Quizlet: Latin Proverbs 101

Language: Latin (Medieval)

Source: Philosophia Patrum by Julius Wegeler.

Available at the Internet Archive 

You can use Quizlet to learn and practice these proverbs, and you'll find English versions at the bottom of the post to help with the meaning of the Latin. Quizlet offers some really useful options, including flashcards, matching, and a game too: Quizlet link. My favorite is the Gravity game!

Proverbs:

1. Anguilla e digitis saepe est dilapsa peritis.
2. Aurora Musis amica.
3. A cane muto et aqua silente caveto.
4. Accidit in puncto quod non speratur in anno.
5. Accipe quale datur, si cupis esse satur.
6. Accipe quam primum; brevis est occasio lucri.
7. Actus per stultos facies hostes tibi multos.
8. Adam, primus homo, damnavit saecula pomo.
9. Advenit absque mora mors, qua non credimus hora.
10. Aedibus in propriis canis est mordacior omnis.
11. Aestimat esse parum sibi, quicquid habet cor avarum.
12. Amantes amentes.
13. Aqua et panis potus et escula canis.
14. Arbitror esse satis, quod confertus mihi gratis.
15. Arbor honoretur, cuius nos umbra tuetur.
16. Arbor per primum quaevis non corruit ictum.
17. Arbor ut ex fructu, sic nequam noscitur actu.
18. Ardet scintilla, quamvis extincta favilla.
19. Ars compensabit, quod vis tibi parva negabit.
20. Asinus ad lapidem non bis offendit eundem.
21. Aspiciunt oculi duo lumine clarius uno.
22. Audi doctrinam, si vis vitare ruinam.
23. Audi, cerne, tace, si vis tu vivere pace.
24. Bacchus et argentum mutant mores sapientum.
25. Beatus ille homo, qui vivit sua domo.
26. Beneficium accipere est libertatem vendere.
27. Catus saepe satur cum capto mure iocatur.
28. Cito iratus, cito pacatus.
29. Cito quod fit, cito perit.
30. Cochlea consiliis, in factis esto volucris.
31. Communis sors est quod cunctis debita mors est.
32. Consonus esto lupis cum quibus esse cupis.
33. Corrige praeteritum, praesens rege, cerne futurum.
34. Cras cras cras cras, sic omnis dilabitur aetas.
35. Cum dormit lupula, non currit in os ovis ulla.
36. Cum fueris Romae, Romano vivito more.
37. Cum stertit catus, nunquam sibi currit in os mus.
38. Cum tibi porcellum quis praebet, pande sacellum.
39. Curis iactatur, si quis Veneris sociatur.
40. Damna fleo rerum, sed plus fleo damna dierum.
41. Dat Deus, et recipit saepe, quod ipse dedit.
42. De rebus minimis fit saepe molestia grandis.
43. Debilis ac fortis veniunt ad limina mortis.
44. Deficit ambobus, qui vult servire duobus.
45. Demonstra digitis, si verbo dicere nescis.
46. Det pira, det poma, qui non habet aurea dona.
47. Dilige vicinum, veluti te diligis ipsum.
48. Dimidium facti perfectum dicere noli.
49. Discat qui nescit, nam sic sapientia crescit.
50. Disce quid es, quid eris; memor esto quod morieris.
51. Discite victuri, sed vivite cras morituri.
52. Dulcior est fructus post multa pericula ductus.
53. Dum canis os rodit, socium quem diligit odit.
54. Dum spiro, spero, sed dubito quis ero.
55. Ebibe vas totum si vis cognoscere potum.
56. Ebrietas prodit quod amat cor sive quod odit.
57. Eligas quem diligas.
58. Enecat ingentem vipera parva bovem.
59. Error hesternus tibi sit doctor hodiernus.
60. Est avis in dextra melior quam quattuor extra.
61. Est auro proprius gratior ipse focus.
62. Est captu facilis turbatis piscis in undis.
63. Est casus rarus quod non sit dives avarus.
64. Est commune mori: mors nulli parcit honori.
65. Est dives vere qui non plus ardet habere.
66. Est durum clare contra fluxum natitare.
67. Est facies testis quales intrinsecus estis.
68. Est homo vix natus ex omni parte beatus.
69. Est iam potata, sed erat cerevisia grata.
