Greek proverbs

Proverbs from all Greek speaking parts of the world.

Δ

 * Δώσε τόπο στην οργή.
 * Shove anger aside.
 * "Two things a Man should never be angry at; what he can help, and what he cannot help."
 * Thomas Fuler, Gnomologia (1732)


 * Don't hear one and judge two.

A

 * "Αγάλι-αγάλι γίνεται η αγουρίδα μέλι."
 * 'A green fruit gets ripe slowly.''
 * English equivalent: Patience is a virtue, and a little will not hurt you.

Ε

 * "Είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα."
 * "The donkey called the rooster bigheaded."
 * Similar to "The pot calling the kettle black" or "Look who's talking".


 * Ἐν οἴνῳ ἀλήθεια
 * There is truth in wine.
 * English equivalent: In wine there is truth.
 * Latin equivalentː In vino veritas.
 * "Alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret."

H

 * Η καλύτερη άμυνα είναι η επίθεση.
 * English equivalent: The best defence is a good offense.
 * Source for meaning:


 * Η φτήνια τρώει τον παρά.
 * English equivalent: If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.


 * Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει, αλλά κόκαλα τσακίζει.
 * English equivalent: The pen is mightier than the sword.
 * "The play's the thing, Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."
 * William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1600–1), Act II, scene ii

Κ

 * Και οι τοίχοι έχουν αυτιά.
 * English equivalent: The walls have ears.
 * "What you say may be overheard; used as a warning."


 * Κάλλιο γαϊδουρόδενε, παρά γαϊδουρογύρευε.
 * English equivalent: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.


 * Kάλλιο πέντε και στο χέρι, παρά δέκα και καρτέρι.
 * English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
 * "Laugh and be fat."
 * John Taylor, title of a tract (1615)


 * Κόρακας κοράκου μάτι δε βγάζει.
 * English equivalent: Hawks will not pick out Hawk's eyes.
 * "One belonging to a group having common interests is not likely to act against or find fault with another member of the same group. Solidarity may prevail over law, justice or truth."


 * Καλή ζωή, κακή διαθήκη.
 * English equivalent: Fools live poor to die rich.

Μ

 *  Μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ.
 * English equivalent: One swallow does not a summer make.
 * Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, (1098a18)

Ο

 * Ο χρόνος είναι ακριβός
 * English equivalent: Time is precious.


 * Όποιος γίνεται πρόβατο τον τρώει ο λύκος.
 * He who becomes a sheep is eaten by the wolf.
 * English equivalent: He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.


 * Όφις ην μη φάγη όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται.
 * Alternatively: Όφις ει μη φάγοι όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται. (see Robert Nares)
 * A serpent, unless it devours a serpent, will not become a dragon. (Erasmus, translated by Barker)
 * Quoted by Erasmus, Michael Apostolius, and in Suda (according to Robert Nares)
 * Translated into Latin by Apostolius, Erasmus, and Francis Bacon.
 * Paraphrased in English by John Dryden (Oedipus III.1): "A serpent ne'er becomes a flying dragon, / Till he has eat a serpent." (see Robert Nares)
 * Sources:
 * Robert Nares, A Glossary, p. 781. (Nares's "φύγοι" emended to "φάγοι" based on Apostolius's text.)
 * Erasmus III iii 61, translated in William Watson Barker, ed. The Adages of Erasmus, p. 271.
 * Michael Apostolius, Paroemiae [Proverbs]. Ed. Daniel Heinsius. Leiden, 1619. p. 187.
 * A search of the Suda does not return this proverb.


 * Ο πνιγμένος, από τα μαλλιά του πιάνεται.
 * English equivalent: A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

Σ

 * Συν Αθηνά και χείρα κίνει.
 * Move your hand along with Athena (Minerva)
 * English equivalent: Heaven help those who help themselves.
 * "When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition."

Τ

 * Τα εν οίκω μη εν δήμω.
 * English equivalent: Don't wash your dirty linen in public; It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
 * "Why wantonly 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."


 * Τα μεγάλα πνεύματα συναντώνται
 * English equivalent: Great minds think alike.


 * Άγιος που δε θαυματουργεί, μηδέ δοξολογιέται.
 * The saint who works no miracles isn't glorified.
 * "I think that sex is necessary and bankers are not."
 * Lancelot Hogben, in Twentieth Century Authors, A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature, Edited by Stanley J. Kunitz, and Howard Haycraft. New York, The H.W. Wilson Company, 1950, (pp. 658-59)


 * Τυφλός... ο "Έρως
 * English equivalentː Love is blind.
 * "That is, it renders those blind who are under its influence by making that appear beautiful which is often the reverse."

Disputed

 * A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.
 * Quoted in several English sources as a Greek proverb or aphorism, without citation. Compare the Latin of Caecilius Statius: Serit arbores, quae saeclo prosint alteri. ("He sows the seed of trees that they may be a profit to another age.")