Latvia — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Ābols no ābeles tālu nekrīt.

“The apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Aiz kokiem neredzēt mežu.

“Behind the trees, one cannot see the forest.”

Focusing too closely on small details can make you lose sight of the bigger picture.

Ceļš uz elli ir bruģēts ar labiem nodomiem.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Good intentions alone are not enough; they must be followed by right action.

Dievam trīs lietas patīkamas.

“God finds three things pleasing; all good things come in threes.”

Good fortune and blessings are often said to arrive in a set of three.

Divus zaķus reizē ķerdams nevienu nenoķersi.

“Chase two hares at once and you will catch neither.”

Trying to do two things at the same time often means failing at both.

Dumjš tas putns, kam sava ligzda nav mīļa.

“Foolish is the bird that does not cherish its own nest.”

It is unwise to speak ill of one's own home, family, or people in front of others.

Dzirdi daudz, runā maz.

“Hear much, speak little.”

Listening more than talking is a mark of wisdom and self-control.

Iedosi velnam mazo pirkstiņu, paņems visu roku.

“Give the devil your little finger and he will take your whole hand.”

A small compromise with wrongdoing can quickly grow into something much larger.

Kas nestrādā, tam nebūs ēst.

“He who does not work shall not eat.”

One is only entitled to the fruits of labor after putting in genuine effort.

Kā vecie svilpo, tā jaunie danco.

“As the old ones whistle, so the young ones dance.”

Younger generations follow the example set for them by their elders.

Kā sauc, tā atskan.

“As you call into the forest, so it echoes back.”

How you treat others is generally how you will be treated in return.

Kāda māte, tāda meita.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

Daughters often inherit their mother's looks and character.

Kāds tēvs, tāds dēls.

“Like father, like son.”

Sons often inherit their father's looks and character.

Kam niez, tas kasās.

“Whoever itches, scratches himself.”

If a remark applies to you, you will react to it, whether or not it named you.

Kur divi, tur trešais lieks.

“Where there are two, a third is one too many.”

Some situations, especially close relationships, do not welcome an outsider.

Kur tievs, tur trūkst.

“Where the thread is thin, that is where it breaks.”

A weak point will always be the first to fail, so overall strength depends on the weakest part.

Labāk godīgi mirt, nekā negodīgi dzīvot.

“Better to die honestly than to live dishonestly.”

Integrity matters more than survival at any cost.

Laiks ir nauda.

“Time is money.”

Time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.

Lielā zivs mazo rij.

“The big fish devours the small one.”

The powerful tend to overpower or absorb the weak.

Ne viss ir zelts, kas spīd.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

A pleasing appearance does not always reflect true value.

No tukšām runām vēders pilnāks netiek.

“Empty talk does not fill the belly.”

Words alone accomplish nothing without real action behind them.

Sargi savu godu no jaunām dienām.

“Guard your honor from your youngest days.”

A good reputation must be protected carefully from an early age, as it is easily lost.

Sargi sevi pats, tad Dievs tevi sargās.

“Guard yourself, and God will guard you.”

Those in difficulty should first do everything within their own power to help themselves.

Sveši dūmi acis grauž.

“Foreign smoke stings the eyes.”

One's own home and people are more comfortable than any place abroad, however grand it looks.

Vārna vārnai acī neknābj.

“A crow does not peck out another crow's eye.”

Those who are alike, especially wrongdoers, tend to protect one another.

Veca mīlestība nerūs.

“Old love does not rust.”

Deep affection from the past can endure and resurface even after a long time.

Zirgam četras kājas ir tad vēl klūp.

“A horse has four legs, and still it stumbles.”

Anyone, however capable or well prepared, can still make a mistake.

Pulkā pat mirt nav grūti.

“Even dying is not hard in a crowd.”

Hardship, even the greatest, feels lighter when it is shared with others.

Katrs savas laimes kalējs.

“Everyone is the blacksmith of their own fortune.”

Each person is responsible for shaping their own success and happiness through their own effort.

Rīts gudrāks par vakaru.

“Morning is wiser than evening.”

A difficult decision is better made after a night's rest, when the mind is clearer.