Where do these ancient proverbs come from?

Each of the 49 lines links to its own page with the book and passage it comes from, the original-language wording and how it was translated. Nothing is attributed without a source.

Ancient proverbs

Norse, Latin, Greek, Japanese, Chinese and Swahili proverbs, each traced to an old source in its own language.

Skill, not force.Swahili proverb
One thing never dies: how the dead are judged.Norse (Hávamál)
Among the bold, nobody is boldest.Norse (Hávamál)
Not a day without a line.Latin proverb
Hurry, hurry brings no blessing.Swahili proverb
Brains are wealth.Swahili proverb
Want what the sea brings? Go wait on the beach.Swahili proverb
A hoe proves its strength in the field.Swahili proverb
Afraid of the sea? You'll never be a traveler.Swahili proverb
Fall seven times, rise eight.Japanese proverb
One finger alone can't crush a louse.Swahili proverb
Rise early. Sleep through the morning and much slips away. Drive is half the fortune.Norse (Hávamál)

All 49

49 lines

One thing never dies: how the dead are judged.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 77

A hoe proves its strength in the field.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 111

MAÐR ER MANNS GAMAN

People are each other's joy.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 47

Among the bold, nobody is boldest.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 64

NULLA DIES SINE LINEA

Not a day without a line.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 84)

七轉び八起き

Fall seven times, rise eight.

Japanese proverb, Rigen ruishu: ichigo senkin (1906)

Even an ant's will can reach the sky.

Japanese proverb, Rigen ruishu: ichigo senkin (1906)

Finished work is sweet.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 281)

鐵杵磨成針

Keep grinding and an iron bar becomes a needle.

Chinese proverb, Shantang sikao 182 (the old woman grinding the pestle)

Hurry, hurry brings no blessing.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 86

In a hurry? Take the long way round.

Japanese proverb, Rigen ruishu: ichigo senkin (1906)

One finger alone can't crush a louse.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 139

FESTINA LENTE

Hurry slowly.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 244)

Even monkeys fall out of trees.

Japanese proverb, Rigen ruishu: ichigo senkin (1906)

Patience gives birth to good things.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 499

Luck comes to the house that laughs.

Japanese proverb, Rigen ruishu: ichigo senkin (1906)

Rise early. Sleep through the morning and much slips away. Drive is half the fortune.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 59

A sleeping wolf rarely gets the meat. A sleeping man rarely wins.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 58

There's no soft road from earth to the stars.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 247)

Many blows bring down the oak.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 186)

FORTES FORTUNA ADJUVAT

Fortune helps the brave.

Latin proverb, Erasmus, Adagia (Bland ed. 1814, p. 46)

Afraid of the sea? You'll never be a traveler.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 255

Dodge every fight and you'll still grow old. Age gives no one peace.

Norse (Hávamál), Hávamál 16

AKILI MALI

Brains are wealth.

Swahili proverb, Taylor, African Aphorisms (1891), no. 7

Questions

Where do these ancient proverbs come from?: Each of the 49 lines links to its own page with the book and passage it comes from, the original-language wording and how it was translated. Nothing is attributed without a source.