The best-known German proverbs
The top 3 according to 4 votes from people: Whoever says A must also say B. · Lies have short legs. · Too many cooks spoil the broth.. (Updated Oct 10, 2021.)
The proverbs Germans grow up with, and what they mean. Chosen from proverb collections (Wikiquote, Wiktionary) and lists of the most used sayings.
Automatically translated (original in Deutsch). See the original
Top 15
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1
Whoever says A must also say B.
If you start something, you have to see it through.
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2
Lies have short legs.
Lies are soon found out.
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3
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
When too many people are involved, things go wrong. Same in English.
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4
The morning hour has gold in its mouth.
Early risers get more done. English: the early bird catches the worm.
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5
Practice makes the master.
Only constant practice makes you good. English: practice makes perfect.
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6
All's well that ends well.
If the result is good, the troubles are forgotten. Same in English.
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7
He who laughs last laughs best.
Whoever wins in the end was right all along.
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8
Every beginning is hard.
New things are always difficult at the start.
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9
Whoever digs a pit for others falls into it himself.
Those who try to harm others end up harming themselves; from the Bible (Proverbs 26:27).
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10
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Children take after their parents. Same in English.
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11
Speech is silver, silence is golden.
Sometimes it's wiser to say nothing.
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12
No diligence, no prize.
Nothing comes without effort. English: no pain, no gain.
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13
Clothes make the man.
Appearance shapes how others see you; also the title of a novella by Gottfried Keller (1874).
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14
Where there's a will, there's a way.
With enough determination there's always a solution. Same in English.
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15
The dogs bite the last one.
Whoever comes last loses out. English: the devil takes the hindmost.
Candidates
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16
Whoever rests, rusts.
If you don't keep active, you lose your abilities.
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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