PROVERBS &
WISE WORDS
PROVERBS &
WISE WORDS
Unit 1:
A good book is a great friend
Means: Not all books contain
good stories. Therefore we should be careful to select which one is good and
bad. A good book can support us to reach our ambitions as a good friend always
helps us when we are in trouble.
Do not take the example of another as an excuse for your
wrongdoing
Means: When we do something
wrong, say it wrong. Regardless of others do wrong.
Ninety
percent of inspiration is perspiration
Means: Only imagining and waiting for revelation
is not enough to be successful, but we are determined to work hard and we never
give up facing all challenging in front of us.
Nobody is perfect
Means: The world has two
poles left right, poor-rich, tall short, right wrong, black-white etc. So that
everybody must have his weaknesses or good-nesses. That’s why nobody in this
world is perfect, there must be something lack.
Practice makes perfect
Means: By practicing
regularly and constantly, eventually we can master everything we learn.
There is no royal road to learning
Means: Knowledge and science
cannot be obtained simply and idly but by hard working, ache and pain, and
enduring all obstacles.
Unit 2:
A good beginning is half the battle
Means: If a job starts
with great spirit and effort, the job will be obtained as it is expected.
Everyone to his taste
Means: Generally we have our own will or desire. That’s why the
content of the world has many kinds of styles, characteristics that compile one
proof of the Greatness of God.
It is easy to
become a teacher, but difficult to become a pupil
Means: Many people are proud of directing
others, but they themselves do not like being directed what they should do.
It is better
to play with the ears than with the tongue
Means: Much listening is far better than much
talking. By having much listening, it can increase our knowledge and experience
as well as sympathy, while having much talking it frequently makes us trouble
with others.
You never know till you have tried
Means: To face a hard and
difficult work, do not feel discouraged before doing it. Be sure, you can
succeed with strong courage.
Unit 3:
Actions speak louder than words
Means: People doing much
good deed will be considered having a good character rather than people having
too much talk.
A little is better than none.
Means: We should feel grateful for what we can
get though it is very little. It is a bit better rather than nothing.
A man is
known by his friends
Means: We can understand and recognize one’s
characters or personalities by knowing with whom they usually live and keep in
touch.
God helps those who help themselves
Means: When we want God to
help us, we must first attempt to act or to do something wisely with all
abilities and great efforts we have.
That’s why only praying without doing anything, we will get nothing.
First act, there comes luck later.
Live and let
live
Means: We should live in peace and harmony with
every sentient being around us and never disturb them any time. They will never
disturb us accordingly.
No gain without pain
Means: Without any efforts,
that is impossible to obtain something what we want. It means whatever we do,
we must work hard if we want to get cleverness, wealth, prosperity, success and
luck.
Well begun is half done
Means: If every job starts
well, it will be very easy to accomplish. For example: when we can start to
learn English with this book well, the writer believes that we can get our
language skills or competencies we should gain at the end of our study successfully.
UNIT4:
A little is better than none.
Means: We should feel
grateful for what we can get though it is very little. It is a bit better
rather than nothing.
First impressions are most lasting
Means: The first impressions are often
unforgettable by others. That’s why we must give a good conduct or deeds to
other people especially to people we meet at the first time.
May God bless you all
Means: It is a kind of
hope and a prayer to get better luck and life as well as blessing from God for
all human beings.
Never spur a willing horse.
Means: Do not force the
diligent and meticulous man to do more than that. It can make him annoyed and
he can rebel it. Then the result of his job will go down.
Unit 5:
Actions speak louder than words.
Means: People doing much
good deed will be considered having a good character rather than people having
too much talk.
All cats are gray in the dark
Means: This reminds us about
the beauty of woman. It is only outside appearance, but inner beauty is the
most important of all.
Better
an egg today than a hen tomorrow
Means: It is better to
accept what we get now though it is a little than it is hoped to get a big
thing but it is uncertain.
Live and Learn
Means: As long as we are still
alive, we can also learn something new.
