80 Great Arab Proverbs Full of Wisdom

In Arab countries, proverbs have been a source of information and wisdom that has been passed down from parents to children since time immemorial.

As a way of transmitting knowledge, proverbs have always been widely used in this culture, as it is a simple way for these teachings to reach all strata of society. Without this knowledge, the Arab culture and people would never have become one of the most relevant peoples of the 20th and 21st centuries, with no doubt they have been and will be.

Arabic proverbs that you should know

That’s why we thought about what to do a selection of his 80 most important Arabic Proverbs about wisdom It was undoubtedly something necessary, then you can enjoy them and discover the knowledge they possess.

1. Advise the ignorant, and he will take you for his enemy.

He who is not able to discern good and evil may have the wrong idea about us.

2. Praise only God, criticize only yourself.

The problems we have in our lives are largely the fault of our actions.

3. Consult your wife and do the opposite of what she advises you.

A proverb that shows us a somewhat controversial image of women and that many of us do not share.

4. When another suffers, it is wood that suffers.

The suffering of others does not have to affect us if we stay out of it.

5. The fruit of security hangs from the tree of silence.

Staying silent may be the best option if we don’t have something important to say.

6. The love of a man for a woman fades like the moon, but the love of a brother for a brother is permanent like the stars and endures like the word of the prophet.

The love that we can feel for our family members will accompany us throughout our lives.

7. Man cannot jump out of his shadow.

Our shadow, like our thoughts, will always accompany us, wherever we go.

8. The man who does not know how to smile should not open a store.

Our attitude will determine the success we achieve in our companies.

9. He who has health has hope, and he who has hope is the owner of everything.

With health and hope everything in this life is possible, because we still have time to achieve it.

10. Treasure that is not spent is little used.

When we have wealth, the best use we can give it is to use it to achieve other objectives.

11. It is better to turn on a light than to curse the darkness.

We must stand up for our ideas and thoughts, as they reveal the person we really are.

12. The conjecture of the wise is more solid than the certainty of the ignorant.

Doubting is wise, because the wise man is capable of recognizing that he does not have all the information that may be necessary, while the ignorant person affirms without knowing.

13. The economy is half food for life.

Knowing how to manage our economy will lead us to its optimal use and maximum benefit.

14. Patience is a tree with bitter roots, but very sweet fruits.

Being patient will give us the opportunity to achieve our goals, as it is a magnificent virtue.

15. Wisdom is not passed on, it is learned.

To achieve wisdom we must first go through a long process of study.

16. The best visits are the shortest.

We must visit our friends but giving them their personal space and not harassing them. One of those Arab Proverbs that have gone around the world.

17. Accidents in the world are more numerous than the plants on Earth.

Accidents happen everywhere, knowing how to overcome them is what will make us stronger.

18. Those who truly seek God drown within sanctuaries.

To find the true teachings of God we must search for them even in the most remote places.

19. Don’t say everything you know, don’t do everything you can, don’t believe everything you hear, don’t spend everything you have. Because he who says everything he knows, he who does everything he can, he who believes everything he hears, he who spends everything he has… many times he says what is not appropriate, he does what he should not, he judges what He doesn’t see, he spends what he doesn’t have.

We must be cautious with our actions and act very cautiously, as unforeseen events can always arise.

20. Do not try to straighten the shadow of a crooked staff.

To solve a problem we must first find its source, until we find it we will never truly stop it.

21. To strengthen the heart, there is no better exercise than bending down to lift those who are fallen.

Helping people in need makes us better, as we learn to value the life we ​​lead much better. One of those Arab Proverbs about honor.

22. He who insists on hitting the moon with a stone will not succeed, but he will end up knowing how to use the slingshot.

Striving to achieve our goals can help us in many different ways.

23. If someone bites you it reminds you that you have teeth too.

When we are attacked by someone, in addition to seeing our fragility we also see our resistance.

