | Il faut se méfier de l'eau qui dort.Beware of the still water. |
La nuit porte conseil.The night carries advice. Sleep on it. | La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants.Children speak the truth. |
On va plus vite seul, mais on va plus loin ensemble.You go faster alone, but you go further together. | Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles.No news is good news. |
Petite pluie abat grand vent.A little rain calms a big wind. | Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.A rolling stone gathers no moss. |
Pour vivre heureux, vivons cachés.To live happily, live hidden. | Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.Who risks nothing, gains nothing. |
À chaque jour suffit sa peine.Each day has enough trouble of its own. No need to make trouble as it will come of its own accord. | À quelque chose malheur est bon.Misfortune is good for something. |
