Proverb Examples from around the world

Proverbs Starting with letter I - part 1
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I (can) protect myself from my enemies; may God protect me from my friends!.
I a lazy lout, you a lazy lout, marry me, Antonia.
I against my brother. My brother and I against our cousin. My brother, my cousin and I against the neighbors. All of us against the stranger.

I against my brother/ I and my brother against our cousin/ I, my brother and our cousin against the neighbors/ All of us against the foreigner.
I am a Roman.
I am a gentleman and you are a gentleman; who, then, should look after the pigs?.
I am a prince and you are a prince; who will lead the donkeys?.
I am closest to myself.
I am dead. It is as if everybody were dead. Let the man left behind shut the door if he wants to.
I am human, so nothing that is human is foreign to me.
I am in a fix. In a place where three ways meet.].
I am in a place where three ways meet.
I am just as good as you are, and a damned sight better.
I am like you and you like me. the devil united us.
I am neither at the ford nor the bridge.
I am neither for nor against, much to the contrary!.
I am not here to catch flies.
I am on good terms with the friend who eats his bread with me.
I am recommending you to do what I should do myself.
I am scratching myself where I am itching.
I am talking to you, daughter-in-law, so that you could hear it, neighbor!.
I am touched but not broken by the waves.
I am what you will be, I was what you now are.
I am willing but unable.
I attempted to be benevolent, but I got burnt.
I bear the laurel-branch.
I beggar is not favoured even by his relations.
I being satisfied, the world is satisfied.
I believe it because it is absurd.' Attributed to ; see.
I believe what you say, I'm surprised at what you do.
I bought the nettle, sowed the nettle, and then the nettle stung me.
I broke my leg, perhaps for my good.
I came , I saw, I conquered.' (Julius Caesar, after defeating the forces of Pompey).
I came to the place of my birth and cried, 'The friends of my youth, where are they?' And echo answered, 'Where are they?'.
I came to you to help me, but I found that YOU need help.
I came, I saw, I conquered.

I came, I saw, I won.
I can chew for you, my child, but you must swallow by yourself.
I can find good in my boss but he is at loggerheads with me.
I can only get better if I have good friends.
I can push others' problem away with my hands, but can't put my own mind to my own one.
I can see as far into a mill-stone as another man.
I can't sing but I am a musicologist.
I cannot get on with you, or without you.
I confess to God Almighty, and to the Holy Eternal Virgin Maria, to the Holy Apostles and to Almighty Christ./ 'I confess to God Almighty, to Saint Mary always Virgin, to Saint Michael the Archangel, to the Holy Apostles, to all Saints.
I cried when I was born and as each day passes I know why.
I cried when I was born and each day now I realize why.
I dance to the tune that is played.
I did not love, even if I yearned to love.
I do not tell thee what thou art, thou wilt tell it thyself.
I don't count them to you, wife, but a hog makes twelve puddings.
I don't live to eat, but I eat to live.
I don't sow ground nuts when the monkey is watching.
I don't vomit bile and then return to lick it up.
I don't want it, I don't want it, but put it into my hood.
I don't want the cheese, I just want to get out of the trap.
I don't want the cheese; I just want out of the trap.
I dreamed a thousand new paths. I woke and walked my old one.
I dreamed a thousand new paths. I woke and walked my old one.
I eat it, and it's mine, and you stay away from me.
I eat what others have planted and I plant what others want to eat.
I fear the Danaens the Ancient Greeks even if they bring presents' (, , 2, 49) Uttered by as he warns his fellow Trojans against accepting the.
I feign no hypotheses' (I do not assert that any hypotheses are true). ,.
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes -- until I met a man who had no feet.
I gave him a staff for his support and he uses it to break my head.
I gave so much advice that hair grew on my tongue.
I give a present to the mother but I think of the daughter.
I give, that you may give.
I grew up among wise men and found that there is nothing better for man than silence.
I hate a jovial table companion with a good memory.
I hate fetters though they be of gold.
I have a cow in the sky, but cannot drink her milk.
I have a good jacket in France.
I have a mouth which I feed, it must speak what I please.
I have an aunt who plays the guitar.
I have built a monument more durable than bronze.' (, Odes III, 30, 1, of his poetry).
I have it indeed, but it's not for you.
I have lost my labour and my cost.
I have money, you have money; so we are friends.
I have no right to rejoice at the death of my enemy when I do not have eternal life myself.
I have nothing for dinner, sit down to table.
I have so much to do that I am going to bed.
I have the whole world against me, I show my back and the whole world is following me.
I have two masters -- God and the devil; I work for the devil until lunch then I follow the Lord.
I have washed my hands of it.

