Ancient Russian sayings and proverbs. Proverbs and sayings and their interpretation (meaning)

03/10/2016 02/25/2019 by Mnogoto4ka

Proverbs and sayings - it seems like something from deep childhood, from a colorful reading textbook for elementary school. And, at the same time, they remind you of themselves every day, even if no one says them. Because they are life itself, its reflection. If you want, “formulas” of life that explain: if you do this, it will happen like this, but this happened for some reason... After all, proverbs contain folk wisdom. The experience of generations, independent of the historical era, fashion, political and economic situation. The only thing this experience depends on is time, which enriches and fills it.

What is the difference between a proverb and a saying?

Proverbs can be called a storehouse of experience and wisdom in their purest form. This is a short saying, instructive in spirit and having a complete meaning. For example: “you can’t catch a fish out of a pond without difficulty.”

A saying is something else. Rather, it is simply a stable combination expressing some thought, concept instead of some word, or denoting a frequently repeated, recognizable phenomenon: “like two peas in a pod,” “out of the blue,” “neither thought nor guessed, I can’t describe it with a pen”...

This is how it was originally, this is how the most ancient proverbs and sayings appeared. After all, there were times when even books were a huge rarity, and all a person had was his own mind and speech.

Then, when literature, the press, even television spread, the storehouse of wisdom began to be replenished with “author’s” proverbs and sayings - catchphrases of heroes of favorite films, well-aimed phrases in the texts of books... But the meaning of proverbs and sayings in our lives remained the same: a hint at a crossroads, consolation in trouble, a reminder of what should not be forgotten...

Proverbs and sayings with decoding of their meaning

And Vaska listens and eats. (Quote from I. A. Krylov’s fable. The meaning of the saying is that one speaks, explains, explains, tries to “get through to Vaska,” but Vaska turns a deaf ear to everything and does everything in his own way.)

And nothing has changed . (Quote from I. A. Krylov’s fable. The meaning of the saying is that despite all the conversations and promises on any matter, nothing has been done except chatter.)

Where is the cabbage soup, look for us. (Russian proverb means that a person tries to strive for where it is good, where there is a well-fed, rich life.)

And the casket just opened . (Quote from I.A. Krylov’s fable. It is said in a case when in fact everything was much simpler than people thought and did.)

And at least grass won’t grow there. (The meaning of the saying is that the person who said this phrase expresses complete indifference to what will happen after his action or any situation, and to those who will suffer as a result of his actions.)

Perhaps, yes, I suppose. (The meaning of the saying is that the person speaking it does not want to do anything himself to improve or correct the situation, but simply waits for how the situation will develop further on its own, without his participation. To be honest, a couple of times in Life this attitude to the matter has helped out, but only a couple of times....)))). In many cases, this attitude leads to bad consequences.)

You can see the diamond in the dirt. (The proverb means: no matter how you look, if you are a worthy person, then people will appreciate this by respecting you.)

Appetite comes with eating. (They say this when there is no desire to do something. The point is that as soon as you start a business, the desire to continue it will definitely come on its own.)

April with water - May with grass. (The meaning of the proverb is that if there is a lot of rain in early spring, then all plants and crops will grow very well.)

A woman with a cart makes it easier for a mare. (The meaning of the proverb is that if you get rid of unnecessary people or situations, then everything will only get better.)

Grandma said in two. (The meaning of the saying is that a person explained the essence of what was happening in two ways and incomprehensibly, or stated the situation incomprehensibly.)

The master's request is a strict order. (The meaning of the proverb is that if you depend on a person, then it is impossible not to fulfill his request, since you depend on him.)

There is trouble in the village if there is quinoa on the table. (Russian folk proverb. It means that if there is quinoa on the table (this is a type of grass), then it means there is a bad harvest in the villages and there is nothing to eat except grass.)

Poor Kuzenka - a poor song. (Previously, in Rus', a song with praise was sung to grooms in order to present all his virtues to the bride. If the groom was greedy, then at the wedding they sang a song to him not with all the praise, in response to his greed.)

The poor man just needs to gird himself to get ready. (Russian proverb means that it is very easy for a poor person to get ready for a trip, because there is nothing to take.)

Troubles torment, but teach the mind. (Russian folk proverb. It means that when trouble comes, it is of course very bad, but conclusions must be drawn from each such situation in order to prevent the misfortune from happening again in the future. Troubles teach a person to draw conclusions, analyze each of his actions, so as not to have more troubles.)

