Traditional Georgia Wisdom

“Whatever the wind brings, the wind takes away.”

Wealth or fortune gained by chance can just as easily disappear again.

“He who is in a hurry always arrives late.”

Acting too hastily often causes delays or mistakes rather than saving time.

“The rich eat when they want; the poor eat when they can.”

Wealth grants freedom of choice, while poverty forces people to act on whatever opportunity appears.

“You can conquer the whole world with words, but not with drawn swords.”

Wisdom and persuasion achieve more lasting victories than violence and force.

“You can buy them, but they do not stay bought.”

Loyalty gained through money alone is unreliable and rarely lasts.

“Better to drink from a small well with soft water than from the salty sea.”

A modest, genuine good is worth more than a vast but bitter or unusable abundance.

“You cackle in our place, but you lay your eggs at someone else's place.”

Describes someone whose noise and presence are local, but whose true loyalty or benefit lies elsewhere.

“Whoever I love is the most beautiful.”

Love shapes perception, making the people we care for seem more beautiful than any objective measure could.

“When you put your nose into the water, your cheeks get wet as well.”

Getting involved in something, even a little, brings consequences that reach further than expected.

“When three people say you are drunk, go to sleep.”

When enough people agree on the same observation about you, it is wiser to accept it than to keep arguing.

“Thousands of men were murdered because of their beautiful wives.”

Beauty and jealousy have long been sources of conflict and tragedy.

“The wolf told the dog: it does not matter that I run and you follow me — what matters is that when I turn around, you will be next to me.”

True loyalty is proven not by who leads, but by staying close when it matters most.

“The tall one would not bend, the short one would not stretch, and the kiss was lost.”

When neither side is willing to compromise, a good opportunity is lost for everyone.

“The smile of a rose uplifts the nightingale.”

Beauty and kindness from one person can lift the spirits of another who admires them.

“The rooster said, 'I shall cry, but whether the sun rises, God knows.'”

A person can only do their own part; the ultimate outcome remains beyond their control.

“The right balance depends on the weigher.”

Fairness and honesty depend on the integrity of the person making the judgment.

“The lucky fellow loses his wife; the unlucky fellow loses his horse.”

The same kind of loss can be relatively fortunate or unfortunate depending on what a person values most.

“The eyeless ant asked God: give me eyelashes.”

People sometimes ask for refinements to things they do not yet even possess the basics of.

“The dog was asked, 'Why do you bark?' 'To scare away the wolves,' he said.”

A habit that seems small or annoying often serves a real, protective purpose.

“The cat would eat fish, but she would not wet her feet.”

Describes someone who wants a reward without being willing to make the necessary effort or sacrifice.

“The cat which did not reach the sausage said, 'Anyhow, it is Friday.'”

People often invent excuses to make peace with what they cannot obtain, much like the fable of the fox and the sour grapes.

“The buzzing of the flies does not turn them into bees.”

Loud noise or activity does not make something valuable; true worth is not proven by noise alone.

“Only the mute can silence the chatterer.”

Reasoning rarely stops a person who talks too much; sometimes only a firm refusal to engage works.

“One dirty pig pollutes the others.”

A single bad influence can corrupt or drag down an entire group.

“One blind man followed the other, and they both fell into the ditch.”

Following an equally uninformed leader leads everyone astray together.

“Mewing cats catch no mice.”

Talking about work accomplishes nothing; only quiet, focused effort brings results.

“Men prefer another man's wife, but love their own sons more.”

People often desire what belongs to others while cherishing their own family above all.

“In a place without dogs, they teach the cats to bark.”

When the right tool or person is missing, people make do with whatever they have, however imperfect.

“If you give a man nuts, then give him something to crack them with.”

A gift is only truly useful if it comes with the means to actually use it.

“If you forgive the fox for stealing your chickens, he will take your sheep next.”

Tolerating a small wrongdoing invites a much larger one.

“If the moon helps me, I will scoff at the stars.”

With a powerful ally on your side, lesser opposition becomes unimportant.

“'I have a lot to say,' said the fish, 'but my mouth is full of water.'”

Circumstances sometimes prevent a person from speaking, even when they have much to express.

“God laughs at man's plans.”

Human plans often turn out very differently from what was intended.

“God is the comfort of the poor.”

Faith provides hope and consolation to those with little else to rely on.

“Give a blind man eyes, and he will ask for eyebrows.”

Some people are never satisfied, always wanting more once a wish is already granted.

“Do not blame the sun for the darkness of the night.”

Do not blame someone or something for a problem that is not actually their fault.

“Catch the bird before you build the cage.”

Prepare only after securing the actual opportunity; do not plan around something not yet achieved.

“Blood vessels are not cleaned with blood.”

Violence cannot undo the harm that violence has already caused.

“Beware of the front of a bull, the back of a horse, and both sides of a blind man.”

Certain dangers are unpredictable from any angle, so caution is always wise.

“Better your own copper than another man's gold.”

Something modest that truly belongs to you is worth more than something grand that belongs to someone else.

“A Tatar says to a Tatar: call me Aga, and I will call you Aga, and we shall both be Agas.”

Mutual flattery lets people elevate one another's status, whether or not it is truly deserved.

“A mother will understand what her mute son says.”

Deep love and closeness allow understanding even without clear words.

“A golden plate is worth nothing to me when my blood is spilled on it.”

No wealth or reward can compensate for violence or the loss of life.

“A communal field is ruined by the bears.”

Property or responsibility shared by everyone is often protected by no one.

ახალი ცოცხი კარგად ჰგვის, ძველი მოატანს ქვიშასა.

“A new broom sweeps clean.”

New tools, workers, or arrangements start out diligent and effective, though enthusiasm may fade with time.

ყვავი ჩხიკვის მამიდა.

“A raven is the aunt of a jay.”

Describes a distant, technical family relation between people who are not actually close.

სად ყოფილა ძაღლის თავი დამარხული.

“That is where the dog's head is buried.”

Refers to uncovering the real, hidden truth at the heart of a matter.

ბედნიერ ვარსკვლავზე ხარ დაბადებული.

“She was born under a happy star.”

Describes someone considered naturally fortunate or blessed with good luck.

შენს პირს შაქარი.

“Sugar to your mouth.”

A warm reply to good news, wishing that the speaker's hopeful words come true.