German proverbs

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Ein faules Ei verdirbt den Brei. Show translation One rotten egg spoils the broth. A fly in the ointment.
Heute mir, morgen dir. Show translation Today me, tomorrow you. Our day will come.
Ein schmeichelndes Kalb saugt zwei Mütter aus. Show translation A flattering calf sucks two mothers. Soft fire makes sweet malt.
Wer nichts hat, kann nichts geben. Show translation He who has nothing can give nothing. A man cannot give What he hasn't got.
Von Toten soll man nur Gutes reden. Show translation One should speak only good things of the dead. Speak well of the dead.
Volkes Stimme, Gottes Stimme. The voice of the people, the voice of God. The voice of the people, the voice of God.
Wenn man den Wolf nennt, so kommt er gerennt. Show translation When you call the wolf, he comes running. Talk of the devil, and he is bound to appear.
Man soll kein Öl ins Feuer gießen. Show translation Don't add fuel to the fire. Pouring Oil on the fire is not the way to quench it.
Im Becher ersaufen mehr als im Meer. Show translation More drown in the cup than in the sea. Wine has drowned more men than the sea.
Von Worten wird der Bauch nicht voll. Show translation Words do not fill the belly. Fair words fill not the belly.
Des einen Tod, des andern Brot. Show translation One man's death is another man's bread. One man's meat is another man's poison.
Wer nach dem Himmel speit, dem fällt der Speichel in den eigenen Bart. Show translation He who spits at heaven, saliva falls into his own beard. Who spits against heaven, it falls in his face.
Was dem Herzen gefällt, das suchen die Augen. Show translation What pleases the heart, the eyes seek.
Gleiche Brüder, gleiche Kappen. Show translation Same brothers, same caps. All tarred with the same brush.
Große Fische fressen die kleinen. Show translation Big fish eat the little ones. Big fish eat little fish.
Berg und Tal kommen nicht zusammen, aber Menschen. Show translation Mountain and valley do not come together, but people do. Friends may meet, but mountains never greet.
Niemand ist ohne Fehl. Show translation No one is without fault. Nobody is perfect.
Viele Wenig machen ein Viel. Show translation Many little make one much. All is fish that comes to the net.
Wenn der Abt zum Glase greift, so greifen die Mönche zum Kruge. Show translation When the abbot reaches for the glass, the monks reach for the jar. Like master, like man.
Guter Anfang ist halbe Arbeit. Show translation A good start is half the work. Well begun is half done.

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German proverbs