Yemen Proverbs (50)

“If speech is silver, silence is golden.”

Knowing when to stay quiet is often wiser than speaking.

“Compete, do not envy.”

Strive to improve yourself rather than resent others' success.

“Whatever you sow, so shall you reap.”

Your actions determine the consequences you will receive.

“He who claims every trade is a liar.”

A person who claims mastery of every skill likely masters none.

“A well-experienced man is better than one who has studied for a year.”

Practical experience outweighs a short period of study.

“He who rises early always wins.”

Diligence and an early start lead to success.

“Even a fool grows wise through marriage.”

Responsibility and partnership can mature even an immature person.

“Two bald men quarreled over a comb.”

People sometimes argue fiercely over something neither of them actually needs.

“A dog is a lion at his own door.”

A coward often acts brave only on familiar, safe ground.

“Judge people by their conduct, not by their appearance.”

True character is revealed through actions, not looks.

“A bird in the hand is worth ten in the tree.”

What you already have is more valuable than a greater but uncertain prize.

“A single destroyer can ruin the work of a thousand potters.”

Destruction takes far less effort than creation.

“The mule driver never notices the stink of his own animals.”

Familiarity blinds people to their own faults.

“Sana'a is a must, however long the journey takes.”

Some destinations or goals are worth reaching no matter the distance or hardship.

“Do not sigh, or your enemy will hear and rejoice.”

Do not reveal weakness or sorrow to those who wish you ill.

“Put your hand on thorns, but never hold it out to beg.”

Hard, even painful, work is more honorable than depending on charity.

“Tie your camel first, then place your trust in God.”

Faith should be paired with practical effort and personal responsibility.

“If you have honey, do not lick the pot clean.”

Practice moderation and leave something for others, even when you have plenty.

“A near neighbor is better than a distant brother.”

Those close to us in daily life often help us sooner than distant family.

“He who cannot help himself cannot help others.”

Self-reliance is the foundation for being able to support others.

“Work like an ant, and you will eat sugar.”

Steady, humble effort eventually brings sweet rewards.

“From a pound of talk comes only an ounce of understanding.”

Excessive talking rarely produces real insight or wisdom.

“He who wants everything gets nothing.”

Greed and lack of focus can leave a person empty-handed.

“Every sickness begins in the stomach.”

Good health starts with careful, moderate eating.

“He who talks too much is not respected.”

Restraint in speech earns more respect than constant talking.

“A friend in time of need is a friend indeed.”

True friendship is proven when someone helps you in hardship.

“A stranger in a new land should be well-behaved.”

Guests and travelers earn welcome through respectful conduct.

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

Do not criticize others for faults you share yourself.

“Too many cooks spoil the rice.”

Too many people directing one task often ruin the result.

“Health, like any living thing, needs to be fed and cared for.”

Wellbeing requires ongoing care and cannot be taken for granted.

“Lend to good people, and they will not disappoint you.”

Trust placed in a person of good character is rarely betrayed.

“Eat whatever pleases you, but wear what pleases others.”

Personal taste can be private, but public appearance is shaped by social custom.

“Time always demands work; when will there ever be rest?”

Life's duties are constant, leaving little room for idleness.

“He tried to cure a sick eye and made it blind instead.”

A poorly chosen remedy can make a problem worse than before.

“If you want peace, shut the door the wind blows through.”

Remove yourself from the known source of trouble to find peace.

“Save a white coin for a black day.”

Set something aside in good times to prepare for hardship.

“A sick person is a prisoner.”

Illness confines a person just as surely as captivity.

“Give people nuts, and they may throw the shells back at you.”

Generosity is not always met with gratitude.

“Pity the stranger, even if he is rich.”

Someone far from home deserves compassion regardless of their wealth.

“Do not play with a snake and call it a worm.”

Do not underestimate something genuinely dangerous.

“The master of the people is their servant.”

A true leader serves the community rather than ruling over it.

“In its mother's eyes, a monkey looks like a gazelle.”

A parent's love sees beauty and worth in a child regardless of others' opinions.

“A blind woman dyes a mad woman's hands with henna, while a deaf woman listens in.”

Describes a hopelessly contradictory or nonsensical situation where nothing adds up.

“He who has a sooty nose pretends he is a blacksmith.”

A person puts on the appearance of a skill or status they do not really have.

“An hour for my Lord, an hour for my heart, and an hour to bless the Prophet.”

A balanced life sets aside time for worship, for personal feeling, and for faith alike.

“Neither the married are at peace, nor the unmarried are at ease.”

Every stage of life carries its own struggles; no path is free of hardship.

“A bride rides in the wedding procession; only God knows to whom she will be wed.”

Much of life's outcome is beyond anyone's own control or foresight.

“Do not weep for the dead, but weep for the one who has lost his mind.”

A mind broken by grief or madness is a more sorrowful state than death itself.

“Better a brother born to a dog than no brother at all.”

Companionship or backing from an unlikely source still beats having none.

“If you go to a butcher for news, he will make it sound far bigger than it is.”

Some people cannot help exaggerating whatever news they repeat.