Sweden — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Borta bra men hemma bäst.

“Away is good, but home is best.”

No matter how pleasant travel or other places may be, one's own home is the most comfortable and cherished.

Lagom är bäst.

“Moderation is best.”

The ideal is neither too little nor too much but a balanced, sufficient amount — the uniquely Swedish notion of 'lagom'.

Morgonstund har guld i mun.

“The morning hour has gold in its mouth.”

Rising early and starting work in the morning brings reward and productivity.

Bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen.

“Better one bird in the hand than ten in the forest.”

A small certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain possibility.

Ju fler kockar, desto sämre soppa.

“The more cooks, the worse the soup.”

Too many people involved in one task spoil the result.

Man ska inte gå över ån efter vatten.

“One should not cross the stream to fetch water.”

Do not seek far away what is already close at hand; avoid making things needlessly complicated.

Den som gapar över mycket mister ofta hela stycket.

“He who gapes for too much often loses the whole piece.”

Being greedy and reaching for too much at once can cost you everything.

Man saknar inte kon förrän båset är tomt.

“You do not miss the cow until the stall is empty.”

People often fail to appreciate what they have until it is gone.

Alla känner apan, men apan känner ingen.

“Everyone knows the monkey, but the monkey knows no one.”

A well-known or notorious person is recognised by many, though they themselves know few of those people.

Ensam är stark.

“Alone is strong.”

An independent person who relies on themselves can be resilient and powerful — though it is also used ironically about the limits of going it alone.

Man ska inte döma hunden efter håren.

“One should not judge the dog by its fur.”

Do not judge someone or something by outward appearance alone.

Skomakare, bliv vid din läst.

“Shoemaker, stick to your last.”

Stay within your own area of expertise and do not meddle in matters you do not understand.

Den som inget vågar, inget vinner.

“He who risks nothing, wins nothing.”

Without taking risks, one cannot achieve great rewards.

Var och en är sin egen lyckas smed.

“Everyone is the smith of their own fortune.”

A person's success or failure in life depends largely on their own effort.

Ingen rök utan eld.

“There is no smoke without fire.”

Rumors or suspicions usually have some basis in truth.

Övning ger färdighet.

“Practice gives skill.”

Repeated effort and practice are what make a person skilled.

Tala är silver, tiga är guld.

“Speech is silver, silence is golden.”

Knowing when to stay quiet is often more valuable than speaking.

Man ska inte sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten.

“One should not sell the bear's skin before the bear is shot.”

Do not count on the outcome of something before it has actually happened.

Nöden är uppfinningarnas moder.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Difficult circumstances force people to find creative solutions.

Bättre sent än aldrig.

“Better late than never.”

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

Den som viskar, ljuger.

“He who whispers, lies.”

Gossip spread in secret whispers is rarely trustworthy.

Kärlek är blind.

“Love is blind.”

People in love often fail to see the faults of the one they love.

Man ska smida medan järnet är varmt.

“One should strike while the iron is hot.”

Act on an opportunity while conditions are favorable.

Alla goda ting är tre.

“All good things come in threes.”

Good things are believed to happen or come in a set of three.

Den som sig i leken ger, får leken tåla.

“He who joins the game must endure the game.”

Whoever chooses to take part in something must accept its consequences.

Det är ingen ko på isen så länge rumpan är i land.

“There is no cow on the ice, as long as its tail is still on land.”

There is no need to worry yet, since real danger has not actually arrived.

Man vet vad man har, men inte vad man får.

“You know what you have, but not what you will get.”

It is safer to keep what is certain than to risk it for something uncertain.

Liten tuva stjälper ofta stort lass.

“A small tussock can often overturn a large load.”

A seemingly minor obstacle or detail can cause a big failure.

Den som bor i glashus ska inte kasta sten.

“He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.”

Do not criticize others for faults you share yourself.

Var dag har nog av sin egen plåga.

“Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

There is no need to worry in advance about tomorrow's problems.

Bättre fly än illa fäkta.

“Better to flee than to fight badly.”

It is wiser to retreat from a fight you cannot win well than to struggle uselessly.

Det som göms i snö kommer upp i tö.

“What is hidden in the snow comes up in the thaw.”

Secrets and wrongdoing eventually come to light.

Man ska ta seden dit man kommer.

“One should adopt the customs of the place one visits.”

When somewhere new, it is wise to follow local customs.

Allt är inte guld som glimmar.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

Something that looks impressive is not always genuinely valuable.

Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig.

“Old love never rusts.”

Deep affection from the past can be rekindled even after a long time.

Tiden läker alla sår.

“Time heals all wounds.”

Painful experiences and grief tend to fade with the passing of time.

En olycka kommer sällan ensam.

“Misfortune seldom comes alone.”

When something bad happens, more troubles often follow soon after.

Munnen går före förståndet.

“The mouth goes before understanding.”

People sometimes speak before they have thought things through.

Den som gräver en grop åt andra faller ofta själv däri.

“He who digs a pit for others often falls into it himself.”

Trying to harm others through deceit often backfires on the one who tries it.

Bättre stämma i bäcken än i ån.

“Better to dam the stream than the river.”

It is easier to stop a problem while it is still small than after it has grown large.

Ropa inte hej förrän du är över bäcken.

“Do not shout hooray before you are across the brook.”

Do not celebrate success before it is truly secured.

Kärt barn har många namn.

“A beloved child has many names.”

Something or someone that is cherished tends to be known by many different names or nicknames.

Man ska höra bägge sidor innan man dömer.

“One should hear both sides before judging.”

Fair judgment requires listening to every perspective, not just one.

Den som spar han har.

“He who saves, has.”

Careful saving today provides security for the future.

Som man sår får man skörda.

“As you sow, so shall you reap.”

The results you get in life reflect the effort and choices you put in.

Sätta bocken till trädgårdsmästare.

“To make the goat the gardener.”

Putting someone in charge of exactly the thing they are most likely to abuse or destroy.

Ett gott skratt förlänger livet.

“A good laugh lengthens life.”

Laughter and good humor are said to be good for a long, healthy life.

Vad hjärtat är fullt av, det talar munnen.

“Out of what the heart is full of, the mouth speaks.”

People naturally talk about the things that matter most to them.

En rullande sten samlar ingen mossa.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

A person who never settles down or commits to one thing accumulates neither possessions nor stability.

Skynda långsamt.

“Hurry slowly.”

Even when acting quickly, one should proceed with care to avoid mistakes.