He ran from the smoke and fell into the fire. (Russian proverb. Means that if you rush and rush thoughtlessly in a difficult situation, you can only make the situation worse.)

Without water, the land is wasteland. (Everything is clear here without decoding.))) Without water, nothing can grow and survive.)

Without a year a week. (The saying is said when very little time has passed, or the age is very young.)

To live without anything is only to smoke the sky. (The proverb says that every person in life should do what he does best. If a person does nothing in life, then such a life is devoid of much meaning.)

Sleep better without money. (Russian proverb. It means that it is difficult for a rich person to keep his money; there will always be people who want to take it away. And if they are not there, then there is nothing to take away.images)

They got me married without me. (The proverb is said when a person was absent from some action or event, and others decided everything for him.)

Without trousers, but in a hat. (A saying about a person who puts on a new beautiful thing, along with old ugly pants, shoes, or other bad old clothes.)

Five minutes to master. (A saying about a person who is about to master his job well.)

Without salt the table is crooked. (Russian proverb. Means that without salt, most Russian dishes will not be tasty.)

Even a horse cannot run without a stumble. (Russian folk proverb. It means that absolutely everyone makes mistakes in life. But smart people draw conclusions and don’t make similar mistakes again; mistakes don’t teach stupid people anything and they stumble again.)

Without effort there is no reward. (German proverb. Means: to achieve success in any business, you need to try.)

Without a hitch, without a hitch. (The proverb says when some business or event went well and successfully. In general, it went as it should.)

Without the Trinity, a house cannot be built. (Russian folk proverb. It means that in any matter you need to thank God for the fact that everything works out. The Trinity - in Orthodoxy this is: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.)

You can’t even pull a fish out of a pond without difficulty. (The most famous proverb among us, among the Slavs. It means that in any matter, if you want to get the desired result, you must try and make an effort.)

A house cannot be built without corners; speech cannot be said without a proverb. (Proverbs occupy a very important place in the life of all peoples of the world. Without proverbs, humor, the teaching of younger people and simply communication between people would not be so bright and interesting)

A crazy head is a disaster for your legs. (Russian proverb. It means that those who do not think about their actions, do not think through the details of their affairs, spend much more physical and moral strength in the process of carrying them out.)

Hit a jackdaw and a crow: you'll hurt your hand and kill a falcon. (Russian folk proverb. The meaning is that in any business you first need to study and train diligently in order to achieve good results.)

Take care of your clothes again, and your honor from a young age. (The proverb means that just as it is pleasant to look at a person in clean, serviceable clothes, it is also pleasant to deal with a person whose reputation is at a high level. And if from the very beginning of your life you are known as a bad and unreliable person, then deal no one will be with you.)

Protect it like the apple of your eye. (Means to carefully protect and guard as the most valuable or oneself.)

Take the bull by the horns. (The saying means to act quickly, decisively, assertively, and maybe even brazenly.)

Work with your mind, not your back. (Russian proverb. It means that before any undertaking you need to carefully think through all your actions and make a plan to do as little unnecessary hard work as possible.)

Hitting a fool is a pity for the fist. (Russian proverb. It means that it is useless even to punish a person who is not able to think adequately, understand the words of others, or listen to wise people.)

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (Means that even the kindest and most good undertakings that are not prepared, not thought out, or done with ignorance of the matter can lead to sad results and can harm the situation or others.)

Close to the king - close to death. (Russian folk saying means that power is a dangerous and difficult burden.)

God lives in an honest heart. (Japanese proverb. It means that God always helps an honest and kind person in all matters.)

God won't give you away, the pig won't eat you. (A proverb means that the speaker hopes for a good outcome of the matter; he believes that everything will be fine in the end.)

God sees the truth, but will not tell it soon. (Russian proverb. It means that retribution for bad deeds does not always come immediately, but someday it will definitely come.)

God loves work. (The proverb says that those who succeed in life are those who do something, work, and do not sit back.)

God marks the rogue. (In ancient times, “rogue” was the name given to those people who quietly harm others, slander, plot and intrigue against good people. The proverb means that no matter how much a person does evil to another on the sly, everyone will eventually find out who this scoundrel is. True will always be revealed and punishment will come.)

