French proverbs

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Ne t'attends qu'à toi seul. Show translation Expect only yourself. Who lives by hope, will die by hunger.
Le bon marché coûte cher. Show translation Cheap is expensive. Cheap and nasty.
Changer son cheval borgne contre un aveugle. Show translation Changing your one-eyed horse for a blind one. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Promettre et tenir sont deux. Show translation Promising and keeping are two different things. Promises are like pie-crusts, made to be broken.
Ce que le sobre tient au coeur, est sur la langue du buveur. Show translation What the sober man holds in his heart, is on the drinker's tongue. There is truth in wine.
Un singe vêtu de pourpre est toujours un singe. Show translation A monkey in purple is still a monkey. An ape is ne'er so like an ape, as when he wears a doctor's cape.
Le plus sage se tait. Show translation The wisest remain silent. The Wise head gives in.
Morceau avalé n'a plus de goût. Show translation Swallowed piece has no taste. Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
Nourris un corbeau, il te crèvera les yeux. Show translation Feed a crow and it'll gouge your eyes out. Breed up a crow and he will tear out your eyes.
Médecin, guéris-toi toi-même! Show translation Physician, heal thyself! Physician, heal thyself.
La pelle se moque du fourgon. Show translation The shovel mocks the van. The kettle calls the pot black-brows.
Marie ton fils quand tu voudras et ta fille quand tu pourras. Show translation Marry your son when you want and your daughter when you can. Marry your son when you Will, your daughter when you can.
Qui donne vite donne deux fois. Show translation Who gives quickly gives twice. He gives twice who gives quickly.
Tel maître, tel valet. Show translation Like master, like servant. Jack is as good as his master.
Les os sont pour les absents. Show translation The bones are for the absent. First come, first served.
Chacun a un fou dans sa manche. Show translation Everyone's got a madman up their sleeve. Everyone has a fool in his sleeve.
Qui fait la faute, la boit. Show translation Who makes the mistake, drinks it. As you bake so shall you eat.
Brebis comptées le loup les mange. Show translation Counting sheep, the wolf eats them. The wolf eats often of the sheep that have been told.
Les raisins sont trop verts. Show translation The grapes are too green. The grapes are sour.
Pour néant demande conseil qui ne le veut croire. Show translation For nothingness asks advice who doesn't want to believe it. He that will not be counselled cannot be helped.

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French proverbs