French Folk Wisdom

French Proverbs and Sayings - a people's condensed wisdom, in English and the original version

A selection of over 300 French proverbs and sayings newly translated into English. The translations were kept as literal as possible, so as not to lose the authentic French flavour.

A small sample:

Aux vilains matous les belles chattes.

The ugly tomcats get the prettiest cats.

Le malheur vient à cheval et s'en retourne à pied.

Misfortune arrives astride a horse, and leaves on foot.

Il n'est jamais assez tard pour faire une sottise.

It is never too late to commit a folly.

Quand l'érudit se trompe, il se trompe avec érudition.

When a scholar is wrong, he makes his mistake with erudition.

Qui sait le plus doute le plus.

Who knows most, doubts the most.

Rien ne vieillit plus vite qu'un bienfait.

Nothing gets old so fast as a favour.

Quand Dieu envoie la farine, le diable enlève le sac.

When God sends the flour, the devil carries the bag away.

There are proverbs on Work, Money, Family, Health, Death, the Law, and Animals, to name just a few of the subjects covered. Enjoy as you add to your knowledge!