Never do things by half
Means: If a job has been started to do, do it the
best till the end. Never give up facing all the problems appear at the front.
The more, the merrier
Means: If an event or
game is participated by many participants, it will be happier and merrier.
Well begun is half done
Means: If every job starts
well, it will be very easy to accomplish. For example: when we can start to
learn English with this book well, the writer believes that we can get our
language skills or competencies we should gain at the end of our study successfully.
Who will bell the cat?
Means: who has bravery to
challenge the tremendous trouble that can claim one’s life? Whatever you do,
whatever you go through in life, there must be a hardship. Say: Never give up,
try to do the best. Everything must have a solution.
Unit 6:
Actions speak louder than words.
Means: People doing much
good deed will be considered having a good character rather than people having
too much talk.
A little is better than none.
Means: We should feel grateful for what we can
get though it is very little. It is a bit better rather than nothing.
Envy
never enriched any man
Means: Don’t ever feel
envious or irritated at other success, because it only makes us sorrowful and
lamented. Throw away that feeling, surely we will feel free and relaxed to live
on the earth.
No gain without pain
Means: Without any efforts,
that is impossible to obtain something what we want. It means whatever we do,
we must work hard if we want to get cleverness, wealth, prosperity, success and
luck.
Of two evils choose the less.
Means: When we find a
bad alternative; surely we will choose the less risk for others or ourselves.
Satan
is not outside but inside of man
Means: People often
blame others rather than themselves when they get something uncomfortable or
they do wrong things. Actually, good or bad doesn’t come outside, but it
appears from oneself. The evil acts are often called Satan in fact it is done
by human only.
The
pen is mightier than the sword
Means: The written
things are considered more horrible rather than the violent actions. The
corrupt government officials like facing the armed groups better than face the
news on newspapers that contain the real facts of their wrongdoings.
What
can’t be cured must be endured
Means: When something
cannot be repaired or done better, we should be patient to face it. We should
accept it as it was.
Unit 7:
Empty vessels make most noise
Means: Stupid people
often talk too much than do in action. They often criticize only but they
cannot give solution.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you.
Weep, and you weep alone
Means: When we are happy
many people come close to us, but when we are sad many people often leave us
alone.
More Haste, less speed
Means: If we are too
much hurried, we often make a lot of mistakes. Then we take much more time to
do and eventually we fail to gain the target.
No news is good news.
Means: Because of no
news, it means that it is good news and everything is all right.
The grapes are sour
Means: When people fail
to gain their success, they often blame to others or look for reasons to hide
their failure.
Tomorrow is another day
Means: Today we fail to
do something. Who knows tomorrow or next time we will be successful.
Union is strength
Means: To do something
in a group is stronger than to do it individually. That’s why togetherness and
unity are needed to succeed any program.
One is never too old to learn.
Means: In spite of
having much knowledge people have got, there is still quite a lot that people have
not known yet. Therefore, how old people are, they can freely get much more.
Prevention is better than cure
Means: It is advisable
to prevent a bad thing happen for us, rather than to cure after all bad
happens. Since it takes a long time and a lot of energy and even fund to
rebuild it.
UNIT 8:
All
start is difficult
Means: To do everything
at the first time we often face many hindrances or problems to overcome. So we
are supposed not to be discouraged to face the big problems. Slowly but surely,
we can get out aim to success.
A little is better than none.
Means: We should feel grateful for what we can
get though it is very little. It is a bit better rather than nothing.
Habit is second nature.
Means: If we do
something as a usual practice, it will be difficult for us to leave it out.
Health is
better than wealth
Means: We are rich but
we often get sickness, surely all the wealth we have is useless. That’s why People
tend to be simple life as long as they are well and healthy.
May God bless you all
Means: It is a kind of
hope and a prayer to get better luck and life as well as blessing from God for
all human beings.
Well begun is half done
Means: If every job starts
well, it will be very easy to accomplish. For example: when we can start to
learn English with this book well, the writer believes that we can get our
language skills or competencies we should gain at the end of our study successfully.
