Traditional Iran Wisdom

قطره قطره جمع گردد وانگهی دریا شود

“Drop by drop it gathers, and then it becomes a sea.”

Small, consistent contributions accumulate over time into something great.

سالی که نکوست از بهارش پیداست

“A good year is known from its spring.”

The eventual quality of something can be foreseen from its early signs.

هر که بامش بیش برفش بیشتر

“Whoever has a bigger roof has more snow.”

Greater wealth, status, or responsibility brings correspondingly greater troubles.

از این ستون به آن ستون فرج است

“From this pillar to that pillar there is relief.”

Given time and patience, difficult situations can change for the better.

تا نباشد چیزکی مردم نگویند چیزها

“Unless there were a little something, people would not say things.”

Rumors usually have some basis — where there is smoke there is fire.

آب که از سر گذشت چه یک وجب چه صد وجب

“Once the water is over one's head, whether it be one span or a hundred, it is all the same.”

Once a limit has been passed, the degree of excess no longer matters.

دیگ به دیگ میگه روت سیاه

“The pot says to the pot: your face is black.”

Criticizing another for a fault one shares oneself — the pot calling the kettle black.

نابرده رنج گنج میسر نمی‌شود

“Without enduring hardship, no treasure is attained.”

Success and reward require effort and endurance — no pain, no gain.

توانا بود هر که دانا بود

“Powerful is he who is wise.”

Knowledge and wisdom are the true sources of strength and power.

بنی‌آدم اعضای یکدیگرند / که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند

“The human beings are members of a whole, since in their creation they are of one essence.”

All humankind shares one origin, so the suffering of one should concern all.

آب رفته به جوی باز نمی‌گردد

“Water that has flowed away does not return to its stream.”

What is done cannot be undone; there is no use lamenting the past.

آشپز که دو تا شد، آش یا شور می‌شود یا بی‌نمک

“When there are two cooks, the soup turns out either too salty or with no salt at all.”

Too many people in charge of one task leads to a poor result.

از آب گل‌آلود ماهی گرفتن

“Fishing in muddy water.”

Taking advantage of confusion or disorder for personal gain.

از تو حرکت، از خدا برکت

“The effort is yours; the blessing is God's.”

One must act and make an effort before expecting help or reward.

از چاله درآمدن و به چاه افتادن

“To climb out of the ditch and fall into the well.”

Escaping a small trouble only to land in a much bigger one.

از دل برود هر آنکه از دیده رود

“Whoever leaves the sight of the eye soon leaves the heart as well.”

Once someone is no longer seen or present, they are gradually forgotten.

با دم شیر بازی نکن

“Do not play with the lion's tail.”

Do not provoke danger or take needless risks with something powerful.

با یک تیر دو نشان زدن

“To strike two targets with one arrow.”

Achieving two goals through a single action.

با یک دست نمی‌شود دو تا هندوانه برداشت

“One hand cannot carry two watermelons.”

A person cannot properly manage two demanding tasks at the same time.

با یک گل بهار نمی‌شود

“Spring does not arrive with a single flower.”

One small sign or one good example is not enough to prove a larger change has occurred.

باد آورده را باد می‌برد

“What the wind has brought, the wind carries away.”

Wealth gained easily or dishonestly is lost just as easily.

بی‌خبری خوش‌خبری است

“No news is good news.”

The absence of bad tidings is itself a reassuring sign.

پول علف خرس نیست

“Money is not grass for a bear to graze on freely.”

Money is not easy to come by and should not be spent carelessly.

تا نباشد چوب تر، فرمان نبرد گاو و خر

“Without a green stick, neither the ox nor the donkey obeys the command.”

Some firm discipline or clear authority is needed to keep order.

تر و خشک با هم می‌سوزند

“The wet and the dry burn together.”

In a shared disaster, the innocent suffer alongside the guilty.

ترک عادت موجب مرض است

“Breaking a habit brings on sickness.”

