Proverb Examples from around the world

Proverbs Starting with letter W - part 5
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When the will is prompt the legs are nimble.
When the will is ready the feet are light.
When the wind serves, all aid.

When the wine goes in the wit goes out.
When the wine is free even the judge drinks it.
When the wine is in the man, the wit is in the can.
When the wine is in, the wit is out.
When the wine runs to waste in the cellar, he mends the cask.
When the wine's in the wit's out.
When the wise man gets angry, he stops being wise.
When the wolf grows old the crows ride him.
When the wolf invites you in, you had better take your dog.
When the wolf's ears appear, his body is not far off.
When the woman wants something God quakes.
When the word is in the mouth you must caress the sheath.
When the word is out, it belongs to another.
When the words are said, the holy water is made.
When the wound is healed the pain is forgotten.
When there are two fires in one room, only one will smoke.
When there are two in a lawsuit only a third will profit from it.
When there is a war between fire and water, fire loses.
When there is killing weather, the dogs grow fat, when there is.
When there is little bread at table put plenty on your plate.
When there is no enemy it is safe to fight.
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.
When there is no wind every man is a pilot.
When there is nothing the church loses.
When there is real danger, the dogs don't bark.
When there is room in the heart there is room in the house.
When there is room in the heart, there is room in the house.
When there's a will, there's a way.
When they gave the donkey flowers to smell, he ate them.
When they give you the calf, be ready with the halter.
When they offer you a ring, hold out your finger.
When thieves fall out the peasant recovers his goods.
When thieves fall out the thefts are discovered.
When thieves fall out the thefts come to light.
When thieves fall out, honest men come by their own.
When thieves fall out, honest men come to their goods.
When thieves fall out, honest men get their goods back.

When thieves fall out, their knaveries come to light.
When thine enemy retreateth, make him a golden bridge.
When things are at the worst they begin to mend.
When things go well it is easy to advise.
When thou seest thy house in flames, go warm thyself by it.
When three men march together, one of them must be the boss.
When three people call you an ass, put on a bridle.
When three people know, the whole world knows.
When three people say you are drunk, go to sleep.
When three wise men say you are an ass, bray.
When traveling do not calculate the distance, at dinner don't think of how much.
When two are in love, only one needs to eat.
When two divorced people marry, four people get into bed.
When two do the same, it isn't the same.
When two dogs fight for a bone, the third runs away with it.
When two dogs fight over a bone, a third one carries it away.
When two elephants fight it's the grass that gets hurt.
When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.
When two friends dip into their purse, one laughs, the other cries.
When two friends have a common bank account, one sings and the other weeps.
When two friends part they have to lock up each other's secrets and throw away the key.
When two jars collide, one breaks.
When two men quarrel, the one who yields first displays the nobler character.
When two participants quarrel, third harvests all the benefits.
When two paupers get married it is the beginning of a generation of beggars.
When two poor men help each other, God laughs.
When two quarrel both are in the wrong.
When two quarrel, both are to blame.
When violence comes into the house, law and justice leave through the chimney.
When war begins the devil makes hell bigger.
When water flows uphill, frogs sing 'Abu Ata.
When water reaches up to the nose, the calf is a swimmer.
When water remains in one place, it spoils.
When we are at our happiest, then it is best to leave and go home.
When we can't find peace in ourselves it is vain to look for it elsewhere.
When we cannot get what we love, we must love what is within our reach.
When we don't have what we like, we must like what we have.
When we have nothing to worry about we are not doing much, and not doing much may supply us with plenty of future worries.
When we least expect it, the hare darts out of the ditch.
When we sing everybody hears us, when we sigh nobody hears us.
When we sing everybody hears us; when we sigh, nobody hears us.
When we take one step toward to God, he takes seven steps toward us.
When we think to catch we are sometimes caught.
When what you want doesn't happen, learn to want what does.
When willows bear grapes.
When wine comes in, modesty leaves.
When wine enters modesty departs.
When wine sinks, words swim.
When wisdom fails, luck helps.

When wise men play mad pranks they do it with a vengeance.
When with dwarfs, do not talk about pygmies.
When woman reigns the devil governs.
When wood breaks it can be repaired, but ivory breaks forever.
When wood is chopped, woodchips will fly.
When you are an anvil, bear; when you are a hammer, strike.
When you are asleep, your luck works out for you.
When you are at Rome do as Rome does.
When you are at home, even the walls help you.
When you are crossing over a river you might be eaten by crocodiles, but don't let yourself get bitten by the little fish.
When you are given, take it, when you are beaten, run away.
When you are in a hurry, the horse holds back.
When you are in a pack of hounds, you either bark or wag your tail.
When you are in difficulty, go to the house of your friend -- not your sister's.
When you are looking for a country with no tombstones you will find yourself in the land of cannibals.
When you are looking upwards you see no frontiers.
When you are on the road speak not ill of your enemy.
When you are polite, the others think they are wearing flowers.
When you are rich you suffer in a more comfortable way.
When you are rich, you are resented; when you are poor, you are despised.
When you are right no one remembers; when you are wrong no one forgets.
When you are sick you promise a goat, but when you are well again make do with a chicken.
When you are snapping at boneless meat, remember gnawing on a bone.
When you are talking about marriage, think about your mother.
When you are thirsty, it's too late to think of digging the well.
When you are very angry, don't go to a lawyer; when you are very hungry, don't be a poet.
When you are waiting for something good, you can never wait too long' i.e Something good is worth waiting for.
When you are well off keep as you are.
When you bargain with a fox, beware of tricks.
When you begin to understand the situation, you know you must have been ill-informed.
When you bow, bow low.
When you bump into someone, begging your pardon doesn't put it right.
When you buy beef, you buy bones; when you buy land, you buy rocks.
When you can avoid it, never seek strife.
When you can't find peace within yourself, it's useless to seek it elsewhere.
When you can't get bread, oat-cakes are not amiss.
When you can't get meat, chickens and bacon are good.
When you cease to strive to understand, then you will know without understanding.
When you chop off a snake's head all you are left with is a piece of rope.
When you come back from a trip bring something for the family -- even if it is only a stone.
When you cook a guinea fowl, the partridge gets a headache.
When you die, your sister's tears will dry as time goes on, your widow's tears will end in another's arms, but your mother will mourn you until the day she dies.
When you die, your trumpeter will be buried.
When you do good , you get good.
When you do something wholeheartedly, you are not in need of helpers.
When you don't wait for it tomorrow still comes.
When you drink milk under the palm tree, people will say that it is palm wine.
When you drink the water, remember the spring.
When you drink water, remember where the mountain spring is.

When you eat new bread, don't drink water.
When you fall into a pit, either you get out or die.
When you fall into a pit, you either die or get out.
When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him.
When you get older you keep warm with the wood you gathered as a youth.
When you go to a donkey's house, don't talk about ears.
When you go to a strange house knock at the door.
When you go to bed with a clear head, you will not get up with a headache.
When you go to buy, use your eyes not your ears.
When you go to buy, use your eyes, not your ears.
When you go to dance, take heed whom you take by the hand.
When you go, the road is rough; when you return, smooth.
When you grow up you will forget it happened.
When you have a good government the grass will grow over your troubles.
When you have a lot to do, start with a meal.
When you have an mule for a friend, expect nothing but kicks.
When you have children yourself, you begin to understand what you owe your parents.
When you have diarrhia, Green Guava doesn't help. (Green guayas are said to give constipation).
When you have done the job, you may take a walk boldly.
When you have left a country, you have left everyone.
When you have no choice, mobilize the spirit of courage.
When you have no companion, look to your walking stick.
When you have not what you like, you must like what you have.
When you have only two dollars left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a rose with the other.
When you have read a book for the first time, you get to know a friend; read it for a second time and you meet an old friend.
When you have spoken the word, it reigns over you. When it is unspoken you reign over it.
When you have three daughters, you sleep with the door open.
When you know who his friend is, you know who he is.
When you lie on roses while young, you'll lie on thorns while you're old.
When you live next to the cemetery you cannot weep for everyone.
When you live next to the cemetery, you cannot weep for everyone.
When you make a pan you also make a cover for it.
When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart.
When you pick up the stick, the robber dog knows.
When you point your finger at someone, look where the other fingers point.
When you put your nose into the water your cheeks get wet as well.
When you reject gifts from heaven you will be rewarded in hell.
When you say one thing, the clever person understands three.
When you see a palm tree, the palm tree has seen you.
When you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.
When you see gossamer flying, be sure the air is drying.
When you see the wolf, do not look for his track.
When you shoot a zebra in the black stripe, the white dies too; shoot it in the white and the black dies too.
When you shoot an arrow of truth, dip its point in honey.
When you show the moon to a child, it sees only your finger.
When you spit against the wind you get a dirty beard.
When you sweep the stairs, you start at the top.
When you take a knife away from a child, give him a piece of wood instead.
When you talk about future happenings the devil starts to laugh.

When you talk about the sun, you will see her beams.
When you tell the truth, have one foot in the stirrup.
When you throw dirt, you lose ground.
When you treat someone like a wild cat, he will steal your chickens.
When you wait for tomorrow it never comes.
When you wait for tomorrow it never comes. When you don't wait for it tomorrow still comes.
When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet.
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live you life in a manner so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.
When you will, they wont, when you wont, they will.
When you're dying of thirst it's too late to dig a well.
When you're out of luck in the coffin making business, no one dies.
When you're speaking about the trolls, they're standing in the entrance hall listening.
When you're thirsty it's too late to think about digging a well.
When you've heard it you must see it; when you've seen it make a judgement with your heart.
When your devil was born, mine was going to school.
When your enemies attack, bathe in their blood.
When your enemy falls down, pick him up.
When your fortune improves, the columns of your house appear to be crooked.
When your luck deserts you, even cold food burns.
When your neighbor walks through your orchard, the polite thing to do is to ignore it.
When your own funeral is approaching, you don't pick and choose your grave diggers.
When your son grows up, treat him as a brother.
When your wine is finished, conversation ends; when your money has been spent, you lose your friends.
Whenever I work hard for other people, I always sleep on an empty stomach.
Whenever the water rises, the boat will rise too.
Whenever there is profit to be made then think of honesty.
Whenever women say good-bye they always hang around for a while.
Where God bestows an office, he provides brains to fill it.
Where God builds a church, the devil builds a chapel.
Where God cooks, there is no smoke.
Where God gives hard bread He also gives sharp teeth.
Where God has his church the Devil will have his chapel.
Where God has sown it shall flourish.
Where God sends babbies he sends penny loaves.
Where I make a living, there is my home.
Where I make my living, there is my home.
Where MacGregor sits at the head of the table.
Where Nature stops folly begins.
Where Two are fighting, third should not interfere.
Where a chest lieth open, a righteous man may sin.
Where a horse of a Turk passes the grass will not grow again.
Where a man feels pain he lays his hand.
Where a man never goes, there his head will never be washed.
Where all adulterers to wear grey coats, the cloth would be dear.
Where are you going?.
Where art is displayed truth does not appear.
Where bees are, there is honey.
Where blood has been shed the tree of forgiveness cannot grow.
Where conceit and ignorance sit, grass will not grow again.
Where error gets to, correction cannot reach.
Where every one goes, the grass never grows.
Where force prevails, right perishes.
Where force rules, justice does not exist.
Where freedom is, there shall my country be.
Where friars abound keep your eyes open.
Where friends, there riches.
Where ghosts walk, there is loving or thieving.
Where goes a horse with its hoof, there goes a crayfish with its pincer.
Where gold avails, argument fails.
Where gold chinks, arguments are of no avail.
Where gold speaks every tongue is silent.

Where honour ceaseth, there knowledge decreaseth.
Where honour grows a span, folly grows an ell.

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


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