# Latvian proverbs

Latvian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Latvia.

## A

* Ābols no ābeles tālu nekrīt.
** English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
** Meaning: "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."
** Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Aiz kokiem neredzēt mežu.
** Translation: Cannot see woods behind the trees
** Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 0415160502.

## C

* Ceļš uz elli ir bruģēts ar labiem nodomiem.
** English equivalent: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
** Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 257. ISBN 0415160502.

## D

* Dievam trīs lietas patīkamas.
** English equivalent: All good things come in threes.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 0415096243.
* Divus zaķus reizē ķerdams nevienu nenoķersi.
** English equivalent: You must not run after two hares at the same time.
** Meaning: "Concentrate on one thing at a time or you will achieve nothing. - Trying to do two or more things at a time, when even one on its own needs full effort, means that none of them will be accomplished properly."
** Source for meaning of English equivalent: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. X. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
** Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 886. ISBN 0415096243.
* Dumjš tas putns, kam sava ligzda nav mīļa.
** English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
** Meaning: Don't speak ill off yourself and the groups you belong to.
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Dzirdi daudz, runā maz.
** English equivalent: Nature has given us two ears and one tongue.
** "If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere."
** " Zig Ziglar as quoted in The Power of Respect : Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success (2009) by Deborah Norville, p. 65
** Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 0415160502.

## I

* Iedosi velnam mazo pirkstiņu, paņems visu roku.
** English equivalent: Give him an inch and he will take a yard.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 240. ISBN 0415160502.

## K

* Kas nestrādā, tam nebūs ēst.
** English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
** Meaning: "Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work."
** Source for proverb and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Kas skroderarm dos labas drēbes!
** English equivalent: The shoemaker goes barefoot.
** Meaning: "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."
** Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "7". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 65. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Kā viss dzīvē neatgadās
** English equivalent: Never is a long time.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243.
* Kā vecie svilpo tā jaunie danco.
** Translation: The young ones dance as the old ones whistle.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 0415160502.
* Kā sauc, tā atskan.
** English equivalent: Just as one calls into the forest, so it echoes back.
** Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 0415160502.
* Kāda māte, tāda meita.
** English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
** Meaning: "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."
** Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Kāds tēvs, tāds dēls.
** 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 proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
* Kam niez, tas kasās
** English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it.
** "Tis great Confidence in a Friend to tell him your Faults, greater to tell him his or hers."
** Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack (1751).
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 998. ISBN 0415096243.
* Kur divi, tur trešais lieks.
** English equivalent: Two is company, three is a wheel.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 729. ISBN 0415096243.
* Kur tievs, tur trūkst.
** English equivalent: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
** Meaning: "A weak part or member will affect the success or effectiveness of the whole."
** Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 31 July 2013.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 0415160502.

## L

* Labāk godīgi mirt, nekā negodīgi dzīvot.
** English equivalent: Death before dishonour.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 54. ISBN 0415160502.
* Laiks ir nauda.
** English equivalent: Time is money.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1008. ISBN 0415096243.
* Lielā zivs mazo rij.
** 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.
** Source for proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

## N

* Ne viss ir zelts, kas spīd.
** English equivalent: All that glimmers is not gold.
** Meaning: "An attractive appearance may be deceptive. It may cover or hide a much less favourable content."
** Source for meaning of English equivalent: # Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 114. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 0415160502.
* No tukšām runām (valodām) vēders pilnāks netiek.
** English equivalent: Fine words butters no parsnips.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. IOI. ISBN 0415096243.

## P

* Pulkā pat mirt nav grūti.
** Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502.

## S

* Sargi savu godu no jaunām dienām.
** English equivalent: Reckless youth makes rueful age.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1151. ISBN 0415096243.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1122. ISBN 0415096243.
* Sargi sevi pats, tad Dievs tevi sargās.
** English equivalent: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
** Meaning: "When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition."
** Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 733. ISBN 0415096243.
* Sveši dūmi acis grauž.
** English equivalent: Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 754. ISBN 0415096243.

## V

* Vārna vārnai acī neknābj.
** Translation: A crow will not pick out the eyes of another crow.
** English equivalent: Dog doesn't eat dog.
** Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0415160502.
* Veca mīlestība nerūs.
** Translation: Old love does not rust.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 825. ISBN 0415096243.

## Z

* Zirgam četras kājas ir tad vēl klūp.
** English equivalent: It is a good horse that never stumbles.
** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "208". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-1-136-78971-7.

## See also

* Livonian proverbs