It's a dirty trick for the rich, but joy for the poor. (Russian proverb. It means that most poor people envy the rich. If a rich person has some kind of trouble, then the poor are almost always happy about it.)

The rich take care of his face, and the poor take care of his clothes. (Russian folk proverb. It means that rich people are worried about their safety and the safety of their capital, but the poor have nothing to fear and have nothing to lose, except that there is a danger of tearing their only pants.)

To God - what is God's, and to Caesar - what is Caesar's. (The phrase was spoken by Jesus Christ. In short, it means that to each his own, to each according to his deserts. Everyone receives what is due to him.)

Pray to God and row to the shore. (The proverb means that it is not enough that you ask the Higher Powers to help you in your business, you also need to make efforts yourself to succeed in it.)

He's afraid like hell of incense. (Frankincense is a tree resin with a specific aroma that is used in church during Divine services. Evil spirits are afraid of the aroma of incense. When this proverb is said, it means that the one they are talking about is very afraid of someone or something For example: “our cat Vaska is afraid of dogs like hell.” This means that the cat Vaska is very, very afraid of dogs.)

A big heart. (Proverb. This is what they say about a very kind person.)

For a big ship, a long voyage. (The proverb is said as parting words to a talented person, as a wish and prediction to achieve great success in a business for which he has talent. The proverb also means recognition of the fact that a person will definitely achieve success.)

The brothers quarrel among themselves, but defend themselves from strangers. (Japanese proverb. It means that if trouble comes from outside, then relatives must definitely help each other, protect and come to the rescue, regardless of what kind of relationship they have with each other.)

To lie is not to swing a flail. (Russian proverb means that it is very easy to lie. But is it worth it?)

Every dog ​​has his day. (Usually spoken as encouragement, or in support, after defeat or failure. It means that victory will definitely come in the future, good luck and the matter they are talking about will definitely end in favor of the speaker.)

Even if your wife is a goat, she just has golden horns. (Russian folk proverb. They say it when they want to marry a rich girl for convenience. It doesn’t matter what she looks like, as long as she’s rich.)

Paper will endure anything. (Means that you can write whatever you want, but not everything that is written is true or can be done.)

There would be a whirlpool, but there would be devils. (Russian proverb. It means that there will always be people who do dirty tricks, bad deeds and evil.)

It was time, but it passed. (Russian proverb. It means that every business or event has its time. If you missed this time, then there may not be a second chance. While there is an opportunity in life, you need to take advantage of it.)

It’s quiet in the swamp, but it’s hard to live there. (Russian proverb. It means that a quiet place at first glance may not turn out to be very good and pleasant in the future. Or when we first meet a person, he will seem good to us, but in fact he may turn out to be very evil and bad when you get to know him better.)

It's sparsely sown in my head. (Russian proverb. This is what they say about a stupid person who absolutely does not want to think and think about his actions.)

Being a guest is good, but being at home is better. (A proverb that does not require decoding, home is always better. images)

There is no kinship in money, and there is some cunning in the game. (The proverb means that in matters of money, friends and relatives can become rivals; you need to be careful.)

Happiness comes to a house where there is laughter. (Japanese proverb. It means that laughter and joy attract happiness into the home. So smile more and enjoy even the little things.)

In a fist, all fingers are equal. (Russian proverb. It is said when a certain group of people does a common cause. They also talk about a good cohesive team at work, or in the army.)

There is a spark of God in him. (The saying is about a very talented, intelligent person who is an unsurpassed master in his field.)

There is no truth in the legs. (Usually said when inviting someone to sit down. It means that there is no point in standing if you can sit down.)

It went in one ear and out the other. (Means that the person is not at all interested in what is being said to him at the moment. He did not even remember, or did not want to remember, everything that was told to him, or what was asked of him.)

In one and to the feast, and to the world, and to good people. (A proverb about a poor man who constantly wears the same clothes because he has no other.)

There are many relatives in joy. (Armenian proverb. It means that when everything is fine with you and you are a successful person, there are always a lot of people around you. And when is it the other way around?)

To dress in matting means to renounce people. (A proverb that if you dress in dirty, torn clothes, or have a sloppy appearance, then people are unlikely to communicate normally with you.)

