Proverbs are wonderful things! In the past they have been called 'potted
wisdom' or the wit of one man, the wisdom of many but really people just
remember them because they are short and easy to remember. Some proverbs go back
hundreds, or even thousands of years, and no one knows who first invented them.
Celtic ones can be quite funny sometimes and unique to Irish society which has
its own particular wit as you know!...here is a collection of some of them I've
collected along the way including the Gaelic translations which you might like
to try out..*g*
The windy day is not the day for
thatching.
Ní lá na gaoithe lá na scolb.
It's
a lonely washing line that has no man's shirt on it!
Is uaigneach an níochán nach mbíonn léine ann!
Rarely is a fight continued when the chief has fallen.
Ní gnách cosaint ar díth tiarna.
A soft answer turns away anger.
Múchadh feirge
sofhreagra
The only cure for love is marriage.
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
Both your friend and your enemy think that you will never die.
Síleann do chara agus do namhaid nach bhfaighidh tú bás
choíche.
The mouth that speaks not is sweet to
hear.
Binn béal 'na
chónai.
Listen to
the sound of the river and you'll get a trout.
Eist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac.
Youth sheds many a skin.
Is iomaí craiceann a chuireas an óige
di.
It is not a secret if three know it.
Ní scéal é ó tá a fhios ag triúr é.
An excuse is nearer to a woman than her apron.
Is gaire do bhean leithscéal ná a
naprún.
It's not
a matter of upper or lower class but of ups and downs.
Ní uasal ná íseal ach thual seal agus thíos seal.
Better old debts than old grudges.
Fearr seanfhiacha ná seanfhala.
Your son is your son until he marries but your daughter is your daughter
until you die.
Is é do mhac do mhac go
bpósann sé ach is í d'iníon go bhfaighidh tú bás.
A
little, often, leaves wrinkles in the purse.
An beagán, go minic, a fhágas roic sa
sparán.
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Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.
An áit a bhfuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa
thú.
A friends eye is a good mirror.
Is maith an scáthán súil carad.
Beauty will not make the pot boil.
Ní hí an bhreáthacht a chuireann an crocán ag
fiuchadh.
If you do not sow in spring you will not
reap in autumn.
Mura gcuirfidh tú san
earrach ní bhainfidh tú san fhómhar.
Good as
drink is, it ends in thirst.
Dá fheabhas
é an t-ól is é an tart a dheireadh.
A person's
health is in his feet.
I gcosa duine a bhíos a shláinte.
He who comes with a story to you will bring two away from
you.
An té a thabharfas scéal chugat
tabharfaidh sé dhá scéal uait.
Do not show your
teeth until you can bite.
Ná nocht d'fhiacla go bhféadfair an greim do
bhreith.
Every
dog is brave on his own doorstep.
Dána
gach madra i ndoras a thí féin.
It was not on one
foot that St. Patrick came to Ireland.
Ní ar aon chois a tháinig Pádraig go
hEireann.
What fills the eye fills the
heart.
An rud a líonas an tsúil líonann
sé an croí.
If you put a horse out he'll always
find grass.
Mar capall agus
gheogaigh tú féar.
A good run is better
than a long stand.
Is fearr rith
maith ná seasamh fada.
Knowledge comes through
practise.
Gnáthamh na hoibre an
t-eólas.
Forgetting a debt does
not pay it.
Ní dhíolann dearmhad
fiacha.
A story that three people hear is no
secret.
Chan sgéul rúin a
chluinneas triúir..
If you wish for peace,
friendship and praise....Listen, look and be dumb!
Ma's maith leat síochaint, cairdeas, a's moladh....Eisc, faic,
is fan balbh!
Do not show your teeth where you
cannot give a bite.
Ná taisbean do fhiacal
's an áit nach d'tig leat greim a bhaint a mach.
Wine reveals the truth!
Sgéitheann fion firinne!
One
look before is better than two behind..
Fearr féachain rót ná dhá fhéachainn id
dhiag.
A man may live after
losing his life but not after losing his honour.
Beó duine d'éis a anma, agus ni beó d'éis a
einigh.
Better one good thing that is than two
things that were.
Fearr an mhaith atá ná
an dá mhaith do bhí.
Choose your company before
you sit down.
Togh do chuideachta
sul a suidhfir.
A dumb man tells no lies.
Cha deanann balbhan
bréug.
Marry an island woman
and you marry the whole island!
Pós bean oileann is pósfaidh tú an t-ioleann
uilig!
The man that opens his mouth the most,
opens his heart the least.
An té is mó fhosglas a bhéul, sé is lugha
fhosglas a sporán.
The thing that is scarce
is the most wonderful.
An nidh is
anamh, is é is iongantaighe.
Wide is the door
of a little cottage.
Is farsuing béul a bhothain.
If you must be in rags, let your rags be tidy.
Más le beith ceirteach dhuit, bí
cruinnecheirteach.
A woman has an excuse redier
than an apron!
Is foisge do bhean
leithsgeal ná bráiscin!
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Last modified: 30th October,
1999