Lithuania — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Kaip pasiklosi, taip išmiegosi.

“As you make your bed, so shall you sleep in it.”

The way you prepare for something determines the outcome you will experience.

Lašas po lašo ir akmenį pratašo.

“Drop by drop wears away the stone.”

Small, persistent efforts can eventually accomplish even the hardest tasks.

Ne viskas auksas, kas auksu žiba.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always truly valuable.

Rytas vakaro protingesnis.

“Morning is wiser than evening.”

Difficult decisions are best made after a night's rest, when the mind is clearer.

Viena galva gerai, o dvi – geriau.

“One head is good, but two are better.”

Working together and sharing ideas produces better results than acting alone.

Šaukštai geri po pietų.

“Spoons are good after dinner.”

Help or advice offered after the need has passed is of little use.

Kas anksti keliasi, tam Dievas duoda.

“Who rises early, God gives to.”

Diligence and an early start are rewarded with good fortune.

Be darbo duonos nevalgysi.

“Without work, you will not eat bread.”

A livelihood must be earned through honest labor.

Kas nesėja, tas nepjauna.

“Who does not sow does not reap.”

Without effort invested beforehand, there can be no reward afterward.

Kiekvienas savo laimės kalvis.

“Everyone is the smith of their own fortune.”

A person's happiness and success are shaped by their own effort and choices.

Darbas žmogų puošia.

“Work adorns a person.”

Honest labor brings dignity and honor to those who perform it.

Nelaimė viena nevaikšto.

“Misfortune never walks alone.”

Troubles often arrive in succession rather than one at a time.

Obuolys nuo obels netoli rieda.

“The apple rolls not far from the apple tree.”

Children often resemble their parents in character and habits.

Geriau vėliau negu niekada.

“Better late than never.”

Completing something after a delay is still better than never doing it.

Draugas pažįstamas nelaimėje.

“A friend is known in misfortune.”

True friendship is proven not in comfort but in times of hardship and need.

Nėra dūmų be ugnies.

“There is no smoke without fire.”

Rumors and suspicions usually have some basis in truth.

Šuo loja, vėjas nešioja.

“The dog barks, and the wind carries it away.”

Idle criticism and gossip fade away and should not be taken to heart.

Gera pradžia – pusė darbo.

“A good beginning is half the work.”

Starting a task well makes the rest of it much easier to complete.

Ko šiandien gali padaryti, nepalik rytojui.

“What you can do today, do not leave for tomorrow.”

Delaying tasks that can be finished now only creates unnecessary burden later.

Kokia motina, tokia ir duktė.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

Children tend to inherit the traits and habits of their parents.

Kalbėk mažiau, dirbk daugiau.

“Talk less, work more.”

Actions and results matter more than words and promises.

Katinui žaidimas, pelei mirtis.

“Play for the cat, death for the mouse.”

What is harmless amusement for one party can be a serious ordeal for another.

Nesakyk "op", kol neperšokai.

“Do not say "hop" until you have jumped over.”

Do not celebrate success before a task or challenge is genuinely finished.

Vienas lauke ne karys.

“One man in the field is not a warrior.”

A single person acting alone cannot achieve what a group working together can.

Kur du pešasi, trečias laimi.

“Where two are fighting, the third one wins.”

Conflict between two parties often benefits an outside third party the most.

Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų, Tu didvyrių žeme!

“Lithuania, our fatherland, land of heroes!”

The opening line of Lithuania's national anthem, expressing devotion to the homeland and its history of heroism.