Unit 9:
Actions speak louder than words.
Means: People doing much
good deed will be considered having a good character rather than people having
too much talk.
No news is good news.
Means: Because of no
news, it means that it is good news and everything is all right.
Paddle on your own canoe.
Means: Do everything by
yourself first; do not hope a help from others. Be confident to do anything
without hoping much help or hoping compassion from others. By so doing, we can
improve our quality of life.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
Means: We should be able
to adapt to the habit or law in a certain place. Otherwise, we will be
outsiders or isolated men.
Do not take the example of another as an excuse for your
wrongdoing
Means: When we do something
wrong, say it wrong. Regardless of others do wrong.
If you would not be forgotten as soon
as you are dead;
Write things worth reading, or do
things worth writing.
Means: So long as we
have much time or we are still alive, write something useful for others in
books, magazines, newspapers etc. By so doing, our writings will be memorized
by others.
Unit 10:
Live not to eat, but eat to live.
Means: The aim of living
is not to eat. Too much eating is not good for one’s health. They will get many
kinds of diseases. One should eat just to live in the world, or simply eating
is for living and doing something useful in this world.
Seeing is believing.
Means: Do not be easily
tricked by other. Prove it first by seeing it yourself. Or do not be easily
believed what other people say, if you have yet to see it by yourself.
If you are going to do a good turn, do
it now;
If you are going to do a mean thing,
wait till tomorrow.
Means: When you do
something good, please do it immediately, but when you do something unpleasant,
please think it over first. Or it is better not to do the bad deed. Otherwise,
you will regret in your lifetimes.
If there were no clouds, we should not
enjoy the sun.
Means: The fruit of living can be felt if one has experienced
bitter life. Life will be wonderful if one once experienced something sad or
unpleasant.
Still waters run deep.
Means: The educated people often remain silent but they know
much of everything. On the contrary, the uneducated people talk too much, but
they know nothing.
You never know your luck.
Means: One will never know anything without experiencing it
first. One can be broke (no money) but
by hard working one will be successful again.
There is no place like home.
Means: Although our
house is very simple, but there we can live peacefully and happily.
Unit 11:
Experience is the mother of wisdom.
Means: We learn living
in society by doing some mistakes intentionally or unintentionally. With the
experience we have got in society we can develop our wisdom.
Never spur a willing horse.
Means: Do not force the
diligent and meticulous man to do more than that. It can make him annoyed and
he can rebel it. Then the result of his job will go down.
One is the greatest conqueror who has
conquered oneself.
Means: Not all people
can fight against their own lust and desire, but the great one can.
East or West home is the best.
Means: Wherever we are
in this world, our hometown or our own country is still the best place to live
in as long as they are peaceful and prosperous.
Times change.
Means: Something was
effective in the past; it will not be effective again in the future. Eras
always change that’s why we should always change our ways of thinking.
Live and Learn.
Means: So long as we are
still alive, there must be something new we can learn.
A little is better than none.
Means: We should feel
grateful for what we can get though it is very little. It is a bit better
rather than nothing.
Blood is thicker than water.
Means: The tie of
brotherhood in one family is stronger though it is separated by sea.
You never know till you have tried.
Means: To face a great
or difficult job, do not feel discouraged to do before really doing it.
Actions speak louder than words.
Means: People doing much
good deed will be considered having a good character rather than people having
too much talk.
Of two evils choose the less.
Means: When we find a
bad alternative; surely we will choose the less risk for others or ourselves.
Better be a free bird than a captive
king.
Means: All wealth and
luxury goods will be useless if we live in limited movement as in prison. It is
better to live free despite having nothing.
Unit 12:
Better be sure than sorry.
Means:
It is advisable to stay in a safe place than in a dangerous one.
Knowledge is power.
Means: The more
knowledge people have; the more powerful people can do to overcome lives. That’s
why to gain knowledge is very important to live in this world.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Means: The people who
have a very little knowledge are not aware of their stupidity or Ignorance.
