Traditional Ukraine Wisdom

Слово не горобець, вилетить — не спіймаєш.

“A word is not a sparrow — once it flies out, you won't catch it.”

Think before you speak, because once said, words cannot be taken back.

Без праці не витягнеш і рибку зі ставка.

“Without effort you cannot even pull a fish out of the pond.”

Nothing worthwhile is achieved without hard work.

Не кажи гоп, поки не перескочиш.

“Do not say 'hop' until you have jumped over.”

Do not boast about success until the task is actually finished.

Тиха вода греблю рве.

“Quiet water breaks the dam.”

Calm, unassuming people or forces can produce the most powerful results.

Язик до Києва доведе.

“The tongue will lead you all the way to Kyiv.”

If you are not afraid to ask, you can find your way anywhere.

Друзі пізнаються в біді.

“Friends are known in times of trouble.”

True friendship is proven during hardship, not in easy times.

Не все те золото, що блищить.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

Outward appearance can be deceptive; value is not always what it seems.

Вовка ноги годують.

“The wolf is fed by its legs.”

You must be active and move about to earn your living — nothing comes to the idle.

Хто не працює, той не їсть.

“He who does not work, does not eat.”

Sustenance and reward must be earned through labor.

Яблуко від яблуні недалеко падає.

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

Children resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Не рий іншому яму, бо сам у неї впадеш.

“Do not dig a hole for someone else, or you will fall into it yourself.”

Harm you plan for others often ends up returning to harm you.

Крапля камінь точить.

“A drop wears away a stone.”

Persistent, small efforts can overcome even great obstacles over time.

Один в полі не воїн.

“One man in the field is not a warrior.”

A single person alone cannot accomplish what a group working together can.

Краще синиця в руках, ніж журавель у небі.

“Better a tit in the hand than a crane in the sky.”

A small certain gain is worth more than a grand but uncertain promise.

Сім разів відміряй, один раз відріж.

“Measure seven times, cut once.”

Think carefully and plan before taking an action that cannot be undone.

Яка мати, така й дитина.

“As the mother, so the child.”

Children often take after the character and upbringing of their parents.

Вік живи – вік учись.

“Live a century, learn a century.”

Learning never truly ends; one should keep gaining knowledge throughout life.

Хто рано встає, тому Бог дає.

“God provides for those who rise early.”

Diligence and an early start in life tend to be rewarded.

Не хвались, ідучи на рать, а хвались, ідучи з раті.

“Do not boast on your way into battle; boast on your way back from it.”

Celebrate an accomplishment only once it is truly finished, not beforehand.

Всякому овочу свій час.

“Every vegetable has its own season.”

Everything happens best when it comes at its own proper time.

Гарна пава пір'ям, а жінка розумом.

“A peacock is beautiful in its feathers, a woman in her wisdom.”

True worth comes from intellect and character, not outward appearance.

Кожен коваль свого щастя.

“Everyone is the blacksmith of their own happiness.”

A person's fortune and wellbeing are largely shaped by their own effort.

З миру по нитці – голому сорочка.

“A thread from every person in the world makes a shirt for the naked man.”

Small contributions gathered from many people can meet a great need.

Не так страшний чорт, як його малюють.

“The devil is not as frightening as he is painted.”

Difficulties often look worse in anticipation than they turn out to be in reality.

Що посієш навесні, те й восени пожнеш.

“What you sow in spring, you will reap in autumn.”

Present effort and choices determine the outcomes that follow later.

Гість на перший день – золото, на другий – срібло, а на третій – мідь.

“A guest is gold on the first day, silver on the second, and copper on the third.”

A visitor is welcome at first, but overstaying wears out one's welcome.

Своя хата – своя правда.

“One's own house holds one's own truth.”

In one's own home, one's own view and way of doing things prevail.

Не мала баба клопоту, купила порося.

“The old woman had no troubles, so she bought a piglet.”

Someone brings unnecessary trouble upon themselves through their own choice.

Скажи мені, хто твій друг, і я скажу, хто ти.

“Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.”

A person's character is revealed by the company they keep.

Хвалилася квочка, що знесла яєчко.

“The hen bragged that she had laid an egg.”

Someone boasts loudly over a small, unremarkable accomplishment.

Заздрість очі виїдає.

“Envy eats out the eyes.”

Jealousy blinds and consumes the person who feels it.

Правда очі коле.

“Truth stings the eyes.”

People often find it uncomfortable to hear the honest truth about themselves.

Гріх не по лісі ходить, а по людях.

“Sin does not walk through the forest, but among people.”

Wrongdoing originates in human nature and society, not the natural world.

Лихо не спить.

“Misfortune never sleeps.”

Trouble can strike at any moment, so one should always stay alert.

Не май сто рублів, а май сто друзів.

“Do not have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.”

Having many good friends is more valuable than having a great deal of money.

Дружба дружбою, а служба службою.

“Friendship is friendship, but duty is duty.”

Personal relationships should not be allowed to interfere with professional responsibilities.

Кінець – справі вінець.

“The end crowns the work.”

A task or effort should ultimately be judged by how it concludes.

Кожна жаба своє болото хвалить.

“Every frog praises its own swamp.”

People naturally favor and speak well of their own home or background.

Бережного Бог береже.

“God protects the careful one.”

Caution and prudence bring their own kind of protection.

Печені голуби не летять до губи.

“Roasted pigeons do not fly into your mouth.”

Nothing good comes without effort; rewards do not arrive on their own.

Не той друг, хто медом маже, а той, хто правду каже.

“Not the one who spreads honey is a true friend, but the one who tells the truth.”

A genuine friend is honest with you, not merely flattering.

Обпечеться на молоці – дме і на воду.

“One who gets burned by milk will blow even on water.”

A painful past experience makes a person overly cautious afterward.

Не буде з вовка вівця.

“A wolf will never become a sheep.”

A person's fundamental nature does not truly change.

Скрипливе дерево довше стоїть.

“A creaking tree stands longer.”

Something that seems weak or complains often can outlast what seems strong.

Малий, та удатний.

“Small, but capable.”

Size or stature does not determine someone's true ability or worth.

З великої хмари малий дощ.

“From a big cloud, only a little rain.”

A grand threat or promise often produces a disappointingly small result.

Немає нічого дорожчого, як своя земля.

“There is nothing dearer than one's own native land.”

Love of one's homeland surpasses all other attachments.

Своя сорочка ближче до тіла.

“One's own shirt is closer to the body.”

People naturally look after their own interests before those of others.

Яка робота, така й плата.

“As the work, so the pay.”

The reward one receives should match the quality and effort of the work performed.

Не все коту масниця.

“Not every day is Shrovetide for the cat.”

Good times and indulgence do not last forever; hardship eventually follows.