I have you, Africa!' Svetonius attributes this to , when the emperor was on the African coast.
I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
I keep the faith', motto of Marist College Canberra.
I kill the boars, but another eats the flesh.
I kiss thee hide, because thou art to be a wine-bag.
I know Simon, and Simon knows me. A couple of rogues.].
I know by my own pot how the others boil.
I know many songs, but I cannot sing.
I know nothing about it, I haven't seen it; that is the best answer.
I know on which side my bread is buttered.
I know that I know nothing.
I know they are all honest men, but my cloak is nowhere to be found.
I know well what I say when I ask for bread.
I know what I know, but will say nothing about it.
I left what I knew for what I heard praised, and repented.
I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.
I lost the day' (Emperor , passed down in 's biography (8)).
I may go over my reckoning, but not over my time.
I may have lost the ring, but I still have the fingers!.
I meant to cross myself and put out one of my eyes.
I met a hundred men going to Delhi and everyone is my brother.
I mistress and you miss, who is to sweep the house?.
I murmured because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
I need not fear my enemies because the most they can do is attack me. I need not fear my friends because the most they can do is betray me. But I have much to fear from people who are indifferent.
I neither give nor take, like a Jew on the Sabbath.
I never ask God to give me anything; I only ask him to put me where things are.
I never saw a silent rich man.
I only have my nails to scratch with and my feet to walk on.
I only understand Trainstation.
I own a cow in heaven, but I cannot drink her milk.
I perfectly feel even at my fingers end.
I prefer death to disgrace.
I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear.
I regret that I have given what I have.
I relied on the report of "ntulo" (the blue-headed lizard).
I renounce the golden basin in which I have to spit blood.
I rest, therefore I rust.
I saw a man, who saw another man, who saw the sea.
I saw you at Lucca, I knew you at Pisa.
I say it to you, daughter; hear it, daughter-in-law.
I see the better and acknowledge it, but I follow the worse.
I sell it for what I bought it(, if you don't like it, don't listen, but don't hamper my lying/telling).
I shall speak facts; but some will say I deal in fiction.
I simply state what I have heard.
I sing the song of the person whose bread I eat.
I sit here happy and let sorrow catch some breath.
I speak to you, daughter; hear it daughter-in-law.
I struggle and arise.' Motto of the Dutch province Zeeland.
I stubborn and you stubborn, who is to carry the load?.

I swim not thanks to the wine, but thanks to the water.
I think, therefore I am.
I think, therefore I am.' Argument used by as proof of his own existence. Descartes actually meant it in the sense of 'I am thinking, therefore I am.
I thought I had made the sign of the cross -- and I hurt my eye.
I thought I had no husband, and I eat up the stew.
I thought to cross myself, and I put out my eye.
I too am not powerless, and my weapons strike hard.
I too can lead the geese to water when it rains.
I tried to draw the eyebrow, but I ended up poking the eye.
I want more for my teeth than for my relations.
I want no drones in my bee-hive.
I wants, don't gets.
I was born on a Friday, but not last Friday.
I was not, I was, I am not, I don't care.' (found on s abbreviated 'NFFNSNC').
I was wise once: when I was born I cried.
I went to my neighbor's house and was ashamed of myself, I got back to mine and made do with what I had.
I wept when I was born and every day explains why.
I wept when I was born, and every day shows why.
I will either find a way or I will make one.
I will win the horse, or lose the saddle.
I wince to win.
I wish that he would sink as deep in the ground as a hare can run in ten years.
I won't stop eating bread for fear of indigestion.
I would as soon see your nose be cheese, and the cat get the first bite of it.
I would have had no luck, if not for misfortune.
I would not purchase it at the price of a rotten nut.
I would rather be in an apple-tree, than a bad man in distress.
I would rather buy than beg.
I would rather have a dog as a friend than an enemy.
I would rather have a dog my friend than enemy.
I would rather have a donkey that can carry me than a horse that throws me.
I yield to no one.
I'd like to drink honey with your lips.
I'd rather be red than dead.
I'd rather have them say 'There he goes' than 'Here he lies.'.
I'll come again, said the woman who got caught in wing of the windmill.
I'll marry, and eat the prime of the pot, and sit down first.
I'll sleep on it.
I'm dead and buried in the countryside.
I'm not me, and this horse isn't mine(, and I'm not a cabman).
I'm talking to the door, but I want the walls to hear me.
I've climbed mountains and searched promontories; while I find many husbands, I no longer find my brother.
I've fried my sausage in better pans than these.
I've got , but not for you.
IF only I were a bird! Ah, but eating caterpillars?.
IF the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.
IF you are buying a cow, make sure that the price of the tail is included.
Ice in spring is treacherous; new friendships are seldom sure.
Ices plant a new, one.