That’s why they are often being tricked by others.
Nothing seek, nothing find.
Means: If we do not work
hard in doing anything, do not hope much that we will gain something.
Don’t cry for the moon.
Means: Do not hope too
much for impossible things. But many people hope something that can be
impossible to gain.
After storm comes a calm.
Means: After
experiencing an unpleasant moment, surely the pleasant moment will come.
Experience must be bought.
Means: To gain
experience or knowledge must be paid by doing many mistakes and miserable
moments.
Time and tide wait for no man.
Means: When one has a
good chance, it is advisable to take it immediately. Because a good change or a
good moment is uncertainly back again.
Unit 13:
Habit is second nature.
Means: If we do
something as an usual practice, it will be difficult for us to leave it out.
A false friend is worse than an open
enemy.
Means: To face the real
enemy, we can prepare everything premeditatedly, but to face the enemy within
one organization is very complicated; thus, we can easily be attacked.
Speech is silver; silence is golden.
Means: Too much talking
is not a good deed. It is better to keep silent but ready to observe in
unpleasant moments.
Variety is the spice of life.
Means: Living will be
boredom if we do the same thing again and again. That’s why we need something
different or new once in a while.
The more you have, the more you want.
Means: Satisfaction is
unlimited. One who has a lot of wealth or things will still be keen on having
other things to compile up.
May God bless you all
Means: It is a kind of
hope and a prayer to get better luck and life as well as blessing from God for
all human beings.
Unit 14:
When the cat is away, the mouse will
play.
Means: Irresponsible
people will neglect their duties or tasks while their supervisor is away.
After storm comes a calm.
Means: After
experiencing an unpleasant moment, surely the pleasant moment will come.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
Means: We should be able
to adapt to the habit or law in a certain place. Otherwise, we will be
outsiders or isolated men.
Love me little love me long.
Means: Somebody loves
another excessively in short time the love will be faded.
Love is blind.
Means: If somebody loves
another, they will not see their partners’ weaknesses.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Means: If somebody has a
great will, they surely will find the way-out although how big the hindrances
are at the front.
No man is infallible.
Means:
People often make a mistake unintentionally.
Man proposes God disposes.
Means: People can plan
everything as they like, but God will decide at last.
Seeing is believing.
Means: Do not be easily
tricked by other. Prove it first by seeing it yourself. Or do not be easily
believed what other people say, if you have yet to see it by yourself.
Give the devil his due.
Means: People who are
considered bad are not always bad. If they do something good for us, we should
appreciate it.
Tell me my faults, and mend your own.
Means: Often people like
to see others’ fault, but they always tend to blind to their own mistakes.
Unit 15:
The less man think, the more they talk.
Means: Generally stupid
people often talk too much than do something well.
To know the disease is half the cure.
Means: If we know the
root of our problems, it will be easy for us to solve the problem.
He laughs best who laughs last.
Means: Don’t laugh at
others’ mistakes, because we will be laughed at when we do some mistakes in
turn.
Health is better than wealth.
Means: If we always get
sick, our wealth is useless. It is better to be healthy though we have nothing
but health.
Even a worm will turn.
Means: Patient people
have a limit. If they often disturb, they will fight against it.
There is many a true word spoken in
jest.
Means: Many words are
spoken in a joke, and they contain something right and properly.
Never judge others from appearances
only.
Means: Don’t give a
value based on the performance. Often we make mistakes by doing so. Observe and
feel it, we will know others better.
Hope for the best and prepare for the
worst.
Means: We should hope
for the good things, but at the same time, prepare ourselves for the worst
thing.
There is no rule without an exception.
Means: Rules or
regulations are always in general. That’s why for something specific it must be
covered specifically.
Necessity knows no law
Means: Under the circumstances, especially in
unavoidable moment or in unpleasant and compelled moment, a devoted or pious
person sometimes will act against the law.
Unit 16:
Second thoughts are best.
Means: Considering the
case again is better and wise rather than the first decision.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Means:
We should imitate the advice, not the action of the adviser.
