Traditional Slovakia Wisdom

Aká matka, taká Katka.

“As the mother, so the daughter.”

A daughter often takes after her mother in character and habits.

Aký otec, taký syn.

“As the father, so the son.”

A son often resembles his father in character and behavior.

Ani strom naraz nezotnú.

“Even a tree is not felled in one blow.”

Great achievements come only through repeated, patient effort.

Čím viac tým lepšie.

“The more, the better.”

A greater amount of something desirable is generally preferable.

Darovanému koňovi na zuby nepozeraj.

“Don't look a given horse in the teeth.”

Do not criticize or find fault with a gift you have received.

Dobrý počiatok - polovica práce.

“A good beginning is half the work.”

Starting a task well makes the rest of it far easier to finish.

Dvakrát meraj a raz rež.

“Measure twice, cut once.”

Careful preparation and checking prevent costly mistakes.

Jablko nepadá ďaleko od stromu.

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

Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Jedna lastovička leto nerobí.

“One swallow does not make a summer.”

A single good sign does not prove that a favorable trend has truly begun.

Každý si je strojcom svojho šťastia.

“Everyone is the architect of their own fortune.”

A person's success depends mainly on their own effort and choices.

Kde sa nič nezaseje, tam sa nič nenaveje.

“Where nothing is sown, nothing is blown in.”

Without effort invested, no results should be expected.

Bez práce nie sú koláče.

“Without work there are no cakes.”

Rewards come only through effort; nothing good comes for free.

Kto sa hanbí, má prázdne gamby.

“He who is too shy goes away with an empty mouth.”

Excessive timidity leaves a person without their fair share.

Kto druhému jamu kope, sám do nej spadne.

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

Those who scheme to harm others often bring ruin upon themselves.

Kto nepracuje, nech neje.

“He who does not work shall not eat.”

Only those who contribute effort deserve to share in the reward.

Kto šetrí, má za tri.

“He who saves has enough for three.”

Frugality and saving steadily build up wealth over time.

Kuj železo za horúca.

“Forge the iron while it is hot.”

Act on an opportunity while conditions remain favorable.

Lakomec je rovný svini, len po smrti činí.

“A miser is like a pig, of use only after death.”

A stingy person's wealth benefits others only once they are gone.

Láska prechádza žalúdkom.

“Love passes through the stomach.”

Good food is a reliable way to win someone's affection.

Lepšie neskoro ako nikdy.

“Better late than never.”

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

Lepší vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche.

“A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the roof.”

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

Lož má krátke nohy.

“A lie has short legs.”

Dishonesty is quickly exposed and cannot travel far before it is caught.

Mrcha vták, čo do vlastného hniezda nečistí.

“It is a foul bird that fouls its own nest.”

One should not speak ill of or bring shame upon one's own family or home.

Nepľuj do pohára, z ktorého si pil.

“Don't spit into the cup you drank from.”

Do not turn against people or things that once served you well.

Nesúď knihu podľa jej obalu.

“Don't judge a book by its cover.”

Appearances can be misleading; look deeper before forming judgment.

Nešťastie v hre, šťastie v láske.

“Unlucky at cards, lucky in love.”

Misfortune in one area of life is often balanced by good fortune in another.

Pes, ktorý šteká, nehryzie.

“A dog that barks does not bite.”

Loud threats often come from those least likely to act on them.

Po boji je každý generál.

“After the battle, everyone is a general.”

It is easy to judge decisions in hindsight, once the outcome is known.

Po každej búrke príde slnko.

“After every storm comes the sun.”

Difficult times are eventually followed by better ones.

Pomaly ďalej zájdeš.

“Slowly, you will go further.”

A steady, careful pace achieves more in the long run than reckless haste.

Prázdny sud najviac duní.

“An empty barrel rumbles the loudest.”

People with the least substance often talk the most.

Priateľa si drž blízko, nepriateľa ešte bližšie.

“Keep your friend close, your enemy even closer.”

Watch potential threats carefully, even more closely than you watch your allies.

Prísť k niečomu, ako slepá kura k zrnu.

“Like a blind hen finding a grain.”

Achieving something purely by luck rather than skill or effort.

Pýcha predchádza pád.

“Pride comes before a fall.”

Excessive arrogance often leads to a person's downfall.

Ráno múdrejšie večera.

“Morning is wiser than evening.”

Decisions are often made better after a night's rest than in the heat of the moment.

Ryba smrdí od hlavy.

“A fish stinks from the head.”

Corruption or failure within a group usually originates with its leadership.

Šaty robia človeka.

“Clothes make the man.”

A person's appearance strongly shapes how others perceive them.

Šťastie praje pripraveným.

“Fortune favors the prepared.”

Being well prepared increases the likelihood of a lucky outcome.

Tichá voda brehy myje.

“Still water erodes the banks.”

Quiet, unassuming people can be more capable or consequential than they appear.

Trpezlivosť ruže prináša.

“Patience brings roses.”

Persistence and patience are eventually rewarded.

Veľké ryby žerú malé.

“Big fish eat little fish.”

The powerful often exploit or dominate the weak.

Viac hláv, viac rozumu.

“More heads, more sense.”

Collaboration and multiple perspectives lead to better solutions.

V núdzi poznáš priateľa.

“In need, you recognize a friend.”

True friendship reveals itself in times of hardship.

Vo víne pravda prebýva.

“In wine, truth dwells.”

People tend to speak more honestly once their inhibitions are lowered.

Vrana k vrane sadá, rovný rovného si hľadá.

“Crow sits by crow, like seeks like.”

People tend to associate with others who are similar to themselves.

Všade dobre, doma najlepšie.

“Good everywhere, but best at home.”

No matter how pleasant other places are, home remains the most comforting.

Výnimka potvrdzuje pravidlo.

“The exception confirms the rule.”

A rare deviation actually reinforces that a general rule holds true.

Zakázané ovocie chutí najlepšie.

“Forbidden fruit tastes the best.”

Things that are off-limits often seem the most desirable.

Zíde z očí, zíde z mysle.

“Out of sight, out of mind.”

We tend to forget about things or people we no longer see regularly.

Zlá zelina nevyhynie.

“Bad weed never dies.”

Unpleasant or troublesome things and people tend to persist and endure.