70. Est rota fortunae variabilis ut rota lunae.
71. Est sanum plane de lecto surgere mane.
72. Est tua vita brevis: modo vivis; cras morieris.
73. Esto laborator, et erit Deus auxiliator.
74. Esto pacificus et pacis semper amicus.
75. Etiam exigua in tenebris micat scintilla.
76. Ex frixis pullus ovis numquam venit ullus.
77. Ex ovis pravis non bona venit avis.
78. Ex verbis fatuos, ex aure tenemus asellos.
79. Exitus ostendit quo mundi gloria tendit.
80. Exlex qui vivit, merito sine lege peribit.
81. Felis amat piscem sed non vult tangere flumen.
82. Ferrum quando calet, cudere quisque valet.
83. Festinans tardo non se committit asello.
84. Flumina magna vides parvis de fontibus orta.
85. Frange nucis tegmen si cupis esse nucem.
86. Frustra commisso clauditur ianua furto.
87. Fumus sumus; fimus fimus.
88. Gemmis et herbis vis est, sed maxima verbis.
89. Gutta fortunae prae dolio sapientiae.
90. Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo.
91. Haurit aquam cribro qui discere vult sine libro.
92. Hoc portat leviter quod portat quisque libenter.
93. Honores mutant mores, sed raro in meliores.
94. Id fac quod debes; fortunae cetera mandes.
95. Igne semel tactus, timet ignem postmodo cattus.
96. Illum nullus amat qui semper DA MIHI clamat.
97. In vestimentis non est sapientia mentis.
98. In praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora.
99. In pratis ut flos, sic cadit omnis honos.
100. In tali tales capiuntur flumine pisces.
101. In vino veritas.
102. Incidit in foveam qui primus fecerat illam.
103. Invidus invidia comburitur intus et extra.
104. Ipsum se laedit, alium qui laedere quaerit.
105. Ira parit litem, lis proelia, proelia mortem.
106. Iras sustollis, si sit responsio mollis.
107. Irretit muscas, transmittit aranea vespas.
108. Irritare canem noli dormire volentem.
109. Labitur e mente cito res bona, sed mala lente.
110. Laudatur nummus, quasi rex super omnia summus.
111. Libertas fulvo semper pretiosior auro.
112. Libro completo, saltat scriptor pede laeto.
113. Loquente auro, nil pollet quaevis oratio.
114. Mane sub aurora res vertitur ad meliora.
115. Maxima de parvis fiunt incendia flammis.
116. Modicus cibi, medicus sibi.
117. Mors quoscumque necat; mors sceptra ligonibus aequat.
118. Mors servat legem: tollit cum paupere regem.
119. Multa rogare, rogata tenere, retenta docere: haec tria discipulum faciunt superare magistrum.
120. Multa tibi multos generabunt fercula morbos.
121. Multi scire volunt, sed vere discere nolunt.
122. Multi sunt asini numquam saccis onerati.
123. Multum deliro si cuique placere requiro.
124. Mus satur insipidam diiudicat esse farinam.
125. Mus rapitur subito qui solo vivit in antro.
126. Mus salit in stratum dum scit abesse catum.
127. Nec nimium taceas, nec verba superflua fundas.
128. Nil est perfectum, nil omne ex parte beatum.
129. Nil pavide, nil avide, nil timide, nil tepide.
130. Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negatum.
131. Non volat in buccas assa columba tuas.
132. Non bene se celant, qui crimen crimine velant.
133. Non de ponte cadit, quocum sapientia vadit.
134. Non dentes cernas si detur equus, neque spernas.
135. Non est e terra mollis ad astra via.
136. Non est in mundo dives qui dicit: abundo.
137. Non est multa sciens laudandus, sed bene vivens.
138. Non est tam fortis qui rumpat vincula mortis.
139. Non facile manibus vacuis occiditur ursus.
140. Non lapis hirsutus fit per loca multa volutus.
141. Non mare transisset, pavidus si nauta fuisset.
142. Non revocare potes qui periere dies.
143. Non stillant omnes quas cernis in aere nubes.
