Gaelic Proverbs

An ni chi na big, 's e ni na big
What the little ones see, the little ones do

Bathaidh toll beag long mhor
A little hole will sink a big ship

Brigh gach chluiche gu gheireadh
The essence of a game is at its end

Bidh an t-ubhal as fhearr air a'
The best apple is on the highest bough

Cha bhi fios aire math an tobair gus an traigh e
The value of the well is not known until it goes dry

Cha sgeul-ruin e 's fios aig triuir air
It's no secret if three know it

Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh
A wave will rise on quiet water

Cluinnidh am bodhar fuaim an airgid
The deaf can hear the silver clink

Dean maorach fhad 's a bhios an traigh ann
Dig your bait while the tide is out

Fear sam bith a loisgeas a mhas, 's e fhein a dh'fheumas suidhe air
Whoever burns his backside must himself sit upon it

Ged a chual' iad an ceol, cha do thuig iad am port
They heard the music but did not understand the tune

Tachraidh na daoine, ach cha tachair na cnuic
Men will meet, but the hills will not

Bidh cron duine cho mor ri beinn mun leir dha fhein e
A man's fault will be as big as a mountain before he sees it

Cha tainig ugh mor riamh on dreathain-duinn
The wren never laid a large egg

Ciod a b'aill leat fhaighinn an nead an fhithich ach am fitheach fhein
What would you have in the raven's nest but the raven itself?

Gheibb cearc an sgriobain rudeigin, is chan fhaigh cearc a' chrubain dad idir
The scraping hen will find something, but the creeping hen will find nothing

Is fhearr teine beag a gharas na teine mor a loisgeas
The little fire that warms is better than the big fire that burns

Is fhearr teicheadh math na droch fhuireach
Better a good retreat than a bad stand

Mol an latha math mu oidhche
Praise the good day at the close of it