Greece Proverbs (10)

Traditional proverbs of Greece in Khmer and English — each with its meaning and source.

Όποιος βιάζεται σκοντάφτει.

“He who is in a hurry stumbles.”

Acting too hastily leads to mistakes and setbacks.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Κάλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ.

“Better late than never.”

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

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Ο πνιγμένος από τα μαλλιά του πιάνεται.

“The drowning man clutches at his own hair.”

A desperate person will grasp at any hope, however unrealistic.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Μια του κλέφτη, δυο του κλέφτη, τρεις και την κακή του μέρα.

“Once a thief, twice a thief, the third time is his unlucky day.”

Wrongdoing repeated will eventually be caught and punished.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Όποιος καεί στο χυλό, φυσάει και το γιαούρτι.

“He who was burned on porridge blows even on yogurt.”

A painful past experience makes a person overly cautious afterward.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Φασούλι το φασούλι, γεμίζει το σακούλι.

“Bean by bean, the sack gets filled.”

Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Το μήλο κάτω απ' τη μηλιά θα πέσει.

“The apple will fall beneath the apple tree.”

Children take after their parents in character and behavior.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Ό,τι σπείρεις θα θερίσεις.

“Whatever you sow, you shall reap.”

Your actions determine the results you will eventually receive.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει και κόκαλα τσακίζει.

“The tongue has no bones, yet it crushes bones.”

Words, though soft, can wound deeply and carry great power.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition

Άνθρωπος αγράμματος, ξύλο απελέκητο.

“An illiterate person is like an unhewn log.”

Education and learning refine and shape a person's worth.

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Source: Traditional Greek proverb, public-domain oral tradition