English proverbs with meanings

A stitch in time saves nine.

Fix a small problem now, before it grows into a big one.

Rome was not built in a day.

Great things take time and steady work.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

If you really want to do something, you will find a means to do it.

Practice makes perfect.

Doing a thing again and again is the way to become good at it.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Regular effort beats a fast start that does not last.

No pain, no gain.

Nothing worthwhile is won without some hardship.

The early bird catches the worm.

The person who starts early gets the best chance.

Make hay while the sun shines.

Use a good opportunity while it lasts.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Act at the right moment, when conditions favour you.

Many hands make light work.

A job is easy when many people share it.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many people direct one task, it is done badly.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

A person who keeps changing jobs or places does not build anything lasting.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Do not give up after one failure.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

When people badly need something, they find a way to make it.

A bad workman blames his tools.

A person who does poor work looks for excuses outside himself.

Look before you leap.

Think about the results before you act.

Better late than never.

Doing something late is better than not doing it at all.

Better safe than sorry.

It is wiser to be careful than to regret a risk.

Prevention is better than cure.

It is easier to stop a problem than to repair it afterwards.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Do not depend on a gain before you actually have it.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Do not risk everything on a single plan.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

What you already have is worth more than a bigger thing you may not get.

All's well that ends well.

Troubles on the way do not matter if the result is good.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Do not form an opinion from outward appearance alone.

Appearances are deceptive.

Things are often different from how they look.

Still waters run deep.

A quiet person may have deep thoughts and feelings.

Empty vessels make the most noise.

People with little knowledge often talk the most.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Prying into things that do not concern you can lead to trouble.

Once bitten, twice shy.

A bad experience makes a person careful the next time.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Every difficult situation has some good in it.

It is no use crying over spilt milk.

There is no point in grieving over what cannot be undone.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Answering a wrong with another wrong does not make things right.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Words and ideas have more lasting power than force.

Honesty is the best policy.

Telling the truth serves you best in the long run.

Actions speak louder than words.

What a person does shows more than what he says.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A true friend is one who helps when you are in trouble.

Birds of a feather flock together.

People of similar tastes and character keep each other's company.

Charity begins at home.

Care for your own family first, then for others.

Blood is thicker than water.

Family ties are stronger than other ties.

Out of sight, out of mind.

We soon forget people and things we no longer see.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

We feel more love for people when they are away.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Knowing someone too closely can reduce respect.

Two heads are better than one.

Two people thinking together solve a problem better than one alone.

United we stand, divided we fall.

People are strong together and weak when they quarrel.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Follow the customs of the place you are in.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Your results depend on your own deeds.

Barking dogs seldom bite.

People who make loud threats rarely carry them out.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Do not criticise others for faults you have yourself.

The pot calls the kettle black.

Said of someone who blames another for a fault he shares.

Time and tide wait for no man.

Time passes whether you are ready or not, so do not delay.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Money you do not spend is as good as money you earn.

Cut your coat according to your cloth.

Spend only what your means allow.

Money does not grow on trees.

Money is hard to earn and should not be wasted.

Health is wealth.

Good health is the most valuable thing a person has.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Good eating habits help you stay well. A saying, not medical advice.

Beggars can't be choosers.

A person in need must accept what is offered.

Half a loaf is better than none.

Something is better than nothing.

There is no place like home.

Home is the most comfortable place of all.

Every dog has its day.

Everyone gets a chance of success at some time.

The grass is always greener on the other side.

Other people's lives look better than our own, though they may not be.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

You cannot enjoy two things that exclude each other.

Old habits die hard.

It is difficult to change a way of behaving that you have had for long.

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Do some small good, and do not only complain.