144. Novus rex, nova lex.
145. Nullius lacrimis quisquam revocatur ab umbris.
146. Nullus praeteritas revocabit temporis horas.
147. O bona Fortuna, cur non es omnibus una?
148. O dives, dives! Non omni tempore vives!
149. O mihi praeteritos referat si Iuppiter annos!
150. O quam difficiles sunt sine pace dies!
151. Omnia qui quaerit, omnibus orbus erit.
152. Os qui non claudit, quod non vult saepius audit.
153. Pacis donum est omnibus bonum.
154. Parvus pendetur fur; magnus abire videtur.
155. Pelle sub agnina latitat mens saepe lupina.
156. Per angusta ad augusta.
157. Per aspera ad astra.
158. Plus quam divitias scire valere scias.
159. Post mortem fumus, pulvis, et umbra sumus.
160. Post tres saepe dies piscis vilescit, et hospes.
161. Post vinum verba; post imbrem nascitur herba.
162. Quae nocent, docent.
163. Quaeritat in cinere scintillas, qui caret igne.
164. Qualis vita, finis ita.
165. Qualis rex, talis grex.
166. Qui currit glaciem, se monstrat non sapientem.
167. Qui procul ex oculis, procul est a lumine cordis.
168. Quidquid nix celat, solis calor omne revelat.
169. Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam.
170. Quod lupus inglutit, numquam vel raro redibit.
171. Quod serimus metimus; quod damus accipimus.
172. Quot campo flores, tot sunt in amore dolores.
173. Rebus tranquillis, metuas adversa sub illis.
174. Res satis est nota: foetent plus stercora mota.
175. Res valet, ars praestat: si res perit, ars mihi restat.
176. Ridenti domino nec caelo crede sereno.
177. Saepe lupus veniet, eius dum mentio fiet.
178. Saepe etiam stultus fuit opportuna locutus.
179. Saepe perit mediis nauta peritus aquis.
180. Saepius offendit, qui lumen non adtendit.
181. Scire loqui decus est, sed plus est scire tacere.
182. Semper avarus eget; hunc nulla pecunia replet.
183. Sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.
184. Sero seram ponis stabulis post furta latronis.
185. Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.
186. Si bene barbatum faceret sua barba beatum, nullus in hoc circo queat esse beatior hirco.
187. Si cantes asino, crepitus tibi reddet ab ano.
188. Si cupias pacem, linguam compesce loquacem.
189. Si dices quae vis, audies quae non vis.
190. Si fore vis sanus, ablue saepe manus.
191. Si lupus est agnum, non est mirabile magnum.
192. Si tibi lumen abest, manibus res tangere prodest.
193. Simia est simia, etiamsi aurea gestet insignia.
194. Simia quidquid agit, simia semper erit.
195. Sis animo magnus, sis mollis moribus agnus.
196. Sorice iam plena, censetur amara farina.
197. Stat scelus occultum sed non remanebit inultum.
198. Sunt asini multi solum bino pede fulti.
199. Trans mare ducatur catus MAU vociferatur.
200. Transit ut unda fluens tempus et hora ruens.
201. Tu praesens cura; Domino committe futura.
202. Tunc alios culpa cum tu fueris sine culpa.
203. Ubi mel, ibi fel.
204. Ubi concordia, ibi victoria.
205. Ultima mortiferum conservat cauda venenum.
206. Ultima nos omnes efficit hora pares.
207. Ulula cum lupis, cum quibus esse cupis.
208. Una serena dies multas pellit cito nubes.
209. Unde superbimus? Sub terram terra redimus.
210. Ut flos et ventus transibit nostra iuventus.
211. Ut plumis volucres, sic noscimus ungue leones.
212. Ut strasti lectum, super hunc sic vade cubatum.
213. Verba ligant homines, taurorum cornua funes.
214. Verus amator erit, qui me plus quam mea quaerit.
215. Vincere cor proprium plus est quam vincere mundum.
216. Vox audita perit, sed littera scripta manebit.
217. Vultus fortunae mutatur imagine lunae: crescit, decrescit, in eodem sistere nescit.