In your own home, even the walls help. (The proverb means that in one’s own home, doing everything is more convenient, everything works out, everything is in its place, everything is calm, pleasant and pleasing to the eye. One’s home gives strength and energy to a person in any task, including during recovery. )

Every family has its black sheep. (The proverb means that in almost any group or community of people, everyone cannot be good; there will definitely be a bad person who does bad things.)

In crowded but not mad. (Russian proverb. They say when you are glad to shelter a person. It means that you are welcome here and will never be offended, and comfort fades into the background.)

Still waters run deep. (This proverb is used to describe a secretive person who is seemingly quiet and modest, but is capable of actions, and actions that are not always good, since they mention devils)

They don’t go to someone else’s monastery with their own rules. (The proverb means that if you come or have arrived somewhere where you are just a guest, then you should not impose your own rules, orders, norms, but you should respect the owner and his rules.)

In someone else's hands, the chunk seems bigger. (A proverb about an envious person to whom everything seems to be better for others.)

Fool around. (Proverb. They say about a person who does nothing, or does something deliberately bad, or pretends to do less.)

Your speeches are in the ears of God. (Russian proverb. It is said in response to a good wish or pleasant words, so that this good thing comes true.)

Everywhere is good, where we are not. (The proverb is said by people who believe that they live poorly, poorly, and are unlucky. They always think that absolutely everyone around them lives better than them.)

Great figure, but stupid. (Russian proverb. It means that in Life it is very important to be smart; strength is of little use if there are no brains.)

Live and learn. (The proverb means that a person learns throughout his life, acquiring new knowledge, life experience and wisdom. It is said after some event that gave a person knowledge or life experience.)

A rope is good when it is long, but speech is good when it is short. (Georgian proverb. It means that there is no need to talk too much and unnecessary, you need to speak briefly, clearly and to the point.)

Let's return to our sheep. (The saying is said after the conversation has deviated from its essence and the talkers have become carried away by something that is not relevant to the conversation. It is said in order to return to the main essence of the conversation or discussion.)

Spring is red with flowers, and autumn is red with sheaves. (The meaning of the proverb is that in spring nature is beautiful with flowers and blossoms, and autumn is beautiful and useful in its own way, because most of the harvests are harvested in autumn and autumn feeds people.)

Flew up as an eagle, flew back as a dove. (A proverb about a man who arrogantly boasted about something he does not have or cannot do.)

Visible and invisible. (Means a lot, a large quantity. example: “There are visible and invisible berries in the forest.”)

The wine is uncorked, you need to drink it. (The saying is that if you have already started a business, you should try to see it through to the end.)

Written on the water with a pitchfork. (They say a saying about a situation when they make unrealistic promises, or the situation is incomprehensible. Have you tried writing on water with a pitchfork? Same thing, this is the situation.)

In a dream there is happiness, in reality there is bad weather. (A proverb about the interpretation of dreams. Its meaning is that if you dreamed of a holiday or a wedding, then expect trouble in real life.)

Water wears away the stone drop by drop. (The proverb means that in any endeavor, if you patiently and persistently move forward and don’t give up, you will achieve your goal. Even water grinds down stones over the years.)

The cart was scattered and two were scooped up. (Russian proverb. It refers to officials and employees who steal at work.)

The wolf's legs feed him. (A very popular proverb. It means that if a wolf does not run, he will not get food, and if a person does not try and make efforts to achieve his goals, he will not get a good result.)

If you're afraid of wolves, don't go into the forest. (A very popular proverb. It means that in any business, despite the apparent difficulties and fear of failure, you must find the courage to take concrete steps, otherwise there is no point in starting this business.)

The old raven will not caw in vain. (Russian proverb. It means that you need to talk less, talk less, talk a lot of useless speeches.)

Eight hryvnias are not enough to reach a ruble. (Russian proverb. It means that eighty kopecks are missing from one ruble. That is, they say when a person asks too much from others and exaggerates his capabilities.)

We are all people, we are all “humans”. (The proverb means that every person necessarily has his own shortcomings, small “sins” and weaknesses, that a person is not ideal and there is no need to judge him harshly for this if he does not cause harm to other people.)

Everything will be ground, there will be flour. (Russian proverb. They say it when they want to support and cheer in difficult times. Time will pass, old troubles will be forgotten and everything will get better.)

Everything you have done will come back to you. (Japanese proverb. It means: the world is designed in such a way that everything you did in life will definitely return to you. If you did good deeds, you will receive goodness from others; if you did evil, evil will definitely return to you.)

