Proverb facts for kids
A proverb is a short, wise saying that shares a truth or a piece of advice. Think of them as little lessons passed down through generations. Many cultures around the world have their own special collections of proverbs. For example, the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament is a famous collection, believed to have been written by King Solomon of Israel.
Contents
What Are Proverbs?
Proverbs are like small, easy-to-remember sentences that give you good advice or explain a common truth. They often use simple language and can be about everyday things. People have used proverbs for thousands of years to teach important ideas and values to others.
Famous Proverbs and Their Meanings
Here are some well-known proverbs. They offer wisdom about life, work, and how to be a good person.
| „ | Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. | “ |
This proverb suggests that going to bed early and waking up early helps you stay healthy, become successful, and gain knowledge.
| „ | It’s no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. | “ |
This means it's pointless to try and fix a problem after the damage has already been done. It's better to prevent issues in the first place.
| „ | Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone. | “ |
This proverb points out that people are more likely to join you in happiness, but you often face sadness by yourself.
| „ | See a pin and pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck; see a pin and let it lie, bad luck you’ll have all day. | “ |
This is a traditional saying about luck, suggesting that finding and picking up a pin brings good fortune.
| „ | ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. | “ |
This proverb means that even if a loving relationship ends, the experience of having loved is still valuable and better than never experiencing love at all.
| „ | Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace, |
“ |
This is a traditional rhyme that describes the personality traits of children based on the day of the week they were born.
Why Are Proverbs Important?
Proverbs are important because they:
- Teach lessons: They pass down wisdom from older generations.
- Share culture: They show what a group of people believes is important.
- Help communication: They can make a point quickly and clearly.
- Show history: They often reflect how people lived in the past.
Images for kids
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From the French proverbial phrase "Je me mêle des oies ferrées"—"I concern myself/meddle with shoeing geese." From a misericord at the Abbey of Saint Martin aux Bois (Oise), France
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"Pearls before Swine", Latin proverb on platter at the Louvre
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"The cobbler should stick to his last" in German. It is also an old proverb in English, but now "last" is no longer known to many.
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Latin proverb overdoorway in Netherlands: "No one attacks me with impunity"
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The Blind Leading the Blind by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
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"Hercules and the Wagoner", illustration for children's book
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Play poster from 1899.
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The Mighty Diamonds, singers of "Proverbs"
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Proverb on tiles in Trancoso, Portugal
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The King drinks by Jacob Jordaens
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Thai ceramic, illustrating "Don't torch a stump with a hornet nest."
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Netherlandish Proverbs, 1559, with peasant scenes illustrating over 100 proverbs
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Big Fish Eat Little Fish
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Illustrations showing proverbs from Ben Franklin
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Three wise monkeys, invoking a proverb, with no text.
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Anti-proverb used in advertising Chick-Fil-A
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Anti-proverb used in advertising
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Billboard outside defense plant during WWII, invoking the proverb of the three wise monkeys to urge security.
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Wordless depiction of "Big fish eat little fish", Buenos Aires, urging, "Don't panic, organize."
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Chinese proverb. It says, "Learn till old, live till old, and there is still three-tenths not learned," meaning that no matter how old you are, there is still more learning or studying left to do.
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Thai proverb depicted visually at a temple, "Better a monk"
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Scroll of the Biblical Book of Proverbs
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A sample of books used in the study of proverbs.
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Erasmus (1466–1536)
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Juan de Mal Lara (1524-1571)
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Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther (c.1809-1891)
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Elias Lönnrot (1802 – 1884)
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Samuel Adalberg (1868-1939)
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Dimitrios Loukatos (1908–2003)
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Wolfgang Mieder
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Mineke Schipper
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Galit Hasan-Rokem
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Dora Sakayan
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Joe Healey
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Andrzej Halemba
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See also
In Spanish: Proverbio para niños
