France — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

“Little by little, the bird builds its nest.”

Great results are achieved gradually through patient, consistent effort.

L'habit ne fait pas le moine.

“The habit does not make the monk.”

Outward appearances do not reveal a person's true character.

Qui vivra verra.

“He who lives shall see.”

The future is uncertain and only time will reveal what happens.

Après la pluie, le beau temps.

“After the rain, fine weather.”

Hardship is followed by better times, so keep hope.

Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.

“One must not sell the bear's skin before killing it.”

Do not count on something before you actually have it.

Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

“Better late than never.”

Doing something after a delay is preferable to never doing it at all.

Les murs ont des oreilles.

“The walls have ears.”

Be careful what you say, as you may be overheard.

Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.

“A scalded cat fears cold water.”

A bad experience makes one overly cautious even in safe situations.

L'appétit vient en mangeant.

“Appetite comes with eating.”

Desire or interest grows as one begins and continues an activity.

Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.

“To want is to be able.”

With enough determination, a person can accomplish their goal.

Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.

“He who goes hunting loses his place.”

If you step away from your position, someone else may take it while you are gone.

Tel père, tel fils.

“Like father, like son.”

Children often resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Chacun voit midi à sa porte.

“Everyone sees noon at their own door.”

People judge things according to their own perspective and self-interest.

Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.

“Out of sight, out of mind.”

Physical absence causes affection or memory to fade over time.

Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête.

“Whoever sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.”

Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring severe consequences.

Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

A person who never settles down builds neither wealth nor stability.

L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.

“Money does not make happiness.”

Wealth alone cannot bring true contentment.

Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.

“There is no smoke without fire.”

Rumors or suspicions usually have some basis in truth.

Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.

“He who risks nothing has nothing.”

Without taking risks, one cannot achieve significant gains.

Les bons comptes font les bons amis.

“Good accounts make good friends.”

Being clear and honest about money keeps friendships strong.

Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.

“What you already have is worth more than two things you are only promised.”

It is better to hold onto something certain than to risk it chasing a bigger, uncertain gain.

Rira bien qui rira le dernier.

“He who laughs last laughs best.”

The final outcome matters more than early triumphs, so do not celebrate too soon.

Chose promise, chose due.

“A promise made is a debt owed.”

Once you promise something, you are obligated to deliver it.

Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.

“One must strike the iron while it is hot.”

Act on an opportunity while conditions are favorable.

Qui aime bien châtie bien.

“He who loves well, punishes well.”

True affection sometimes requires firm discipline.

Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera.

“Help yourself, and heaven will help you.”

Take action on your own behalf rather than waiting passively for outside help.

Autres temps, autres mœurs.

“Other times, other customs.”

Social norms and practices change as eras change.

Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés.

“The shoemakers are the worst shod.”

People often neglect to apply their own expertise to their own lives.

Ventre affamé n'a point d'oreilles.

“A hungry belly has no ears.”

A person in great need cannot be reasoned with until that need is met.

Il vaut mieux prévenir que guérir.

“It is better to prevent than to cure.”

Taking precautions is wiser than fixing problems after they occur.

Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

“All that glitters is not gold.”

Appearances can be deceiving; not everything valuable-looking is truly valuable.

Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.

“Well-ordered charity begins with oneself.”

One should first take care of one's own needs before helping others.

Deux avis valent mieux qu'un.

“Two opinions are worth more than one.”

Seeking a second perspective leads to better decisions.

L'union fait la force.

“Unity makes strength.”

People achieve more and are stronger when they act together.

Les grands esprits se rencontrent.

“Great minds meet.”

People of similar intelligence or insight often arrive at the same idea independently.

Nécessité fait loi.

“Necessity makes law.”

In times of great need, normal rules may have to be set aside.

Paris ne s'est pas fait en un jour.

“Paris was not built in a day.”

Great achievements take time and cannot be rushed.

Qui trop embrasse mal étreint.

“He who grasps too much holds on to little.”

Trying to take on too much at once often results in losing everything.

Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.

“One must not put the plow before the oxen.”

Do things in their proper order; do not act prematurely.

On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs.

“One cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.”

Achieving a goal often requires some sacrifice or disruption along the way.

Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.

“The game is not worth the candle.”

An effort or risk is not worthwhile given how small the reward would be.

Qui dort dîne.

“He who sleeps, dines.”

Sleep can ease hunger and stand in for a meal when food is scarce.

Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.

“Everything comes in time to those who know how to wait.”

Patience is eventually rewarded.

Il n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.

“There is no one deafer than the one who does not want to hear.”

People who refuse to listen are more stubborn than those who genuinely cannot hear.

Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.

“Little streams make great rivers.”

Small contributions accumulate over time to create something large.

Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire.

“When the wine is drawn, it must be drunk.”

Once a course of action has begun, one must see it through to the end.

Qui se ressemble s'assemble.

“Those who resemble each other gather together.”

People with similar characters or interests tend to associate with one another.

Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler.

“One must turn one's tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.”

Think carefully before you speak.

Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas.

“The days follow one another and are not alike.”

Circumstances change constantly; each day can bring something different.

Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.

“Ill-gotten gains never profit.”

Wealth obtained dishonestly will not bring lasting benefit.