Traditional Belgium Wisdom

Als het kalf verdronken is, dempt men de put.

“When the calf has drowned, one fills in the well.”

Taking precautions only after the damage is already done — closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.

Beter een vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht.

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

A modest certain gain is worth more than a large uncertain one.

De appel valt niet ver van de boom.

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

Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.

“Even if a monkey wears a golden ring, it is and remains an ugly thing.”

Fine clothes or wealth cannot disguise an unpleasant nature.

Twee honden aan één been komen zelden overeen.

“Two dogs on one bone seldom agree.”

People rarely share peacefully when competing for the same limited resource.

Met het hoofd tegen de muur lopen.

“To run one's head against the wall.”

To stubbornly attempt something impossible or hopeless.

De kat de bel aanbinden.

“To tie the bell to the cat.”

To be the one who takes on a risky or thankless task on behalf of a group.

Van de os op de ezel springen.

“To jump from the ox onto the donkey.”

To change subject abruptly, or to go from a good situation to a worse one.

Zo gewonnen, zo geronnen.

“So won, so melted.”

Money or gains obtained easily are lost just as easily.

Wie zijn neus schendt, schendt zijn aangezicht.

“He who hurts his nose, hurts his whole face.”

Insulting your own family or group ultimately harms yourself too.

Achter de wolken schijnt de zon.

“Behind the clouds, the sun shines.”

Better times follow hardship, so stay hopeful.

Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd.

“He who does not honor the small is not worthy of the great.”

Appreciate small things and modest efforts before expecting larger rewards.

Zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden.

“Gentle healers make festering wounds.”

Being too lenient when fixing a problem lets it grow worse; sometimes firm action is needed.

De beste stuurlui staan aan wal.

“The best helmsmen stand on the shore.”

It is easy to criticize or give advice when you are not the one doing the difficult task.

Wie kaatst, moet de bal verwachten.

“He who plays at ball must expect the ball back.”

If you provoke or challenge someone, expect a response in kind.

Wat baten kaars en bril, als den uil niet zien en wil.

“What use are a candle and spectacles if the owl does not want to see?”

No amount of help or explanation matters to someone who refuses to understand.

Onkruid vergaat niet.

“Weeds do not perish.”

Resilient or troublesome people and things tend to survive and persist.

Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen.

“When the cat is away, the mice will dance.”

People misbehave or relax discipline when they are not being supervised.

Wie een kuil graaft voor een ander, valt er zelf in.

“He who digs a pit for another falls in it himself.”

Schemes meant to harm others often end up backfiring on the schemer.

Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel.

“However fast a lie runs, the truth catches up with it.”

Lies are eventually exposed no matter how convincing they first seem.

Het regent nooit of het giet.

“It never rains, but it pours.”

Troubles tend to arrive all at once rather than one at a time.

Wie niet waagt, die niet wint.

“He who does not dare, does not win.”

Taking risks is necessary to achieve rewards.

Wie eerst komt, eerst maalt.

“First come, first ground.”

Priority goes to whoever arrives or acts first.

Beter voorkomen dan genezen.

“Better to prevent than to cure.”

Preventing a problem is wiser and easier than fixing it after it occurs.

Men moet het ijzer smeden als het heet is.

“One must forge the iron while it is hot.”

Seize opportunities while conditions are favorable.

Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

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

Steady, patient effort accomplishes big tasks over time.

Qui vole un œuf, vole un bœuf.

“He who steals an egg, steals an ox.”

A small theft reveals a character capable of committing bigger crimes.

Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.

“One should not sell the bear's skin before killing it.”

Do not count on a result or reward before it has actually been achieved.

Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.

“A scalded cat fears even cold water.”

A painful past experience makes a person overly cautious afterward, even in safe situations.

Les bons comptes font les bons amis.

“Good accounts make good friends.”

Being clear and fair about money and debts preserves friendships.

Oost west, thuis best.

“East, west, home is best.”

No matter how far you travel, nothing compares to the comfort of home.

De aanhouder wint.

“The one who persists wins.”

Persistence and refusal to give up eventually bring success.

Wie het laatst lacht, lacht het best.

“He who laughs last, laughs best.”

A final victory or vindication matters more than any early advantage.

Een schip op het strand is een baken in zee.

“A ship stranded on the beach is a beacon at sea.”

Other people's misfortunes serve as warnings that help us avoid the same mistakes.

Waar een wil is, is een weg.

“Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Strong determination will find a path to overcome any obstacle.

Wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen.

“He who says A must also say B.”

Once you commit to the first step of something, you must follow through with the rest.

Oefening baart kunst.

“Practice breeds skill.”

Repeated effort and practice are what create true mastery.

Wie niet horen wil, moet voelen.

“He who will not listen must feel.”

Those who ignore good advice or warnings will learn the hard way through experience.

Zoals de waard is, vertrouwt hij zijn gasten.

“As the innkeeper is, so he trusts his guests.”

People tend to judge and trust others based on their own character.

Wie zijn billen brandt, moet op de blaren zitten.

“He who burns his backside must sit on the blisters.”

You must live with the consequences of your own foolish actions.

Stilzwijgen is toestemmen.

“Silence gives consent.”

Failing to object to something is taken as agreement with it.

De schoenmaker moet bij zijn leest blijven.

“The shoemaker should stick to his last.”

People should stay within their own area of expertise rather than meddle in what they do not know.

Zoveel hoofden, zoveel zinnen.

“As many heads, as many minds.”

Every person has their own opinion, so agreement among many people is rarely simple.

Eigen haard is goud waard.

“One's own hearth is worth gold.”

A home of one's own, however modest, is more precious than any luxury elsewhere.

De kruik gaat zolang te water tot ze breekt.

“The jug goes to the water until it finally breaks.”

Repeating a risky habit will eventually lead to disaster, no matter how often it succeeded before.

Alle begin is moeilijk.

“All beginnings are difficult.”

The start of any new endeavor is naturally the hardest part.

Muren hebben oren.

“Walls have ears.”

Be careful what you say, because someone unseen may always be listening.

Men vangt meer vliegen met honing dan met azijn.

“One catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

Kindness and gentleness persuade people more effectively than harshness.

Een gewaarschuwd man telt voor twee.

“A forewarned man counts for two.”

Knowing about danger in advance doubles your ability to handle it.

De pot verwijt de ketel dat hij zwart ziet.

“The pot blames the kettle for being black.”

Criticizing someone else for a fault you share yourself is pure hypocrisy.