24. If you are applauded, never brag until you know who was applauding.

Praise can come from people who do not want us to prosper in our projects.

25. If a man tells you that you look like a camel, don’t listen to him; If two people tell you, look in the mirror.

When the river sounds it is because it carries water, when several people affirm the same fact it may be because this fact is true.

26. Sit at your door and you will see the corpse of your enemy pass by.

He who does evil, sooner or later that evil will take its toll.

27. Only stones are thrown at the tree loaded with fruit.

Only he who has something to lose is attacked by others.

28. A calm heart is better than a bag full of gold.

Knowing that we did the right thing is something that will give us inner peace and with it we will be happier.

29. A moderate tranquil well-being is preferable to opulence full of worries.

Having only those things that are totally necessary will allow us to lead a calmer and more orderly life.

30. One hand cannot clap.

To achieve most of our goals we will need the help of friends and collaborators.

31. Stop loving the one who loves and let him love what he loves; It’s the only way I won’t stop loving you.

We must respect the opinions of others, just as we want them to respect ours.

32. Try to never let the child you were be ashamed of the adult you are.

Fighting for our dreams is something that we must all do, in order to achieve our best version as individuals.

33. The sigh of a young woman is heard from further away than the roar of a lion.

Feelings are a very powerful tool if you know how to use them correctly.

34. Things are not worth how long they last, but by the traces they leave.

That which marks us the most, leaves its mark on us in an imperishable way.

35. He who does not understand a glance will not understand a long explanation either.

To understand a person we must pay attention to what they want to convey to us.

36. If you like someone because of their physique… It’s not love, it’s desire. If you like him for his intelligence… It’s not love, it’s admiration. If you like it for its wealth… It’s not love, it’s interest. But if you don’t know why you like it… Then, that is love.

When we truly love someone, not even we ourselves know the reason why we love them so much.

37. A gentleman cannot hit a woman even with a flower.

Using violence against a woman is never justified, we must care for each woman as we would like our mother to be cared for.

38. Books, paths and days give man wisdom.

Time will make us the man we should be, as long as we strive to become so.

39. Advice is given and received out of conviction.

We must know how to advise and in the same way we must know how to be advised by people wiser than us.

40. Be a friend to yourself and you will be a friend to others.

To have a positive relationship with others, we must first have it with ourselves.

41. Humanity is divided into three classes, the immovable, the mobile and those that move.

To achieve our goals we must fight for them and do everything that is necessary.

42. The first time you deceive me, it will be your fault; The second will be my fault.

If you fool me once, it’s your fault, but if you do it twice, it’s my fault for letting myself be fooled.

43. There are four things that do not return, the arrow shot, the word already said, the wasted opportunity and the past life.

Time is a very valuable asset that once we use it, it will never return to our possession.

44. I was complaining because I couldn’t buy shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.

There will always be someone in a worse situation than ours, we must be thankful for what we have and fight to improve ourselves.

45. A clear loss is many times better than a distant and problematic gain.

Sometimes, risking a possible gain by putting more of ourselves at stake can be a mistake from which we will not recover. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

46. ​​A book is like a garden that you carry in your pocket.

Books are a very rich source of knowledge that we can always carry with us.

47. A friend does more damage than an enemy.

A false friend can cause us many more problems than an enemy, because we are always wary of an enemy… but not of a false friend.

48. Only mules deny their family.

Our family is one of the pillars on which our life is built, we should never deny it.

49. If a business overwhelms you at the beginning, start it at the end.

We must always be clear about our objectives, and when we start a company even more so.

50. If you have a friend, visit him frequently because weeds and thorns invade the path where no one passes.

We should not neglect our friendships, they may need our help and we should be there to help them.

51. If what you are going to say is not more beautiful than silence: don’t say it.

Knowing how to shut up in time is a sign of intelligence, first I think then I am.

