Icelandic proverbs

thumb|right|A bad rower blames the oar. Proverbs reflective of conventional wisdom in Iceland. __NOTOC__ Á A Af góðu upphafi vonast góður endir. English equivalent: A good beginning makes a good ending. Strauss Emanuel Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=86yPOGG3YfcC&pg=PT531 I 1994 Routledge 978-1-134-86460-7 185 190 Af óskum eru allir eins ríkir. English equivalent: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. von Düringsfeld Ida von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.com/books?id=TB9WAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA408 II 1875 German 408–409 721, Wünsche Allir vilja herrann vera, en enginn sekkinn bera. English equivalent: There are too many chiefs and not enough indians. Ha sempre dimostrato l'esperienza, e lo dimostra la ragione, che mai succedono bene le cose che dipendono da molti. "Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed." Francesco Guicciardini, Storia d'Italia (1537-1540) Emanuel Strauss Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT770 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 770 1263 Aldrei er góð vísa of oft kveðin. Translation: Never is a good verse too often said. English equivalent: Never say never. Saga http://books.google.com/books?id=M5stAQAAIAAJ 1964 Isafoldarprentsmiðja. 102 Á Árinni kennir illur ræðari. A bad rower blames the oar. English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools. Source: Magnúsdóttir Elín Bára 1993 Halldórsstefna, 12.-14. júní 1992 Stofnun Sigurðar Nordals 116 208 9979911107 Á Á misjöfnu þrífast börnin best Translation: Children will thrive best on varied diet/life. "People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after." Oliver Goldsmith The Bee no. II (October 13, 1759), On Our Theatres Jón Árnason Íslenzkar þjóðsögur og æfintýri http://books.google.com/books?id=LmcJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA431 1864 J.C. Hinrichs 431 B Ber er hver að baki nema sér bróður eigi. Translation: Bare is the back of a brotherless man. Meaning: Every man is defenseless unless he has a brother/friend. Source: Hreinsson Viðar Translated by Robert Cook 1997 Brennu-Njáls saga Leifur Eiriksson Publishing 5 3 220 209 9979929308 Betra er að vera fátækr og heill, enn ríkr og vanheill. English equivalent: Good health is above wealth. ** von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.se/books?id=mSNlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA305&dq=Gesundheit+ist+besser+als+Reich&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyiefWhbH2AhWlQ_EDHXWpDoMQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=Gesundheit%20ist%20besser%20als%20Reich&f=false I 305 588, Gesundheit Betra er einn að vera, en illan stallbróður hafa. English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company. Emanuel Strauss Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT478 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 478 654 Bezt er að hætta hvörjum leik , meðan vel fer. English equivalent: Leave a jest when it pleases you best. von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.se/books?id=zQYJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA59&dq=Un+poc+d%27zug+%C3%A8+po+b%C3%A8ll&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj12tXl2qT1AhWtR_EDHfCLAzgQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=Un%20poc%20d'zug%20%C3%A8%20po%20b%C3%A8ll&f=false 1875 German I 59-60 122, aufhören Brennt barn forðast eldinn. English equivalent: Once bitten, twice shy. Meaning: "Somebody who has had an unpleasant experience thereafter shrinks from the cause of that experience." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA337 30 July 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 33 Dal Gunnar 2007 Einn heimur: fimm heimsmyndir Jonas Halldorsson 124 532 9979651032 E Ef ábóti teninga a sér ber, oss munkum leyft ao tefla er." English equivalent: The friar preached against stealing and had a goose in his sleeve. Emanuel Strauss Dictionary of European Proverbs https://books.google.com/books?id=z-3FyaMKtfUC 1994 Taylor & Francis 1179 1670 Eftir því sem gamlir fuglar sungu, kvökuðu þeir ungu. English equivalent: As the old cock crows, so crows the young. Meaning: "Children generally follow the example of their parents, but imitate their faults more surely than their virtues." Norwegian equivalent: Some dei gamle sungo, so kveda dei unge. Emanuel Strauss Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=86yPOGG3YfcC&pg=PT1389 1994 Routledge 978-1-134-86460-7 1389 544 Source for meaning of English equivalent: Kelly Walter Keating 1859 Proverbs of all nations W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) 130 Einki er so illt, táð er ikki gott firi okkurt. English equivalent: Every cloud has a silver lining. von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Ida von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen https://books.google.com/books?id=iNNmAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA102 1875 German 102 181, Nichts Engum flýgur sofanda steikt gæs i munn. English equivalent: Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted. "One cannot (or should not) expect to benefit without making some effort." (Paczolay, 1997 p. 455) Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 171 2200 0415096243 G Garðr er granna sættir. English equivalentː A hedge between keeps friends green. Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Ida von Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen vergleichend zusammengestellt von I. von Düringsfeld und O. Freiherrn von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld https://books.google.com/books?id=NaT4ynv1ZTMC&pg=PA74 1875 German 74 128, Nachbarn Guð hjálpar þeim sem hjálpa sér sjálfir. English equivalent: Heaven helps those who help themselves. "Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are." Augustine of Hippo, As quoted in Spirituality and Liberation: Overcoming the Great Fallacy (1988) by Robert McAfee Brown, p. 136 Source for meaning: Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 150 527 1-875943-44-7 Source: Laxness Halldór 2000 Smásögur Vaka-Helgafell 131 415 9979214546 Góð orð finna góðan samastað. English equivalent: Politeness costs little but yields much. "Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom." Attributed to Theodore Isaac Rubin Strauss Emanuel Abbreviated 1998 Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 70 504 0415160502 H Vitur maður breytir hugum sínum, heimskingi vill aldrei. English equivalent: A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood." Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self Reliance (1841). Emanuel Strauss Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT446 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 446 589 Hver er sinnar gæfu smiður. English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune. Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 388 527 1-875943-44-7 K Kemst þó hægt fari. English equivalent: We ride slow, but we ride sure. Source: Íslands Landsbókasafn 1980 Árbók Bókasafnið 71 9979911107 Kom ei of opt til vina þinna, svo þá væmi ekki við þér. English equivalent: Friends are lost by calling often and calling seldom. von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.se/books?id=SB5WAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA51&dq=Der+Apfel+f%C3%A4llt+nicht+weit+vom+Stamme,+es+sei+denn,+dass+derselbe+an+einem+Reg+(Abhang)+steht&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHqMDBm6fzAhXyS_EDHWnXAIwQ6AF6BAgCEAI#v=snippet&q=Gute%20Freunde%20muss%20man%20nicht%20zu%20viel%20%C3%BCberlaufen&f=false 1875 German I 262 508, Freunde Kornbarn, drukkin maðr og dárinn segja sannleikann. English equivalent: Children, fools and drunken men tell the truth. "Children and fools have no inhibition, and alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret." Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 272 527 1-875943-44-7 L Láttu ekki happ ur hendi sleppa. English equivalent: Opportunity knocks only once. von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen vergleichend zusammengestellt https://books.google.se/books?id=ZIow1sbpIfoC&pg=PA297&dq=L%C3%A1ttu+ekki+happ+ur+hendi+sleppa++sprichw%C3%B6rter+der+germanischen+und+romanischen&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_v4qY2rj0AhXERvEDHaRyBZUQ6AF6BAgCEAI 1875 German I 297 573, Gelegenheid Líkt á við líkt Líkt. English equivalent: Give and take is fair play. von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.se/books?id=S5dYAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=sprichw%C3%B6rter+der+germanischen+und+romanischen&hl=sv&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Lige%20for%20Lige&f=false 1875 German I 313-314 6̟03, Gleiches Linur bartskeri gjörir fúin sár. English equivalent: Mild physician – putrid wounds. Emanuel Strauss Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT851 II 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 1090 1465 M Margr lækr smár gjörir stórar ár. English equivalent: Small streams make great rivers. von Düringsfeld Ida von Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.com/books?id=AAcJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA309 II 1875 German 309 556, Viele N Náttin er manns óvinur. von Duringsfeld von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen vergleichend zusammengestellt von Ida von Duringsfeld und Otto Freihern von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld https://books.google.com/books?id=Xc9u8vj9CXsC&pg=PA76 1875 German 76 135, Nach O Ofleyfingjarnir bregðask mér mest. Those who get praised most loudly, disappoint me the most. Albert Stolpe Herman Isländska ordspråk och skaldeord https://books.google.com/books?id=xhkVAAAAMAAJ 1974 LT 978-91-36-00447-2 Oft hafa fagrar hnetur fúinn kjarna. English equivalent: A fair face and a foul heart. Emanuel Strauss Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT89 I 11 January 2013 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 116 120 Þ Þá mér klær, þarf ég að klóra