To please everyone is to make a fool of yourself. (Russian proverb. It means that it is bad when a person constantly pleases and gives in to others to the detriment of himself. Such a person, as a rule, is poor and no one respects him.)

Everything has its place. (Armenian proverb. In my opinion, everything is very clear - there should be a clear order in everything.)

Everything falls out of his hands. (A saying about a person who doesn’t succeed.)

You won't get hurt by jumping. (Russian proverb. It means that any task cannot be done well and efficiently if you are in a hurry and in a hurry.)

You are greeted by your clothes, but seen off by your mind. (The proverb means that the first opinion about a person is formed by his appearance. The final opinion about him will be formed after he is known better, based on his inner world, his communication, and level of intelligence.)

Everyone praises the truth, but not everyone tells it. (English proverb. It means that a person always wants to hear only the truth from others, but does not always tell it to others himself. This is how lies turn out.)

All sorts of “net” have been stocked up since the summer. (The proverb means that if you don’t stock up on food and firewood in the summer, then in the winter you will say “NO.” Everything needs to be prepared in advance.)

Every thing ends well. (Russian proverb. It means that in any business the result is important.)

Win and lose ride on the same sleigh. (Russian proverb. It means that today you can win, and tomorrow in the same situation you can lose, despite excellent chances. They also say when the chances are 50 to 50, when everything depends on what Life will do.)

Come out dry from water. (The saying goes when a person managed to get out of a very difficult and difficult situation unharmed, without moral and physical damage to himself and loved ones.)

Drink some tea and you will forget the melancholy. (Russian proverb. It means that when things are bad you should not panic, rush or do rash actions. You need to sit down, calm down, drink tea and then Life itself will tell you what to do next.)

Sucked it from my finger. (A proverb is said when a person says information that has no arguments or evidence.)

Galloping across Europe. (This is how the Soviet poet A. A. Zharov humorously called his essays after traveling through Western Europe. This phrase is said during a short trip to some place.)

Where the demon cannot, he will send a woman there. (Russian proverb. They say it when a woman did a stupid and rash act that brought problems.)

Where there are two, there is not one. (The proverb is said about a team of like-minded people, about people who do a common cause and help each other.)

Where you can't jump, you can climb over. (Russian proverb. It means that nothing is impossible, and there is always a way out of any situation. You just need to take your time, but think with your head.)

Needed where was born. (The proverb is said about a person who has successfully realized his talent in the area where he was born, benefiting his native country, city and surrounding people.

Where you sit down is where you get off. (The proverb talks about a person who cannot be used for his own purposes, it is impossible to persuade him to take any actions that are not beneficial to him.)

Where there is intelligence, there is sense. (Russian proverb. It means that when a matter is well thought out, a clear plan is drawn up and everything is provided for, then there will definitely be success in this matter.)

The eye is small, but it sees far. (The proverb means: do not judge a person by his appearance, but judge him by his inner world and abilities.)

The eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing. (It is said when you need to do a difficult, unfamiliar task that seems difficult, but must be done.)

To plow deeper means to chew more bread. (Another proverb about work. If you put in the effort and work hard, there will always be a good result.)

He looks at the book and sees nothing. (Russian proverb means inattentive reading, inability to correctly understand the meaning of what is written.)

To talk idle is to write on water. (The proverb means that empty chatter has no benefit, but only wastes time and energy.)

To tell the truth, do not take your feet out of the stirrup. (Turkish proverb. A stirrup is a device in which the rider holds his legs while sitting on a horse. The proverb means that if you tell the truth, then be prepared to run away, because the truth may not please everyone and bring danger to the one who speaks it.)

They say it at random, but you take it into your head. (The proverb means that an intelligent person must correctly analyze everything that is told to him and select the necessary information.)

The need for invention is cunning. (A poor person, because of his poverty, is always resourceful and inventive.)

The girl chases the young man, but she doesn’t go away. (Russian proverb. They say when a girl is in love with a guy, but pretends that she is indifferent to him.)

Leopard change his spots. (The proverb speaks of a person who does not change in his actions, who does not want to correct himself or rethink his life principles.)

Onion grief. (The saying is about a crying person when his tears are shed over something insignificant and not worth crying. It’s as if the tears are from an onion, and not from grief.)

