Esperanto proverbs

Esperanto is the biggest constructed language in the world. It was introduced by a Polish ophthalmologist in 1887.

A

 * Al du sinjoroj samtempe oni servi ne povas.
 * English equivalent: Nobody can serve two masters.
 * "One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly."


 * Al la fiŝo ne instruu naĝarton.
 * English equivalent: Don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs.
 * "Don't teach a fish to swim."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Amikon montras malfeliĉo.
 * Translation: A friend shows in misfortune.

Ĉ

 * Ĉiu kreas sian forton, ĉiu forĝas sian sorton.
 * English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
 * "Instead of creating a reason why you cannot love the world, try to create a reason why you should and must love the world."
 * Sri Chinmoy, Seventy Seven Thousand Service-Trees series 1-50 (1998)'', #14550, Part 15

E

 * Eĉ ŝtono verdiĝas, se ĝi longe ne moviĝas.
 * Even a stone turns green if it does not move for a long time.
 * English equivalent: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
 * "There are a Set of People in the World unsettled that before they are well enter’d upon one Business, dip into another, and before they are well settled in one Habitation, remove to another."
 * Divers Proverbs, Nathan Bailey, 1721


 * En akvo malklara oni fiŝkaptas facile.
 * English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
 * "In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes."

F

 * Fiŝo pli granda malgrandan englutas.
 * A bigger fish devours a smaller one.
 * English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
 * "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."

K

 * Kia patrino, tia filino.
 * English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
 * "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."


 * Kia patro, tia filo.
 * English equivalent: Like father, like son.
 * "Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."


 * Kiam kato promenas, la musoj festenas.
 * When a cat goes out for a walk, the mice throw a party.
 * Meaning: "."
 * English equivalent: When the cat's away the mice will play.


 * Kiam nokto vualas, ĉiuj koloroj egalas.
 * English equivalent: All cats are grey in the dark.
 * Meaning: "."

L

 * La manĝota fiŝo estas ankoraŭ en la rivero.
 * Translation: The fish that will be eaten is still in the river.
 * English equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

N

 * Ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago.
 * English equivalent: Rome wasn't built in a day.
 * Translation: Carthage didn't raise up in only one day.
 * "Large enterprises take time to build."


 * Ne falas frukto malproksime de l'arbo.
 * English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
 * "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."


 * Ne kotas besto en sia nesto.
 * English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
 * Translation: An animal does not defecate in its (own) nest.
 * "Why want only proclaim one's own disgrace, or expose the faults or weaknesses of one's kindred or people?"
 * "It is considered contemptible to defy the rule of solidarity by revealing facts harmful to the group one belongs to."


 * Ne singardema kokino fidas je vulpo.
 * No careful hen trusts a fox.
 * English equivalent: Don't let the fox guard the henhouse.
 * "Don't entrust the safety of something to someone who is likely to exploit/destroy it."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Ne venas mont' al monto, sed homo homon renkontas.
 * English equivalent: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a human meets a human.
 * Meaning: "There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet." or "Once can always find a possibility for revenge."
 * Source for proverbs and meaning:

P

 * Parolo estas arĝento, oron similas silento.
 * English equivalent: Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
 * Meaning: "."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Per promesoj estas pavimita la infero.
 * English equivalent: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
 * Translation: Hell is paved with promises.
 * Meaning: "."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Plej granda potenco kuŝas en la komenco.
 * English equivalent: A good beginning makes a good ending.
 * Meaning: "Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Plej juna katido musojn jam pelas.
 * English equivalent: A good dog hunts by instinct.
 * Translation: The youngest kitten already chases mice.
 * Meaning: "."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Pomo ĉiun tagon forturnas malsanon.
 * English equivalent: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
 * Translation: An apple a day turns away illness
 * Meaning: "."
 * Source for meaning and proverbs:


 * Por sperto kaj lerno ne sufiĉas eterno.
 * English equivalent: We are to learn as long as we live.

S

 * Se iu ne volas labori, tiu ankaŭ ne manĝu.
 * English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
 * Meaning: "Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work."
 * Source for proverb and meaning:


 * Silento estas konsento.
 * English equivalent: Silence means consent.
 * "Those who do not reply to a request or accusation, or who raise no objection to something said or done, are assumed to have acquiesced."

T

 * Tra unu orelo, eniras, tra la dua eliras.
 * English equivalent: In at one ear and out at the other.
 * Meaning: Someone listened to a good advice or to a valuable information without actually paying attention to it.

U

 * Unu hako kverkon ne faligas.
 * English equivalent: An oak does not fall by a single strike.

V

 * Venĝo estas plado manĝita malvarme.
 * English equivalent: Revenge is a dish best served cold
 * Meaning: "Take revenge not immediately but rather after a while. Cold refers to a time lapse, the hot tea became cold after a while. Your enemy is expecting your reaction so wait until things cool down then take revenge. "
 * Source for meaning and proverbs: