Saint Martin — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

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

Patient, steady effort accumulates into something substantial over time.

Qui vole un œuf, vole un bœuf.

“He who steals an egg will steal an ox.”

A small dishonest act reveals a character capable of much greater wrongdoing.

L'habit ne fait pas le moine.

“The habit does not make the monk.”

Outward appearance does not reveal a person's true nature or worth.

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 the rewards of something before it has actually been achieved.

Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.

“A scalded cat fears even cold water.”

A painful past experience can make someone overly cautious, even about something harmless.

Les bons comptes font les bons amis.

“Good accounts make good friends.”

Being clear and honest about money and debts helps preserve friendships.

Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour.

“Rome was not built in a day.”

Significant achievements take time and cannot be rushed.

Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête.

“He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.”

Reckless or provocative actions bring severe and disproportionate consequences.

Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.

“To want is to be able.”

Strong determination is often the key to achieving what seems difficult.

Après la pluie, le beau temps.

“After the rain comes good weather.”

Difficult times are always followed by better ones.

Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

“Better late than never.”

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

Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.

“He who risks nothing has nothing.”

Nothing of value can be gained without taking some risk.

Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

Constantly moving from one thing to another prevents a person from settling or building something lasting.

Tel père, tel fils.

“Like father, like son.”

Children often take after their parents in character and behavior.

Les murs ont des oreilles.

“The walls have ears.”

Be careful what you say in private, because someone may be listening.

L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.

“Money does not make happiness.”

Wealth alone cannot guarantee a fulfilling and contented life.

Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.

“Well-ordered charity begins with oneself.”

One must first take care of one's own needs before being able to properly help others.

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

“One must strike while the iron is hot.”

Take advantage of the right opportunity while it lasts, before it disappears.

Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.

“One 'here it is' is worth more than two 'you shall have it'.”

A small, certain gain is worth more than the promise of a larger, uncertain one.

Chacun voit midi à sa porte.

“Everyone sees noon at their own door.”

Each person tends to judge situations according to their own interests and point of view.

Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.

“Far from the eyes, far from the heart.”

Physical distance and absence gradually weaken emotional bonds and memory.

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.

Ce n'est pas la mer à boire.

“It is not the sea one must drink.”

A task is rarely as difficult or overwhelming as it first appears.

Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.

“There is no smoke without fire.”

Rumors or suspicions usually have some basis in truth.

Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

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