Praise the sea, but stay on land.

What it means

It is easy to admire danger from a safe spot. The proverb laughs at people who love an adventure they never take. Admire what you like, but be honest about where you are standing.

The source

"Praise the sea, but stay on land." This French proverb is recorded in Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857), French Proverbs. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.

"Il faut louer la mer et se tenir en terre."

Original French, Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857), French Proverbs. Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Proverbs of the world (Every age). Sayings from the Latin, Greek, Norse, Japanese, Chinese and more, each traced to an old source in its own language.

Questions

What does "Praise the sea, but stay on land." mean?

It is easy to admire danger from a safe spot. The proverb laughs at people who love an adventure they never take. Admire what you like, but be honest about where you are standing.

Who said "Praise the sea, but stay on land."?

French proverb. Source: Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857), French Proverbs.

What is the original French?

Il faut louer la mer et se tenir en terre. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Praise the sea, but stay on land." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Praise the sea, but stay on land." (French proverb, Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857), French Proverbs, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/praise-the-sea-but-stay-on-land