Proverb Examples from around the world

Proverbs Starting with letter O - part 4
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One man goes and another steps in.
One man is another's devil.
One man is born to money, and another to the purse.
One man is no man.
One man is not bad because another is good.
One man knocks in the nail, and another hangs his hat on it.
One man must not fight with two.

One man tells a lie, dozens repeat it as the truth.
One man uses his tongue, another his teeth.
One man yawning makes another yawn too.
One man, no man.
One mangy sheep spoils a whole flock.
One man's beard is burning, and another warms his hands by it.
One man's beard is on fire, and another man warms his hands on it.
One man's breath's another man's death.
One man's death is another man's life.
One man's fault is another man's lesson.
One man's house burns so that another may warm himself.
One man's junk is another man's treasure.
One man's loss is another man's gain.
One man's meat is another man's poison. OR One man's trash is another man's treasure.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
One man's story is no story; hear both sides.
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. - Ronald Reagan.
One marriage is never celebrated but another grows out of it.
One may as well be well beaten as badly beaten.
One may better steal a horse than another look over the hedge.
One may go a long way after one is tired.
One may have good eyes and see nothing.
One may live without one's friends but not without one's pipe.
One may see through a wall, if there's a hole in it.
One may steal nothing save a lawyer's purse.
One may survive distress, but not disgrace.
One may teach another to speak, but none can teach another to hold his peace.
One may tire of eating tarts.
One measures the towers by their shadows and great people by those who envy them.
One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it.
One meets his destiny often on the road he takes to avoid it.
One meets/greets people by their clothes, and says farewell by their mind.
One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. - English, 17th century.
One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
One minute of patience can mean ten years of peace.
One minute of patience, ten years of peace.
One misfortune brings on another.
One mistake isn't reason enough to leave your wife.
One moment of intense happiness prolongs life by a thousand years.
One moment's error becomes a lifetime of sadness.
One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor among them. When it comes to three, they have to go thirsty.
One muddy buffalo makes the whole herd dirty.
One murder makes a villain, millions a hero.
One must ask about the delight of opium from one who smokes it.
One must be either anvil or hammer.
One must either be the hammer or the anvil.
One must fill the pitcher while the water is flowing.
One must glean at harvest time.
One must howl with the wolves one is among.
One must howl with the wolves.
One must learn to be bored.
One must lose a minnow to catch a salmon.
One must needs like what one cannot hinder.
One must pass through the door or the window.
One must plough with the horses he has.

One must run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
One must sometimes hold a candle to the devil.
One must step back to make the better leap.
One must talk little and listen much.
One must talk little, and listen a lot.
One must talk soothingly to the dog until one has passed him.
One nail drives in another.
One nail drives out another.
One never accuses without a little bit of lying.
One never gets more than one's money's worth of anything.
One never needs their humor as much a when they argue with a fool.
One never tires working for oneself.
One never wept but another laughed.
One night of anarchy does more harm than a hundred years of tyranny.
One night with an ugly woman and one day in the mountains both are like an eternity.
One of life's greatest mysteries is how the boy who wasn't good enough to marry your daughter can be the father of the smartest grandchild One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow.
One of the two partners always bites the best part of the apple.
One of these days is none of these days.
One of these days, is none of these days.
One often gets what one disdains.
One often has need of a lesser than oneself.
One old friend is better than two new ones.
One only gives what one has and can't be made to give more.
One ounce of good luck is better than a ton of brains.
One owes the greatest possible care for the child.
One pair of ears would exhaust a hundred tongues.
One pebble doesn't make a floor.
One penny in the pot makes more noise than when it is full.
One penny is better on land than ten on the sea.
One person can burn water, while another can't even burn oil.
One person's death is another's bread.
One picture is worth a thousand words.
One piece of good advice is better than a bag full.
One piece of wood will not make a fire.
One pleasure, a thousand pains.
One ploughs, another sows, who will reap no one knows.
One poison is cured by another.
One pound of learning requires ten pounds of common sense to apply it.
One pussy hair entrain more then an ox car.
One quill is better in the hand than seven geese upon the strand.
One raven does not peck out another's eyes.
One road for the fugitive and a hundred for the pursuer.
One road leads to heaven but many lead to hell.
One rotten apple in the basket infects the whole.
One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.
One rotten apple spoils the whole basket.
One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel.
One rotten egg spoils the whole pudding.
One rotten sheepe will marre a whole flocke.
One scabbed sheep mars the whole flock.
One scabbed sheep will infect a whole flock.
One scabbed sheep will mar a whole flock.
One scabby sheep infects a thousand sheep.
One scabby sheep infects the whole flock.
One scabby sheep is enough to spoil the whole flock.
One scabby sheep spoils a flock.
One scoops with a scoop.
One searches for someone else's donkey while singing songs.
One sesame seed won't make oil.
One shoe will not fit every foot.
One short step lengthens life.
One should be born either a king or a fool.
One should be just as careful in choosing one's pleasures as in avoiding calamities.
One should count chicks in autumn.
One should do the blacksmithing while the iron is hot.
One should eat sand rather than fall to villainy.
One should learn to sail in all winds.
One should mind one's own business.

One should never rub bottoms with a porcupine.
One should not awaken sleeping dogs.
One should not go farther than the sea to fish.
One should not send a cat to deliver cream.
One should not think about it too much when marrying or taking pills.
One should only ask from a friend what he is capable of.
One should speak a little with others and a lot with oneself.
One should speak little with others and much with oneself.
One shouldn't beat the one who fell.
One shouldn't praise the day before the evening.
One shouldn't sell the bear's fur before it has been killed.
One shower doesn't make a flood.
One simple maxim is often worth more than two good friends.
One sin is too much, a hundred prayers are not enough.
One sip of wine is an antidote against death, cupfuls poison life.
One sleeps like one makes his bed.
One son is no son, two sons is no son, but three sons is a son.
One son is not a son, two sons are half a son, three sons are a son.
One spark is enough to burn a hundred worlds.
One spot stains the whole dress.
One sprinkles the most sugar where the tart is burnt.
One starts the game and another bags it.
One starts the hare, another catches it.
One step at a time is good walking.
One step at a time.
One story is good till another is told.
One string is good enough to a good musician.
One stroke on the nail and a hundred on the horseshoe.
One stupid person asks more than ten wise ones can spare time answering.
One stupid woman recognizes another one from a distance.
One sturdy house is worth a hundred in ruins.
One swallow does not herald the coming of spring.
One swallow does not make a spring.
One swallow doesn't make a summer.
One swallow doesn't make spring.
One swallow doesn't make summer.
One sword keep another in the sheath.
One sword keeps another in its scabbard.
One 'take this' is better than ten 'God help you!'.
One 'take this' is worth more than two 'you shall have.'.
One takes care of one's own: when a bachelor roasts yam, he shares it with his sheep.
One takes care of the horse, another rides it.
One take-this, is better than two thou-shalt-haves.
One tale is good till another is told.
One talks about what one does not have.
One that promised better things.
One thumb alone does not kill a louse.
One time after the denial.

One time 'here you are' is better than ten times 'heaven help you.'.
One time, no time -- two times, a habit.
One to one, and two to the devil.
One to-day is better than ten to-morrows.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
One tree won't hold two robins.
One trick is met by another.
One volunteer is worth two pressed men.
One wants to eat a fish, but doesn't want to get to water.
One wedding brings another.
One wedge drives another.
One whisky is all right; two is too much; three is too few.
One who always tells the truth is avoided by his friends.
One who bathes willingly with cold water doesn't feel the cold.
One who boxes with a wall hurts his hand.
One who can do you a deal of good or a deal of harm.
One who carves a spoon saves his hand (from a burn).
One who climbs up a ladder climbs back down.
One who does not know death should look at a grave.
One who does not look ahead remains behind.
One who does what he says is not a coward.
One who doesn't work does not bite.
One who draws water at the river shouldn't curse the crocodile.
One who drinks water with one hand remains thirsty.
One who eats a goat will repay a cow.
One who gets up early is doubly lucky. (The early bird gets the worm.).
One who goes slowly/carefully doesn't stumble.
One who harvests in the sun eats in the shade.
One who has been bitten by a snake startles at a reed.
One who has once burnt his tongue while drinking milk will blow to yoghurt before eating it.
One who hides their nakedness can't give birth.
One who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning.
One who is afraid of asking questions is ashamed of learning.
One who is drowning doesn't stop struggling.
One who is drowning will even try to catch hold of a haystraw.
One who is false to her first oath will be false to her second.
One who is not in your eyes is not in your heart.
One who is poor at finace pays twice.
One who laughs at a scar hasn't seen a wound.
One who lies for you will also lie against you.
One who lives on rich food gets fat.
One who looks for a friend without faults will have none.
One who marries for love alone will have bad days but good nights.
One who plays with shit will stink like it.
One who recovers from sickness, forgets about God.
One who runs alone cannot be outrun by another.
One who seeks no friends is his own enemy.
One who sits between two chairs may easily fall down.
One who sits by the well will never go thirsty.
One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.
One who speaks fair words feeds you with an empty spoon.
One who supports himself on the fatty hump from a cow's back doesn't stop getting fat.
One who tells you about someone else's business will tell someone else about your's.
One who waits for chance may wait a year.
One who walks in another's tracks leaves no footprints.
One will not change his habits, if he hasn't hurt his feelings.

