Kala mätänee päästä.
“The fish rots from the head.”
Corruption or failure within a group usually begins with its leadership.
— Traditional Finland Wisdom, Finland
Source: Traditional Finnish proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Finland
No one is a blacksmith when they are born.
Skill and mastery come through practice and effort, not from birth.
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He who reaches for the spruce falls onto the juniper.
Overreaching or being too greedy leads to a worse outcome than staying within your means.
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The morning is wiser than the evening.
It is wiser to sleep on a difficult decision and reconsider it with a fresh mind the next day.
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A dog should not be judged by its fur.
Do not judge people or things by their outward appearance.
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The frost will drive the piglet home.
Hardship and difficult times will eventually bring a wanderer back home or force a stubborn person to yield.
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Misfortune does not come with a bell around its neck.
Accidents and misfortunes strike without warning, so one should always be prepared.
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