52. Envy points out the virtues of the envied, and the defects of the envious.

Envy is a very bad quality that we must get rid of, the better things go for others, the better things go for us.

53. Whoever wants to do something, finds a way. Whoever doesn’t want to do something, finds an excuse.

When we really want to do something, there will be no storm or tide that will stop us.

54. Never advise in public.

If we want to advise our loved ones we must do it privately.

55. There is no substitute for experience.

Experience will allow us to accumulate the necessary wisdom to achieve the degree of mastery in any field.

56. After you have released the word, it dominates you. But as long as you haven’t let her go, you are her dominator.

We must speak out when we have something relevant to say, if this is not the case it is better to remain silent.

57. Eyes are of no use to a blind brain.

It doesn’t matter what we see if we are not able to understand what we see for ourselves.

58. The past has fled, what you hope for is absent, but the present is yours.

The only thing we can modify in space-time is the present, other moments cannot be altered.

59. You are not what you achieve. You are what you overcome.

Both negative and positive experiences make us the person we are today.

60. The first moon after marriage is that of honey, and those that follow are bitter.

Marriage relationships provide us with positive and negative aspects, it depends on us how we want to value them.

61. The hand that gives is above the hand that receives.

The act of donating makes us better people, we must be grateful for what we have and share it with those who have fewer resources.

62. Cruelty is the strength of cowards.

Being cruel only shows our own weakness, the strong man does not need to be cruel to demonstrate his power.

63. Even the smallest root finds its woodcutter.

We all have a person in the world who is 100 percent related to us, it is up to us to find them.

64. In the abundance of water, the fool thirsts.

He who is not able to see beyond what is in front of his nose will never be able to achieve his goals.

65. Have a good memory, especially if you are a liar.

Our qualities should help us make up for our shortcomings to show the best version of ourselves.

66. He who does not know that he does not know is a fool; get away from him. He who knows that he does not know, he is simple; instruct him. He doesn’t know that he knows he’s asleep; wake him up He who knows that he knows, he is wise; follow it.

Many times we are not even aware of the capabilities we possess.

67. Man can be considered wise when he seeks wisdom; but if he thinks he has found her he is a fool.

We are never possessors of the absolute truth, nor do we have all the information about something.

68. Man is the enemy of what he ignores.

What we do not understand or that is foreign to us we end up turning into our enemy due to mere ignorance.

69. God created us with two ears, two eyes and only one mouth, it is because we have to listen and see twice before speaking.

We must think before acting and know how to listen before speaking.

70. There are four things that never come back again: A bullet fired, a word said, a past time and a wasted opportunity.

When we perform an action it is done, we will not be able to remedy anything once the evil is done.

71. When you speak, try to make your words better than silence.

We must speak properly and when we have something really important to say.

72. Punish those who are envious by doing good to them.

When we do good to others, that good will be returned to us sooner or later.

73. The dog that has money is called Mr. Dog.

Power carries with it a great burden of respect, according to this Arab proverb.

74. The wolf being silent has more impact than the dog barking.

We must guard against those who do not show their intentions, the barking dog is not a bit biter.

75. He who seeks a friend without defects is left without friends.

All people have defects, he who is free from sin should cast the first stone, Christians would say.

76. Great is he who to shine does not need to turn off the light of others

We must know how to fulfill ourselves without harming our fellow human beings. One of the best-known Arab Proverbs.

77. Smiling is the language of intelligent people.

Our attitude passively demonstrates how we want others to treat us.

78. He who lives on illusions dies on realities.

Living in the moment is something that we must undoubtedly do, because our dreams may never come true.

79. Wounds of the tongue are more dangerous than those of the saber.

With the gift of speech and eloquence you can do more damage than with any other weapon.

80. The eye denies itself when it loves, and the ear believes in others when it hates.

When we wish we had not seen something we deceive ourselves, and when we wish to know something we also deceive ourselves, clear symptoms of the fragility of our spirit.