One will suppress their desire for something they perceive impossible to attain.
One wiseman is better than thousand morons.
One with the courage to laugh is master of the world almost as much as the one who is ready to die.
One with the courage to laugh is the master of the world almost as much as the man who is ready to die.
One witness one liar; more witnesses, all liars.
One wolf does not bite another.
One wolf does not kill another.
One word beforehand is better than ten afterwards.
One word brings on another.
One word spoken in anger may spoil an entire life.
One would not be alone even in Paradise.
One would not be alone in Paradise.
One would rather be bitten by wolves than by sheep.
One written word is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
One wrong submitted to, another follows.
One year's seeding makes seven years weeding.
One, two, three, was the count God made.
One's best fortune, or, their worst is their spouse.
One's neighbors' problems do not induce one to lose one's appetite.
One's own burden doesn't encumber.
One's Own Cabin, One's Own Freedom.
One's own hearth is worth gold.
One's own shirt is closer to the body.
One's own simple bread is much better than someone else's pilaf.
One's own spurs and another's horse make the miles short.
One's prog does not clog.
One's shadow grows larger than life when admired by the light of the moon.
Onions, smoke and women bring tears to your eyes.
Onions, smoke, and a shrew, make a good man's eyes water.
Only a certain amount of flowers and jewels are beautiful.
Only a chicken rakes stuff away from itself.
Only a coward will write an anonymous letter. -President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Only a fool asks, 'What do you want with my wife?'.
Only a fool gets drunk from his own bottle.
Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet.
Only a fool tries to jump in the fire.
Only a fool will make a doctor his heir.
Only a monkey understands a monkey.
Only a mother would carry the child that bites.
Only a race horse or a Comyn lord is judged by his pedigree.
Only bad drivers cut corners.
Only believe a woman one day later.
Only believe in the faith of a woman as you would believe in miracles.
Only by falling do you learn how to mount a horse.
Only chained bears dance.
Only dead fish swim with the stream.
Only death has no cure.
Only death is certain.
Only death itself can end our hope.
Only fools and horses work.
Only fools are glad when governments change.
Only go on.' - the equivalent of the colloquial 'suck it up.
Only God has no faults, only water is pure.
Only God helps the badly dressed.
Only grave will cure the hunchback.
Only great men may have great faults.
Only he who does nothing makes a mistake.
Only he who does nothing makes no mistakes.
Only he who knows his own weaknesses can endure those of others.
Only he who understands is really sad.
Only heaven can see the back of a sparrow.
Only hit his head so he doesn't start limping.
Only lawyers and painters can turn white to black.
Only losers say 'Winning isn't everything.
Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.
Only men laugh, only men weep, only men dance.
Only men with thick lips should smoke a cigar.
Only one can be emperor.
Only one who can swallow an insult is a man.
Only other people's eggs are double-yolked.
Only people who work make mistakes.
Only scratch where you can reach.
Only stretch your foot to the length of your blanket.
Only take away the wife of a strong man when he is out.
Only tall things cast shadows.
Only the cure you believe in cures.
Only the dumb can silence the chatterer.
Only the fool points at his origins with his left hand.
Only the foolish visit the land of the cannibals.
Only the good die young.
Only the hunchback himself knows how he can lie comfortably.
Only the knife knows the heart of a pineapple.
Only the man who is not hungry says the coconut has a hard shell.
Only the mountains never meet.
Only the nightingale understands the rose.
Only the soil knows when a young mouse is ill.
Only the strong survive.
Only the sufferers know how their bellies ache.
Only the tent pitched by your own hands will stand.
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
Only thin dogs become wild.
Only those who can't do anything else work.
Only those who have nails play the guitar.
Only those who never do anything make no mistakes.
Only three things in life are certain birth, death and change.
Only through suffering and sorrow do we acquire the wisdom not found in books.
Only through the eyes of others can we really see our own faults.
Only two things matter in this world: a son and a daughter.
Only unity saves the Serbs.
Only what you have eaten is yours; other things may not be.
Only what you have in your hand is not a lie.
Only when a new government comes to power do you learn to appreciate the values of the old one.
Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire.
Only when the coffin is closed will we see how long lasting is the name.
Only when the horses have escaped do men repair the stable.
Only when the house is on fire do the rats shows itself (to runaway).
Only when the tree is big and strong can you tether a cow to it.

Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.
Only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.
Only when you have eaten a lemon do you appreciate what sugar is.
Only Who is in the convent knows what goes on inside.
Only with a new ruler do you realize the value of the old.
Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
Open confession is good for the soul.
Open hand makes open hand.
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Proverbs 27:5.
Open thy mouth that I may know thee.
Open your mouth before you eat.
Open your purse, and I will open my mouth.
Opinions are like ***holes: everyone has them and they usually stink.
Opinions are like nails: the more often you hit them the deeper they penetrate.
Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.
Opportunities come but do not linger.
Opportunities may come but they never linger.
Opportunities neglected can never be recovered.
Opportunities, like eggs, come one at a time.
Opportunity creates desire.
Opportunity has hair in front, behind she is bald; if you seize her by the forelock, you may hold her, but, if suffered to escape, not Jupiter himself can catch her again.
Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease.
Opportunity is waiting you need but to open the door.
Opportunity knocks only once.
Opportunity makes a thief.
Opportunity makes desire.
Opportunity makes the thief.
Opportunity never knocks twice at any man's door.
Opportunity only knocks once.
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
Oppose not a hungry man.
Opposites are cured by their opposites.
Opposites attract.
Oppression causeth rebellion.
Or, Don't piss into the wind.
Order and do it, and you will be rid of anxiety.
Order makes friends.
Order the lazybones a task; he will give you advice.
Other countries, other customs.
Other days, other ways.
Other folks' cares kill the mule.
Other land blueberry; own land strawberry.
Other people's money has sharp teeth.
Other person's soul is in darkness.
Other things being equal.
Other times, other counsels.
Other times, other folk.
Other times, other manners.
Other towns, other lasses.
Others are always interested in us, just as we are interested in them.
Others' bread has seven crusts.
Others' bread is too salt.
Others' cow could moo, but yours should better stay silent.
Others may lead wars, you, happy Austria, marry.' Referring to Austria's cunning policy in early modern times to marry into all important royal houses.
Our costliest expenditure is time. .
Our eyes are our enemies.
Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.
Our faults provide opportunities for others.
Our fears always outnumber our dangers.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
Our hairs are numbered.
Our hearts run riot in prosperity.
Our language is our existence.
Our last garment is made without pockets.
Our neighbor's children are always the worst.
Our neighbour's children are always the worst.
Our outward actions reveal our hidden intentions.
Our own house surpasses every other.
Our parents taught us to speak and the world taught us to be silent.
Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers her. Without winds the vessel would not move and without a pilot she would be lost.
Our pillow should be our counsellor. Sleep upon an idea.].
Our real grave is not in the ground but in men's hearts.
Our shadow will follow us.
Our time runs on like a stream; first fall the leaves and then the tree.
Our truth hurts the enemy. (lit. pokes the enemy in the eyes.).
Our wisdom is no less at Fortune's mercy than our wealth.
Our wishes are like little children -- the more you indulge the more they want from you.
Out before day, in before night.
Out of a devil's egg there can only come a devil.
Out of a dog's mouth will never come ivory tusks.
Out of a great evil often comes a great good.
Out of a little grass comes a great mule.
Out of a white egg often comes a black chick.
Out of all cookery, the coffee laced with schnapps is the best.
Out of debt, out of danger.
Out of desperation, he calls donkey dame.
Out of eyesight — out of heart.
Out of laziness, s/he calls to the black donkey 'bless me Lord.
Out of love for the ox, the wolf licks the yoke.
Out of many, one.
Out of nothing nothing comes.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Out of small acorns grow mighty oaks.
Out of ten men there are nine wives.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Out of the ashes into the fire.
Out of the eye, out of the heart.
Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes forth truth.
Out of the rain and into the eaves.
Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee.
Out of yes and no comes all dispute.
Out with the old, in with the new.
Outside a sheep, inside a wolf.
Outside noisy, inside empty.
Outside the Church there is no salvation.
Outward appearances assuming the form of virtues.
Over a distance of a thousand miles only humanity works, not power.
Over no home can the sign be hung: There is no trouble here.
Over the bottle many a friend is found.
Over truth there is light.
Overabundance is not far from want.
Overdoing is doing nothing to the purpose.
Over-intelligent people can't find friends.
Overlooking the more important issue.
Overseas, a cow costs a quarter of kopeck, but it will cost a rouble to ship it here.
Overtakes who gets, and stones who doesn't.

Own help is the best help.
Own home is worth gold.
Ownership is to fear.
Owt for Nowt.
Ox drinks alone.

Ox, keep to your grass.

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


Full list:
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