Danish Proverbs

A slip of the foot may soon be recovered; but that of the tongue perhaps never.

A bird may be ever so small, it always seeks a nest of its own.

Ambition and revenge are always hungry.

A good neighbour is better than a brother far off.

Break one link and the whole chain falls apart.

“It will come back,” said the man, when he gave his sow pork.

Age may wrinkle the face, but lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Faults are thick where love is thin.

A crowd is not company.

It is best to be on the safe side.

What is sweet in the mouth is not always good in the stomach.

A fool only wins the first game.

Keep your nose out of another’s mess.

Joy is like the ague; one good day between two bad ones.

A friend’s frown is better than a fool’s smile.

Love is one-eyed, hate is blind.

Better a little furniture than an empty house.

Many have too much, but none enough.

It is easy to manage when fortune favors.

A bold attempt is half success.

You may force a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.

A donkey that carries a lot of books is not necessarily learned.

He that does not save pennies, will never have pounds.

God feeds the birds that use their wings.

A penny in time is as good as a dollar.

Kind words don’t wear out the tongue.

Act honestly, and answer boldly.

Bad is never good until worse happens.

The most difficult mountain to cross is the threshold.

Speaking silence is better than senseless speech.

Let deeds match words.

A good pilot is not known when the sea is calm and the weather fair.

He that inquires much, learns much.

A short rest is always good.

That which must be, will be.

A willing helper does not wait until he is asked.

You may always find an opportunity in your sleeve, if you like.

Life begins at forty.

A man’s character reaches town before his person.

Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

Another man’s burden is always light.

Better a little in peace and with right, than much with anxiety and strife.

A bold man has luck in his train.

Blame is the lazy man’s wages.

It is easy to sit at the helm in fine weather.

A child must creep until it learns to walk.

Speedy execution is the mother of good fortune.

Advice after injury is like medicine after death.

Better ask twice than lose your way once.

Where you cannot climb over, you must creep under.

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.

Stop and smell the roses.

A little stone may upset a large cart.

An old man’s sayings are seldom untrue.

Better half a loaf than none at all.

You can have too much of a good thing.

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