Miserable head. (A saying about an eternally yearning, sad person.)

Lip no fool. (The saying is about a person who chooses for himself everything that is most expensive, luxurious and valuable in life, and who also demands a lot for himself in any life situation.)

The goose is no friend to the pig. (Usually they say this about completely different and incompatible people who cannot find a common language and be friends. The goose is a very warlike bird, and the pig is simple and unpretentious, that is, they are very different.)

Give him an egg, and a flaky one at that. (About a very lazy person for whom others do everything.)

God gave me a day, and he will give me a piece. (The proverb is said in the hope that Life itself will take care of a person by the power of chance.)

They do not look at a given horse's teeth. (The proverb means that when you are given a gift, you should not express dissatisfaction if you do not like the gift, or if you expected something more.)

Two fight in the field, and one grieves on the stove. (Russian folk proverb. It means that it is always easier and more interesting to do everything together than alone.)

Step on the same rake twice. (Russian folk proverb. This is what they say about a person who makes the same mistake several times. Because when you step on a rake, the wooden handle hits your forehead. People who make the same mistake twice get hit in the forehead twice by life ”, because they don’t want to draw conclusions from their mistakes.)

Trading in tar means tar stinks. (The proverb means that every business has its pros and cons. If you decide to do this business, be prepared to enjoy the pros, but also accept the cons.)

Do good and expect good. (You will receive the same as you do to others. If you do good, you will receive good, if you do bad to others, life will return the same to you.)

Business before pleasure. (The proverb means that you should not get carried away with entertainment and idleness. It would be wise to devote most of your time to study, work, family and personal development.)

Money doesn't smell. (A saying of one famous Roman emperor, after he introduced a tax on paid toilets in Rome. They tried to convince him that this money was in the toilets, to which he objected to them with this great quote.)

Lost money - lost nothing, lost time - lost a lot, lost health - lost everything. (The proverb means that the main thing is to take care of your health and value your time. Health and time can never be returned, but money can always be earned again.)

They love money. (The proverb means that money is found in those people who count their money, who keep order in money and their financial affairs.)

Keep your head cold, your stomach hungry, and your feet warm. (A Russian folk proverb describes the principles of a healthy lifestyle: always think with your head, be calm and don’t get excited, don’t overeat and wear good warm shoes.)

Keep it in mind if you have anything. (If Life has given you the ability to think, then you always need to think about what you do, say and how you act.)

Punish children with shame, not with a whip. (The proverb says: punishment should give children the opportunity to understand why their action is bad, so that they realize their guilt and draw conclusions. But a belt and a stick will only give pain, but the mistakes will not be realized.)

Cheap fish means cheap fish soup. (If you bought a low-quality item, don’t expect much from it.)

Cheap money in someone else's pocket. (A proverb about a person who does not value other people’s things, but values ​​only his own.)

For whom work is joy, for that life is happiness. (A proverb that if a person likes to work or do what he loves, then his work will certainly bring him both spiritual joy and a prosperous life.)

Argue until you cry, but don’t bet. (The proverb teaches: prove you are right with words and arguments, but never argue with money.)

If you wish good, do good. (Proverb. If you want happiness in life, do good deeds and goodness will return to you doubly. This is the law of Life.)

Good brotherhood is better than wealth. (The proverb means that loyal and reliable friends who will always help in any situation are much more valuable than any money.)

Good news does not lie still. (The proverb means that good news always spreads very quickly among people.)

A good cook first puts the soul into the cauldron, and then the meat. (The proverb means that a good person always does his job efficiently and with joy, so that the result of his work pleases other people.)

The catch does not wait for the catcher, but the catcher waits for it. (Proverb about work. To achieve results you need to be persistent and hardworking.)

They entrusted the goat with cabbage. (The proverb is said in the case when a person was entrusted with a valuable thing or information, and he stole it, or used it for his personal gain, without the consent of the owner. . A goat cannot be left with cabbage, otherwise he will eat it. So with people, you cannot trust valuable thing, or information to an unreliable person.)

The road is a spoon for dinner. (A proverb about a situation when a certain thing is really needed right now and here, but it is not nearby, although at another moment it lies unneeded by anyone.)

Income does not live without hassle. (A proverb that being rich is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Wealth is not only a beautiful and luxurious life, but also a heavy burden, which has its own difficulties, obstacles and dangers.)

