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.
— Traditional Saint-Martin Wisdom, Saint Martin
Source: Traditional French proverb, public-domain oral tradition
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Little by little, the bird builds its nest.
Patient, steady effort accumulates into something substantial over time.
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He who steals an egg will steal an ox.
A small dishonest act reveals a character capable of much greater wrongdoing.
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The habit does not make the monk.
Outward appearance does not reveal a person's true nature or worth.
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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.
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Good accounts make good friends.
Being clear and honest about money and debts helps preserve friendships.
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Rome was not built in a day.
Significant achievements take time and cannot be rushed.
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