English:

1. Often has an eel escape from experienced fingers.
2. Early rising is good for inspiration.
3. Beware of silent dogs and still waters.
4. Something you thought would take years can happen in a single moment.
5. Take what's given to you if you want to be satisfied.
6. Grab it now: narrow is the window of opportunity.
7. By means of foolish deeds, you'll make many enemies.
8. Adam, the first man, damned the world by means of an apple.
9. Death does not tarry; it comes at a time we know not.
10. The dog guarding their own house is more likely to bite.
11. Whatever it possesses, the miserly heart thinks it is not enough.
12. Lovers are out of their minds.
13. Water and bread are the food and drink of the dog.
14. When something is given to me for free, I'll call it good enough.
15. You should honor the tree who protects you with its shade.
16. A tree does not fall at the first blow.
17. You know a tree by its fruit as you know a scoundrel by their deeds.
18. The spark still burns even when the ashes have grown cold.
19. What you lack in strength you can make up for with skill.
20. A donkey does not stumble against the same stone twice.
21. Two eyes see more clearly than one.
22. Listen to your lessons if you want to do well in life.
23. Listen, look, and be silent if you wish to leaven in peace.
24. Bacchus (liquor) and silver (money) changes even the wise.
25. Blessed is the person who lives in their own home.
26. To ask a favor is to sell your freedom.
27. When the cat isn't hungry, it plays with the mouse it catches.
28. Quick to anger, quick to calm down.
29. Something that comes up quickly, quickly comes to an end.
30. Be a snail when it comes to planning, and a swift bird in your deeds.
31. Our common fate is that death comes to us all.
32. Howl with the wolves if you want to join them.
33. Correct the past, manage the present, discern the future.
34. Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow: so all your time slips away.
35. When the wolf is sleeping, no sheep runs into its mouth.
36. When you're in Rome, live the Roman way.
37. When the cat is snoring, no mouse is going to run into its mouth.
38. When someone offers you a piglet, open your sack.
39. The person who associates with Venus (love) is tossed by troubles.
40. I grieve the loss of things, but I grieve more the loss of time.
41. God gives, and he often takes back what he himself gave.
42. From the smallest things often comes the biggest trouble.
43. Weak and strong alike come to the house of death.
44. If you want to serve two masters, you fail both.
45. Show it with your fingers if you don't know how to say it in words.
46. If you don't have golden gifts, give pears, give apples.
47. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
48. Do not say that something half-done is all done.
49. If you don't know something, find out; that's how wisdom grows.
50. Learn what you are and what you will be; keep in mind: memento mori.
51. Study as if you were going to live forever, but live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
52. Sweeter is the fruit you win after much danger.
53. While a dog gnaws a bone, he hates the dog who was his friend.
54. While I breathe, I hope, but I don't know who I will become.
55. Drink the whole glass if you want to know the contents.
56. The drunken heart reveals what it loves and what it hates.
57. Choose whom you cherish.
58. The tiny viper kills the mighty ox.
59. Let yesterday's mistake be today's teacher.
60. A bird in the hand is better than four beyond.
61. A person's own hearth is more precious than gold.
62. It's easy to catch a fish in stirred-up waters.
63. It is rare for a rich man not to be a miser.
64. Everyone dies: death spares no (high) office.
65. Rich indeed is the person who doesn't want to have more.
66. It is indeed hard to swim against the stream.
67. Your face is a witness to what you are inwardly.
68. There is no person born who is blessed in every way.
69. The glass is empty now, but the beer was good.
70. Fortuna's wheel is as changing as the wheel of the moon.
71. It is healthy for sure to get up early from bed.
72. Your life is short: today you're living; tomorrow you're dead.
73. Get to work, and God will be your helper.
74. Be a peacemaker and always a friend of peace.
75. Even in the darkness a tiny spark flashes.
76. From fried eggs no chick ever came.
77. From bad eggs no good bird comes.
78. We grab donkeys by the ear and fools by their words.
79. Death reveals where worldly glory ends up.
80. He who lives an outlaw rightly will die without the law.
81. The cat loves fish but don't want to touch the water.
82. When the iron is strong, anyone can strike.
83. Someone in a hurry does not rely on a slow donkey.
84. You can see great floods arise from small springs.
