The best-known Russian proverbs
The top 3 according to 9 votes from people: Without effort you can't even pull a fish out of a pond. · The slower you go, the further you'll get. · Moscow wasn't built at once.. (Updated Dec 19, 2025.)
The proverbs every Russian speaker knows, with their meaning. Chosen from proverb collections (Wikiquote, Wikipedia) and lists of the most used.
Automatically translated (original in Русский). See the original
Top 12
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1
Without effort you can't even pull a fish out of a pond.
Nothing comes without effort. English: no pain, no gain.
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2
The slower you go, the further you'll get.
Calm and careful gets you further. English: slow and steady wins the race.
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3
Moscow wasn't built at once.
Great things take time. English: Rome wasn't built in a day.
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4
The apple doesn't fall far from the apple tree.
Children take after their parents.
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5
An old friend is better than two new ones.
A tried and tested friend is worth more than new acquaintances.
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6
Measure seven times, cut once.
Think carefully before acting. English: measure twice, cut once.
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7
Chicks are counted in autumn.
Judge results at the end. English: don't count your chickens before they hatch.
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8
Time for business, an hour for fun.
Work first, play later.
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9
If you're afraid of wolves, don't go into the forest.
If you fear risk, you'll achieve nothing.
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10
The morning is wiser than the evening.
Big decisions are best made with a fresh head. English: sleep on it.
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11
It's nice to be a guest, but home is better.
There's no place like home.
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12
Better to have a hundred friends than a hundred roubles.
Friends are worth more than money.
Candidates
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13
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Your actions have consequences.
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14
There's no accounting for taste and colour.
Everyone has their own tastes.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
«Утро вечера мудренее» — бабушка всегда так говорила.