World Wisdom
Hello, hola and halo. A small, growing collection of wisdom and advice from around the world. From Japan to Brazil, Indonesia to Russia, every corner of the world has wisdom worth knowing and sharing. Click any saying to read its cultural note, discover the English equivalent, and hear it spoken aloud in both languages.
[[slug:the-past-is-nothing-more-than-just-the-past]]
South Korea
The past is nothing more than just the past.
과거는 과거일 뿐이다 Gwa-geor-eun gwa-gwer-il ppun-i-da.
[[slug:accept-your-portion-in-life-with-an-open-hand]]
Indonesia
Accept your portion in life with an open hand.
Nrimo ing pandum.
[[slug:measure-the-fabric-seven-times-cut-it-only-once]]
Russia
Measure the fabric seven times, cut it only once.
Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь Sem' raz otmer', odin raz otrez.
[[slug:the-heart-desires-to-embrace-the-mountain-but-the-arms-are-too-short]]
Indonesia
The heart desires to embrace the mountain, but the arms are too short.
Maksud hati memeluk gunung, apa daya tangan tak sampai.
[[slug:the-sweetness-of-doing-absolutely-nothing]]
Italy
The sweetness of doing absolutely nothing.
Il dolce far niente.
[[slug:to-peel-the-pineapple]]
Brazil
To peel the pineapple.
Descascar o abacaxi.
[[slug:like-this-like-that]]
France
Like this, like that.
Comme ci, comme ça.
[[slug:the-nail-that-sticks-out-gets-hammered-down]]
Japan
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
出る釘は打たれる Deru kugi wa utareru.
[[slug:if-jade-is-not-polished-it-cannot-become-a-beautiful-vessel]]
China
If jade is not polished, it cannot become a beautiful vessel.
玉不琢，不成器 Yù bù zuó, bù chéng qì.
[[slug:the-shrimp-that-falls-asleep-gets-carried-away-by-the-river-current]]
Mexico
The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the river current.
Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.
[[slug:one-chirp-and-it-astounds-the-world]]
China
One chirp, and it astounds the world.
一鸣惊人 Yī míng jīng rén
[[slug:to-flip-the-omelet]]
Spain
To flip the omelet.
Dar la vuelta a la tortilla.
[[slug:failure-is-the-mother-of-success]]
China
Failure is the mother of success.
失败乃成功之母 Shībài nǎi chénggōng zhī mǔ.
[[slug:not-too-little-not-too-much-just-right-is-best]]
Sweden
Not too little, not too much, just right is best.
Lagom är bäst.
[[slug:slowly-but-surely-as-long-as-it-gets-accomplished]]
Indonesia
Slowly but surely, as long as it gets accomplished.
Alon-alon asal kelakon.
[[slug:the-monkey-is-a-gazelle-in-his-mother-s-eyes]]
Egypt
The monkey is a gazelle in his mother's eyes.
القرد في عين أمه غزال Al-qird fi 'ayn ummihi ghazal.
[[slug:you-must-crack-the-nut-open-to-eat-the-kernel-inside]]
France
You must crack the nut open to eat the kernel inside.
Il faut casser la noix pour manger le noyau.
[[slug:a-frog-at-the-bottom-of-a-well]]
China
A frog at the bottom of a well
井底之蛙 Jǐng dǐ zhī wā.
[[slug:raft-upstream-first-then-swim-to-the-shore-later]]
Indonesia
Raft upstream first, then swim to the shore later.
Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian.