mér. English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it. "If the statement applies to you, admit it or do something about it."Urban Dictionary (2008) Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 998 2200 0415096243 þar liggur hundurinn grafinn. English equivalent: To smell a rat. Halldórsson Halldór Íslenzkt orðtakasafn https://books.google.com/books?id=qn-r3yCvHVQC 1986 143 þegar neyðin er hærst, er hjálpin nærst. von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Ida von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen https://books.google.com/books?id=iNNmAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA109 1875 Fries German 109– 197, Noth þó hinn fátæki tali hyggiliga, vill það enginn heyra. English equivalentː Losers are always in the wrong. von Düringsfield Ida von Düringsfield Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen https://books.google.se/books?id=mSNlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA55&dq=Es+verdirbt+mancher+guter+Rath+in+eines+ara+men+Mannes+Tasche&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZtI2vlavzAhVQSfEDHV6zACcQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=Es%20verdirbt%20mancher%20guter%20Rath%20in%20eines%20ara%20men%20Mannes%20Tasche&f=false 1875 German I 55 113, armen R Ragur maður fíflar aldrei fríða konu. English equivalent: Faint heart never won fair lady. "The reason why people, women in particular will tell men, 'be yourself'. (If you are a woman watching this I'm sure you had that feeling - 'I love it when a man is being himself.') It is because the more that you are just yourself you love yourself. Maybe what they should be saying is 'love yourself and then be yourself!' Owen "Tyler" Durden, How To Improve Your Dating Life: Julien & Tyler's Advanced Secrets To Increasing Your Social Status! (2018) Strauss Emmanuel 1998 Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 130 0415160502 S Sá er fuglinn verstur, sem í sjálfs síns hreiður dritar. English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public. "Why wantonly proclaim one's own disgrace, or expose the faults or weaknesses of one's kindred or people?" Kelly Walter Keating 1859 Proverbs of all nations W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) 109 Source for provers: Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 466 527 1-875943-44-7 Sjaldan er ein báran stök. There seldom is a single wave. Good luck or bad luck is often followed by more of the same. Source: Sigurðsson Arngrímur 1975 Íslenzk-ensk orðabók Leiftur 731 942 9979651032 Sjaldan fellur eplið langt frá eikini. 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." Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 259 527 1-875943-44-7 Spónasmiða börn eiga oft versta spæni. English equivalent: Cobblers' children are worst shod. "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him." Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 65 7 Sinn er siður í landi hverju. Each country has its own custom. Sven Grundtvig Jón Sigurðsson Pálmi Pálsson Íslenzk fornkvæði http://books.google.com/books?id=bGgJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA103 1854 Brødrene Berlings og S.L. Møllers bogtrykkeri 103 "The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom." Attributed to Michel de Montaigne Sá vinnur sitt mál, sem þráastur er. English equivalent: God is with those who persevere; Persevere and never fear. Strauss Emanuel Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=86yPOGG3YfcC&pg=PT373 I 1994 Routledge 978-1-134-86460-7 126 130 Sá fær opt æruna virðinguna sem minnst is fær opt æruna sækist eptir henni. English equivalent: Follow glory and it will flee, flee glory and it will follow thee. "It was queer. All over England young men were eating their hearts out for lack of jobs, and here was he, Gordon, to whom the very word 'job' was faintly nauseous, having jobs thrust unwanted upon him. It was an example of the fact that you can get anything in this world if you genuinely don't want it." George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936) von Düringsfeld Ida Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto von Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend https://books.google.com/books?id=SB5WAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA164 1872 164 320 Sæll er sá, sem lætr sér annars víti að varnaði verða. von Düringsfeld Ida Freiherr von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen sprachen vergleichend, zusammengestellt https://books.google.com/books?id=AAcJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA163 II 1875 German 163 288, Schaden V Vitið kemr ei fyrir árin.'' English equivalent: Reason does not come before years. von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Ida von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld Otto Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen https://books.google.com/books?id=iNNmAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA297 II 1875 German 297 536, Verstand Category:Proverbs by language Category:Iceland es:Proverbios islandeses