# Provençal proverbs

Proverbs from all Provençal speaking parts of the world.

## B

* Beat qu dou ben d'autruc fa son aprenissagi.
** Translation: It is easiest to learn from another mans damage.
** English equivalent: Wise men learn by other men's mistakes, fools by their own.
** Source for proverb: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 619. ISBN 0415096243.

## F

* Fa boòn pescar en aiga trobla.
** Translation: It is good fishing in streamy water.
** English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
** Meaning: In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes.
** Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 391. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Fa de necessitat vertu.
** English equivalent: Make a virtue out of necessity.
** "As Virtue is its own Reward, so Vice is its own Punishment."
** Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia (1732)
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1079. ISBN 0415096243.
* Fau copa lou clos pèr avé l'amelo.
** English equivalentː He that would eat the kernel must crack the nut.
** Meaning: "Nothing is achieved without effort."
** Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "784". Dictionary of European proverbs. II (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 680. ISBN 0415096243.

## I

* Lou barbié piétadous fâi la vërmënoûzo.
** English equivalent: Mild physician – putrid wounds.
** Meaning: Telling harsh truths constructively (to yourself as well) and stern measures makes for a good figurative and literal cure.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1091. ISBN 0415096243.

## L

* L'aiglo non casso i mousco.
** English equivalent: Eagles don't catch flies.
** Meaning: "People of high rank are considered – or consider themselves – too important to deal with trivial things or lowly folk."
** Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 25 August 2013.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "230". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
* L'us dau paire, l'efant l'aprend.
** Translation: Such father, such son.
** English equivalent: Like father, like son.
** Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Lo gòs peis manja lo pichon.
** Translation: Big fish eat little fish.
** English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
** Meaning: "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."
** Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
** Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

## M

* Mesura doás fes e copas qu'una.
** English equivalent: Measure thrice, cut once.
** Meaning: One should always act only after due consideration. A hasty action may involve an improper consideration of important aspects.
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Mirgo que n'a qu'un trou est bientôt prise.
** English equivalent: It is a poor mouse that has only one hole.
** Meaning: It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 375. ISBN 0415096243.

## N

* N'es pas tant pichon lou bouisson, qu'uno fes dou jourt non fasse ombro.
** English equivalent: Every hair casts its shadow.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 0415096243.

## P

* Parol de vendre la peau davant qu'avec la bestia.
** English equivalent: Don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243.
* Pèr prene un toun, asardo uno meleto.
** Translation: Who wants to win a gander, you need to weigh Drake.
** English equivalent: Set a herring to catch a whale.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1134. ISBN 0415096243.
* Podètz pas servir dos mèstres.
** Translation: Nobody can serve two masters.
** English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
** Meaning: One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly.
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 283. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

## U

* Urós quau es artisan de sa fortuna.
** English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
** Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

## V

* Vaut may istar soulet que mau accompagnat.
** Translation: It is better to be alone than to be in bad company.
** English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
** Source for proverb: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 572. ISBN 0415096243.
* Vieillos amours et vieil tizon, promptament ralumas sont.
** English equivalent: Of soup and love the first is the best.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 825. ISBN 0415096243.

## Q

* Quand lei cats i son pas, lei garris dançan.
** Translation: When the cat is away, the mice dance on the floor.
** English equivalent: When the cat's away, the mice will play.
** Meaning: "In the absence of the person in authority those under his control will often neglect the duties/rules imposed on them."
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Martin H. Manser (2007). "17". The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 8 September 2013.
* Quau vai souvent en casso, a la fin tuo la becasso.
** Translation: The turtle who perserveres wins.
** English equivalent: By perseverance the snail reached the arc.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 0415096243.

## See also

* French proverbs
* Romansch proverbs