85. Break open the shell if you want to eat the nut.
86. It's too late to shut the door after the crime's been committed.
87. We are smoke; we become manure.
88. There is power in jewels and in herbs, but most of all in words.
89. A drop of luck is better than a jug of wisdom.
90. The waterdrop hollows out a stone not by force but by falling and falling.
91. To want to learn without a book is to draw water with a sieve.
92. What someone bears willingly, they bear lightly.
93. Success changes people's characters, rarely for the better.
94. Do what you must; leave the rest to luck.
95. Touched by fire once, the cat fears fire ever after.
96. Nobody likes someone who's always shouting GIMME!
97. In clothes there is no intelligence.
98. Eggs today are better than chicks tomorrow.
99. Like a flower in the fields, so falls every honor.
100. Big fish are caught in big waters, small in small.
101. In wine, truth.
102. He who first dug the pit falls into it.
103. The envious person burns with envy inside and out.
104. He harms himself who seeks to harm another.
105. Anger gives rise to quarrels, quarrels to battles, and battles to death.
106. You can defect anger if your response is gentle.
107. Spiderwebs catch the flies, but they let the wasps go.
108. Don't disturb a dog who wants to sleep.
109. A good thing slips quickly from the mind, but the bad leaves slowly.
110. Money is praised as if it were the highest king over all.
111. Freedom is always more precious than yellow gold.
112. When the book is done, the writer leaps up happily.
113. When money is talking, no other speech matters.
114. The morning dawn makes things look better.
115. Great conflagrations come from tiny flames.
116. Restraint in eating is good for your health.
117. Death slays all; for death, sceptres are equal to hoes.
118. Death obeys this rule: it takes the king with the pauper.
119. Ask much, remember what you asked, teach what you remember: these three things make the student exceed the teacher.
120. Much food will cause you much sickness.
121. Many want to know but they don't actually want to learn.
122. Many a donkey has never been loaded with sacks.
123. I must be out of my mind if I intend to please everyone.
124. When it's full, the mouse thinks the flour tastes bad.
125. A mouse is quickly caught who lives in but one mousehole.
126. The mouse jumps on the tablecloth when it knows the cat is gone.
127. Don't stay too quiet, but don't pour forth superfluous words.
128. Nothing is perfect, nothing is blessed in every way.
129. Don't do anything fearfully, greedily, timidly, weakly.
130. We always strive for what is forbidden and we crave what's denied.
131. A roasted pigeon doesn't just fly into your mouth.
132. No rock becomes mossy when it's rolled through many places.
133. He who walks with wisdom doesn't fall off the bridge.
134. Don't inspect the teeth of a horse given to you, and don't reject it.
135. The way from the earth to the stars is not easy.
136. There is no rich man in the world who says: I have enough.
137. It is not the one who knows many things who should be praised, but he one who lives well.
138. No one is strong enough to break the chains of death.
139. With empty hands the bear is not easily killed.
140. The stone does not become mossy when it's rolled through many places.
141. If the sailor had been fearful, he wouldn't have crossed the sea.
142. You cannot recall days that have passed.
143. Not all clouds which you see in the sky rain water.
144. New king, new law.
145. Nobody's tears can recall someone from the darkness.
146. No one will be able to recall past hours of time.
147. O Good Luck, why are you not the same for everybody?
148. O rich man, rich man! You will not live forever!
149. Of if only Jupiter could bring back my years gone by!
150. O how difficult are days without peace!
151. If you want to have everything, you'll end up with nothing.
152. He who doesn't shut his mouth more often hears things he doesn't want to hear.
153. The gift of peace is good for all.
154. The small thief is hanged; the big one gets away.
155. Beneath the lamb's skin often lurks a wolf's mind.
156. Through difficulties to glorious things!
157. Through hardships to the stars.
158. Know that knowledge is worth more than wealth.
159. After death we are smoke, dust, and shadow.
160. After three days a fish usually stinks, and so goes a houseguest.
161. After wine come words; after a rain, grass.
162. That which harms, teaches.
163. Let the one who needs fire seek for sparks in the ashes.
164. As the life, so its end.
165. As the king, so the flock.
166. Someone who runs on the ice shows their foolishness.
167. Far from the eyes, far from the light of the heart.
168. All that the snow conceals, the heat of the sun reveals.