No gain without pain
Means: Without any efforts, that is
impossible to obtain something what we want. It means whatever we do, we must
work hard if we want to get cleverness, wealth, prosperity, success and luck.
Better bend than break.
Means: Sometimes we
should follow or obey the order of the senior rather than disobey or against
the order that can endanger for our positions.
Like father like son.
Means:
A son will follow the deed of his father.
Do not take the example of another as an excuse for your
wrongdoing
Means: When we do something
wrong, say it wrong. Regardless of others do wrong.
Hope for the best and prepare for the
worst.
Means: We should hope
for the good things, but at the same time, prepare ourselves for the worst
thing.
No man is indispensable.
Means: How important the
position one has, others can certainly replace it. That’s why; do not feel
arrogant to have it. When you resign or retire, there must be someone else’s
who can handle it more perfectly.
Unit 17:
Slow and steady wins the race.
Means: Even though our
power has limit, but if we try hard and steadily or firmly slowly and surely we
will reach our ambition. That’s better than we have full-power but we do in a
little effort and sluggish ways.
Easy come, easy go.
Means:
Money or something we get easily, it will lose easily too.
Fire is a good servant, but a bad
master.
Means: Fire is useful
for our lives, but if we cannot control it well, it can burn or destroy all the
things we have.
May God bless you all
Means: It is a kind of
hope and a prayer to get better luck and life as well as blessing from God for
all human beings.
UNIT 18:
A
small quarrel is the spice of live in love
Means: Misunderstanding about a little thing in one family or a
couple of life is something usual. It is not necessary to blow up because it is
just a phase of every couple that should be passed by.
Clothes do not make the man
Means: We
should give a judgment to others based on the good character as well as behavior
not based on the clothes they wear.
Don’t make yourself a mouse or the cat will eat you
Means: If we humble ourselves
too much, then other people will belittle us too. Therefore we should act as
normal as possible in daily life and not too much arrogant.
Let bygones be bygones
Means: The wrong doings in
the past for us should be apologized and forgotten. It is the best deed.
A false friend is worse than open enemy
Means: To face the real enemy, we can prepare everything
premeditatedly, but to face the enemy within one organization is very
complicated; thus, we can easily be attacked.
A man becomes learned by asking questions
Means: If we often ask about
something we do not really understand, gradually we are clever at that.
Tomorrow
is another day
Means: Today we cannot be successful, who knows tomorrow we can
get luck.
One
man’s fault is another man’s lesson
Means: We should not do something wrong as other people have
done wrong. It can be a lesson for us to something better in future.
Marriage
is a lottery
Means: It cannot be predicted whether the couple of marriage
will live happily forever, although their dating time is full of joy.
Do not take the example of another as
an excuse for your wrongdoing
Means: When we do something wrong, say it wrong.
Regardless of others do wrong.
A golden key opens every door
Means: With the ‘golden key’ (= money), every
problem can be handled easily and smoothly.
UNIT 19:
Experience is
the best teacher
Means: One experience, either it is from others
or from ourselves, should be taken as a mirror to do something better in
future. We do not have any excuse to do the same thing.
Love your enemies, for they tell you
your fault
Means: When other people show our fault and weaknesses we
should not hate them, because it can be our mirror to do something better in
future.
Two
blacks do not make a white
Means: It is a big mistake if we pay back a fault with a fault.
It can be harmful for us. It is advisable to give back goodness for badness.
Birds
of a feather flock together
Means: People who have the same hobbies or preferences usually
get together in a social club, because they can share the same feelings with
one another.
All wealth is the product of labor
Means: If we want to be prosperous in life, we must work hard.
The prosperity will not be a reality without a great effort.
Live and Learn
Means: As long as we are still
alive, we can also learn something new.
One
is never too old to learn
Means: In spite of having much knowledge people have got, there
is still quite a lot that people have not known yet. Therefore, how old people
are, they can freely get much more knowledge without limit. It means Education
is for all.