Ideas are something that usually comes like fireman- too late.
Idiots can sometimes give good advice.
Idle hands are the devil's playthings. 'Alt.' The devil makes work for idle hands.
Idle men tempt the devil; the devil tempts all others.
Idleness has poverty for wages.
Idleness is ever the root of indecision.
Idleness is hunger's mother, and of theft it is bull brother.
Idleness is mother to all vices.
Idleness is the beginning of all sin.
Idleness is the devil's bolster.
Idleness is the mother of all sins.
Idleness is the root of all evil.
Idleness is the sepulchre of a living man.
Idleness is to be dead in the limbs but alive within.
Idleness moves so slowly that it will be overtaken by misery.
Idleness ruins the constitution.
If does not go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Muhammad.
If 'How are you?' cost a cent, few would hear it.
If 'Akbar' doesn't give, 'Akbar's God will.
If Ali is the camel-driver, he knows where to rest his camel.
If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.
If God didn't like beautiful women, he wouldn't have made them.
If God doesn't give children to you, the devil will give you nephews.
If God give not bushelfuls, he gives spoonfuls.
If God had wanted man to fly, he would have given him wings.
If God is with us, who can be against us', (, 8:31).
If God listened to every shepherd's curse, our sheep would all be dead.
If God lived on earth, people would break his windows.
If God sends you meal, the devil takes the sack.
If God wants people to suffer, he sends them too much understanding.
If God were living on earth, people would break His windows.
If God were not forgiving, heaven would be empty.
If God wills, even males become fertile.
If I am a fool, put your finger in my mouth.
If I am not for myself, who is for me? And when I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?.
If I am seen I am joking; if I am not seen I steal.
If I am seen, I am joking; if I am not seen, I steal.
If I am to be drowned, it shall be in clean water.
If I canna do't by might, I'll do't by sleight.
If I dealt in candles, the sun would never set.
If I die, I forgive you. If I live we shall see.
If I die, I forgive you; if I live, we shall see.
If I die, I forgive you; if I recover, we shall see.
If I had a dog as daft, I would shoot him.
If I had two loaves of bread, I would sell one and buy hyacinths, for they would feed my soul.
If I have lost the ring I still have the fingers.
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.
If I peddle salt, it rains; if I peddle flour, the wind blows.
If I sleep, I sleep for myself; if I work, I know not for whom.
If I try to be like him, who will be like me?.
If I went to sea I should find it dry.
If Jesus Christ comes to help me, I laugh at the angels.
If Mohammad won't go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.
If Muhammad doesn't go to the mountain, then the mountain goes to Muhammad.
If a Jew cannot be a shoemaker, he will dream of being a professor.
If a bad person has an important role, he can't aniway perform it aright.
If a bamboo tube makes a loud sound, it is empty.
If a beard were all, the goat would be the winner.
If a big masquerade claims it doesn't see the smaller masquerade, the small masquerade will also claim it doesn't see the big masquerade.
If a bird knew how poor he was it wouldn't sing so beautifully.
If a blind man leads another, they both fall together.

If a blind man says he will throw a stone at you, he probably has his foot on one.
If a blind man says lets throw stones, be assured that he has stepped on one.

These are Proverb Examples from around the world, some have been translated from their original language to english.


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