The words of Switzerland

Switzerland — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Real words from the people of Switzerland, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.

“The morning hour has gold in its mouth.”

Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“Whoever rests, rusts.”

Wer rastet, der rostet.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“Speech is silver, silence is gold.”

Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“The apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“Practice makes the master.”

Übung macht den Meister.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“Lies have short legs.”

Lügen haben kurze Beine.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“Clothes make people.”

Kleider machen Leute.

Source: German-language proverb; also the title of the 1874 novella by Swiss writer Gottfried Keller

“Not everything that glitters is gold.”

Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“To make an elephant out of a mosquito.”

Aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition

“What the farmer does not know, he will not eat.”

Was der Bauer nicht kennt, das frisst er nicht.

Source: Traditional German-language proverb widely used in Switzerland, public-domain oral tradition