UNIT 20:
The grapes
are sour
Means: When someone cannot reach what they want
to get, they often say something bad about other people. They mock others or
gossip others.
A
friend in need is a friend indeed
Means: A true friend is a person who can really help us when we
have a big trouble. In other words, if we are in sadness someone is always
beside us to accompany, he is a real friend.
Good words are worth much and cost little
Means: It is wise for us to talk about a good
thing of someone rather than a bad thing.
There is no rule without an exception
Means: Every law there must be an exception.
Because the law is for public, not all rules are included in the only law. But
human-beings are unique; they like to look for a loop-hole of the law to free
them from the chain of law.
Necessity knows no law
Means: Under the circumstances, especially in
unavoidable moment or in unpleasant and compelled moment, a devoted or pious
person sometimes will act against the law.
Sadness and gladness succeed one
another
Means: Not all the time we pass by is always
happy, and not all the time we pass by is always sad. Life in the world is like
a wheel sometimes up sometimes down. Remember times change. That is why, don’t
feel happy too much when we are in a good condition, and don’t feel sad too
much when we are in a bad condition. Everything in the world is impermanent.
There is a time for all things
Means: Everything has its moment. When we pay
homage to someone’s funeral ceremony we must not play a joke or talk aloud.
A bad workman always blames his tools
Means: Unskillful person often blames others to
hide his weaknesses or stupidity. They pretend the tools or equipments wrong.
But the tools or equipments are not wrong; they themselves are not capable to
work.
One good turn deserves another
Means: One who has done a good thing; it is wise
and right for them to get a prize or reward.
United we stand, divided we fall
Means: If we work together, we will succeed. But
we work alone or partially, we will lose or fail. That’s why in order to gain
our national goal; we must work hard and work in good co-operation to each
other.
There is nothing new under the sun
Means: There is nothing new in this world. All
things have been recognized since a long time ago, but there is a little change
in a small part. We say it is new, because we never see it before while other
people have seen it for a long time.
Unit 21:
Honesty is the best policy
Means: The honest person is a good man.
Everybody surely likes him so long as all community surroundings also likes to
be honest in daily life. But in a corrupt-community such an honest person can
be in unlucky condition. That’s why, to live peacefully and prosperously, let
us make our country, our nation and our state free from corruption.
Rome is not built in a day
Means: A great job is of course unable to finish
in a short time. Like eradicating a corruption in a country, it surely takes a
long time and a long process to brainwash the community from corruptive minds.
As
long as there is a life, there is a hope
Means: A dead person can do nothing, but a alive person can do
everything to change his life better and better. So long as we are still alive,
we can change everything better for future. That’s why we are supposed not to
be discouraged to do our best, whether in study or in career. Slowly but
surely, good luck will come to good human-beings.
May God bless you all
Means: It is a kind of
hope and a prayer to get better luck and life as well as blessing from God for
all human beings.
Unit 22:
Love your enemies, for they tell you
your fault
Means: When other people show our fault and weaknesses we
should not hate them, because it can be our mirror to do something better in
future.
All the truth is not always to be told
Means: Sometimes we should not tell something truly or honestly
if it could be harmful or dangerous for us. That’s why we should always remember
that the truth should be told in the right time and in the right place.
Man proposes God disposes
Means: People can plan
everything as they like, but God will decide at last.
Means: If we do
something as a usual practice, it will be difficult for us to leave it out.
Unit 23:
You never know till you have tried
Means: To face a great
or difficult job, do not feel discouraged to do before really doing it.
Do not take the example of another as an excuse for your wrongdoing
Means: When we do something
wrong, say it wrong. Regardless of others do wrong.
Hope for the best and prepare for the
worst.
Means: We should hope
for the good things, but at the same time, prepare ourselves for the worst
thing.
Source:
ENGLISH PROVERBS For Advanced Level
Achmad Baihaqi, M.Sc.
© Copyright by KISS –
July 2010
Kediri International
Schools, Research &
Development Dept
Kediri – East Java –
Indonesia, 2010 