Sudden change from a long-established routine can be harmful; old habits are hard to abandon.

تره به تخمش می‌رود، حسنی به باباش

“The leek takes after its seed, and the boy takes after his father.”

Children inherit the qualities and character of their parents.

مشت نمونه خروار است

“A handful is a sample of the whole load.”

A small part or example can reveal the nature of the whole.

توبه گرگ مرگ است

“The wolf's only true repentance is death.”

Some untrustworthy characters never truly change their ways.

جلوی ضرر را از هر جا بگیری، منفعت است

“Whenever you stop a loss, from that point on it is profit.”

It is never too late to cut your losses and start doing better.

جنگ اول به از صلح آخر

“A quarrel at the start is better than a peace that comes too late.”

It is wiser to settle terms and disagreements clearly and early than to let problems fester.

جوجه را آخر پاییز می‌شمارند

“Count the chicks at the end of autumn.”

Do not count your chickens before they hatch — wait until the outcome is certain.

چراغی که به خانه رواست، به مسجد حرام است

“A lamp that is proper for the home is forbidden for the mosque.”

One's first duty is to care for one's own family before giving to outsiders.

حقیقت مثل ته خیار تلخ است

“The truth is bitter, like the end of a cucumber.”

The truth is often unpleasant to hear, but it must still be told.

خنده بهترین درمان است

“Laughter is the best medicine.”

A cheerful spirit heals the body and the heart better than most remedies.

خواهی نشوی رسوا، همرنگ جماعت شو

“If you do not wish to be disgraced, take on the color of the crowd.”

To avoid trouble or standing out badly, adapt to the customs of those around you.

خود کرده را تدبیر نیست

“For a trouble of one's own making, there is no remedy.”

A person must bear the consequences of a problem they brought upon themselves.

در نومیدی بسی امید است

“Within despair there lies much hope.”

Even in the darkest moments, hope quietly remains, and things can turn around.

دندان اسب پیشکشی را نمی‌شمارند

“One does not count the teeth of a gift horse.”

Do not criticize or judge the value of something given to you freely.

دو صد گفته چون نیم کردار نیست

“Two hundred words are not worth half a deed.”

Actions carry far more weight and meaning than words alone.

دیر رسیدن بهتر از هرگز نرسیدن است

“Arriving late is better than never arriving at all.”

It is better to accomplish something late than to never accomplish it.

رهرو آن است که آهسته و پیوسته رود

“The true traveler is the one who goes slowly but steadily.”

Consistent, steady effort accomplishes more than hasty bursts of energy.

زیره به کرمان بردن

“To carry cumin to Kerman.”

To do something entirely pointless, like bringing a good to the very place already famous for producing it in abundance — the Persian equivalent of carrying coals to Newcastle.

سحرخیز باش تا کامروا شوی

“Rise early, so that you may prosper.”

Diligence and an early start lead to success.

سرکه نقد به از حلوای نسیه است

“Vinegar in hand now is better than sweet halva only promised for later.”

A modest thing you already have is worth more than a greater thing merely promised for the future.

سری که درد نمی‌کند دستمال نمی‌بندند

“One does not bandage a head that does not ache.”

Do not fix or interfere with something that is not actually broken.

شتر دیدی، ندیدی

“If you saw the camel, say that you did not see it.”

Sometimes it is wiser to stay silent about what one has witnessed.

عجله کار شیطان است

“Haste is the work of the devil.”

Acting too quickly, without thought, tends to lead to poor outcomes.

عروس نمی‌تواند برقصد، می‌گوید زمین کج است

“The bride cannot dance, so she says the floor is crooked.”

A person who fails at something blames outside circumstances rather than their own shortcomings.

علاج واقعه قبل از وقوع باید کرد

“The remedy for a misfortune must be prepared before it happens.”

It is wiser to prevent a problem in advance than to try to fix it after it has occurred.