25 Arabic proverbs that convey wisdom and truth, along with their meanings
الوقت كالسيف، إن لم تقطعه قطعك “Time is like a sword; if you don’t cut it, it will cut you.”
Meaning: Time is precious and should be used wisely.
العقل زينة “The mind is an ornament.”
Meaning: Wisdom and intelligence are valuable assets.
ما كل ما يتمنى المرء يدركه “Not everything a person wishes for can be achieved.”
Meaning: We cannot always achieve our desires.
يد واحدة لا تصفق “One hand cannot clap.”
Meaning: Cooperation is essential for success.
من جد وجد “Whoever strives will find.”
Meaning: Hard work leads to success.
العين لا تعلو على الحاجب “The eye does not rise above the eyebrow.”
Meaning: One should not overstep their place.
لكل شيء إذا ما تم نقصان “Everything that is complete has a flaw.”
Meaning: Nothing is perfect.
الحاجة أم الاختراع “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
Meaning: Challenges often lead to creative solutions.
الجمل لا يرى حردبته “The camel does not see its own hump.”
Meaning: People often overlook their own faults.
أحب لأخيك ما تحب لنفسك “Love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
Meaning: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
العصفور في اليد خير من عشرة على الشجرة “A bird in the hand is better than ten in the tree.”
Meaning: It’s better to hold onto what you have than to risk it for more.
الصبر مفتاح الفرج “Patience is the key to relief.”
Meaning: Patience leads to better outcomes.
لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين “A believer is not bitten from the same hole twice.”
Meaning: Learn from your mistakes.
أعطِ الخبز لخبازه “Give the bread to the baker.”
Meaning: Let specialists handle their respective fields.
إذا كان الكلام من فضة، فالسكوت من ذهب “If speech is silver, silence is golden.”
Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to remain silent.
لا تؤجل عمل اليوم إلى الغد “Do not postpone today’s work until tomorrow.”
Meaning: Avoid procrastination.
الصديق وقت الضيق “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Meaning: True friends show their worth in tough times.
أن تأتي متأخراً خير من ألا تأتي “Better late than never.”
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.
العذر أقبح من الذنب “Excuses are worse than the sin.”
Meaning: Making excuses is often worse than the mistake itself.
من طلب العلا سهر الليالي “Whoever seeks greatness stays up at night.”
Meaning: Achieving success requires hard work and sacrifice.
بين الحلم واليقظة شعرة “Between dreams and waking lies a thread.”
Meaning: The line between aspiration and reality can be thin.
كل إناء بما فيه ينضح “Every container spills what it contains.”
Meaning: People reveal their true selves through their words and actions.
كلما ارتفعت الشجرة، كثرت رياحها “The taller the tree, the stronger the winds.”
Meaning: Success brings more challenges.
اللسان ليس له عظام “The tongue has no bones.”
Meaning: Words can be powerful and can hurt without physical force.
الحكمة ضالة المؤمن “Wisdom is the lost property of the believer.”
Meaning: A wise person seeks knowledge wherever it may be found.