169. Someone who loves a frog thinks that the frog is a goddess.
170. What a wolf swallows rarely or never returns.
171. We reap what we sow; we get what we give.
172. As many as the flowers in the field, so many griefs are there in love.
173. When things are going, beware of dangers lurking out of sight.
174. Everyone knows: turds stink worse when stirred.
175. Things are good but skills are better; if things are lost, my skills remain.
176. Don't trust in your master's smile nor in a sunny sky.
177. Often the wolf will come when his name is mentioned.
178. Often even a fool will say something useful.
179. Often an experienced sailor perishes in the midst of the waters.
180. Someone who doesn't pay attention to the light very often stumbles.
181. It is nice to know how to speak, but even more to know how to stay silent.
182. A greedy person is always in need; no amount of money is ever enough.
183. The power of speech is given to all; wisdom of spirit only to a few.
184. It's too late to lock the stable after the robber has robbed you.
185. If you had kept your mouth shut, you could have continued to be a philosopher.
186. If a beard made a well bearded person happy, nobody in this world would be happier than the billy-goat.
187. If you sing to a donkey, he'll reply with a fart from his butt.
188. If you desire peace, still your talking tongue.
189. If you say what you want, you'll hear what you don't want.
190. If you want to be healthy, wash your hands often.
191. If a wolf eats a lamb, it is not big surprise.
192. If you're in the dark, it's helpful to touch things with your hands.
193. A monkey's a monkey even if he's wearing gold medals.
194. No matter what a monkey does, a monkey always a monkey will be.
195. Be great in spirit, and in your character be gentle as a lamb.
196. When the shrewmouse is full, it says the flour tastes nasty.
197. A crime can be concealed but it will not remain unavenged.
198. There are many donkeys who stand on just two feet.
199. You might carry a cat across the sea but it will still say MEOW.
200. Time passes like a flowing wave, as does the hour rushing by.
201. You pay attention to the present; entrust the future to God.
202. Blame others then when you are without blame.
203. Where there's honey, there's bitterness.
204. Where there's agreement, there is victory.
205. The end of the tail is where the deadly poison is kept.
206. The final hour makes us all equals.
207. Howl with the wolves with whom you wish to be.
208. A single fair day soon drives away many a cloud.
209. Why boast? Dust we are, and into the dust we return.
210. As a flower and as the wind, so will pass our youth.
211. As we know birds by their feathers, we know lions by their claws.
212. As you make your bed, so go to sleep on it.
213. Words bind men, as ropes bind the horns of bulls.
214. The true lovers will be one who seeks me more than what is mine.
215. To control your own mind is more than to control the world.
216. The spoken voice dies away but the written letter will remain.
217. The face of fortune changes like the shape of the moon: it grows, shrinks, not knowing how to stay in one place.

Internet Archive Book: Dictionary of American Proverbs

Wolfgang Mieder is one of the world's greatest scholars of proverbs (you can find out more about him at Wikipedia), and you can enjoy his Dictionary of American Proverbs, just a click away at the Internet Archive:

As Mieder and his co-editors, Stewart Kingsbury and Kelsie Harder, explain in the preface, this is not just a compilation of proverbs from previously published collections; instead, the book is based on actual field research in the United States and in parts of Canada. The research process took four decades, and the resulting book contains approximately 15,000 proverbs as actually used in American speech during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

The entries are organized by keywords, and for each entry you can see where the proverb was collected. There are also parallel passages cited for proverbs that appear in previously published collections. Here's the start of the "equality" proverbs for example:

So, if you are curious about American proverbs, this massive volume is a perfect place to start, and you can even use the power of the Internet Archive to search the whole book. If you are interested in foxes for example (I am!), you can find any proverbs that mention the fox beyond just the proverbs listed under the entry for "fox," such as this one in the "dog" section: If the dog hadn't stopped to smell the tree, he would have caught the fox.

Thousands upon thousands of proverbs, just waiting for you to read and enjoy.

Dictionary of American Proverbs

by Wolfgang Mieder,

Stewart Kingsbury and Kelsie Harder