Cambodia — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

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

“When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.”

ទឹកឡើងត្រីស៊ីស្រមោច ទឹកហោចស្រមោចស៊ីត្រី

Source: Traditional Khmer proverb (សុភាសិត), public-domain oral tradition

“Keep company with the wise and gain wisdom; keep company with fools and gain sorrow.”

គប់នឹងបណ្ឌិត បានប្រាជ្ញា គប់នឹងពាល បានវេទនា

Source: Traditional Khmer proverb (សុភាសិត), public-domain oral tradition

“A falling leaf lands not far from its trunk.”

ស្លឹកឈើជ្រុះ មិនឆ្ងាយពីគល់

Source: Traditional Khmer proverb (សុភាសិត), public-domain oral tradition