Friend is known in trouble. (A proverb about friendship. When you have a hard time and need help, then in such a situation it becomes clear whether you have a real friend or not. Accordingly, the price of friendship is visible.)

Look for a friend, and if you find him, take care. (The proverb means that a true true friend is not so easy to find in life. And if you are lucky and have found such a friend, then appreciate him.)

Different times - different life. (French proverb means that nothing is always the same. Absolutely everything changes in life over time.)

Different times, different morals. (The proverb means that over the years, people have different attitudes and reactions to the same things, actions and events. Over time, everything changes.)

Don't judge others, look at yourself. (Judging another is a very ugly thing; before judging others, look at yourself, what you have achieved.)

Friendly magpies will drag away the goose. (The proverb shows that friendship and mutual assistance are great strength. When people unite and help each other, they can do anything.)

A fool sees a fool from afar. (The proverb is said as a joke; a fool here probably doesn’t even mean a stupid and stupid person, but an unconventional one. The meaning is that an unconventional thinking person will definitely attract someone like him, “not of this world.”)

A fool learns from his own mistakes, and a smart man learns from others' mistakes. (The proverb, in my opinion, is clear. If a person sees other people’s mistakes and draws the right conclusions from them for himself, then he is smart. And if he makes a mistake that others have made before him, or makes the same mistake several times, then he is a fool)

There is no law for fools. (The proverb means that a person, deprived of normal logic and an adequate perception of the world, acts as he pleases and as he wants, even if it causes harm and pain to others. He does not think about the consequences.)

A bad example is contagious. (The proverb means that very often a person repeats the bad actions and habits of other people, especially for children.)

There is no smoke without fire. (Russian proverb. It means that nothing in Life happens for nothing. Once a certain situation has arisen, it is not accidental, but there is some reason for its occurrence.)

Once you lie, who will believe you. (The proverb means that if you have been caught lying once, then it is unlikely that they will take your word for it and trust you.)

If the water doesn't follow you, you follow the water. (Georgian proverb. It means that in order to get something in life, you need to go and take it. Sitting still and doing nothing, you are unlikely to get anything.)

If the mountain does not come to Magomed, then Magomed goes to the mountain. (Means that if you want to get something or achieve something, then you need to take the initiative and make efforts to achieve your goal. “It’s unlikely that the mountain will come to you by itself.”)

If you suffer for a long time, something will work out . (It means that if you persistently continue to do something, there will definitely be a result. But what the quality of the result will be is another question.)

If you want to be happy, be it. (One of Kozma Prutkov’s phrases. It means that happiness is in your hands and it depends on ourselves, and not on circumstances. We ourselves can create happiness for ourselves.)

I feel sorry for you, but not for myself. (Proverb that a person is much less sorry for other people’s misfortunes than for his own.)

Life experience is more reliable than a tortoise shell. (Japanese proverb. It means that a person’s life experience is priceless. Thanks to experience, a person begins to understand how to build his life correctly.)

Life is given for good deeds. (A proverb about why we are born. Do good to others and it will definitely return to you.)

If you chase two hares, you won't catch either. (The meaning of the proverb is that when you want to do two things at the same time, or devote time to two events at once, then most often you will not achieve success or results in either of the things. It is better to concentrate on one thing.)

Behind a mosquito with an ax, behind a fly with a butt. (The proverb speaks of a person who does something incorrectly and ineffectively, which could be done much better and more efficiently with a different approach.)

It healed like a dog. (The saying means that the wound healed very quickly, or the recovery was very easy.)

Mix it and put it in your mouth. (There is a saying about a very lazy person, for whom others do all the work.)

Earning a lot of money is courage, saving it is wisdom, and spending it wisely is an art. (The proverb means that it is not easy to earn money, but it is even more difficult to manage it skillfully so that it brings benefit and joy to you and your family.)

Make a fool pray to God, and they will bruise their forehead. (The proverb refers to those people who approach a task too zealously, do and say more than is necessary to successfully complete the task.)

Winter found the bridegroom in a summer dress. (A saying about a poor man who has no winter clothes.)

If you are healthy, you will get everything. (A proverb that a person can achieve any goals and successes if Life has rewarded him with health.)

Healthy as a bull. (The saying is about a strong person with very good health.)

In winter, without a fur coat is not embarrassing, but cold. (A proverb about the need to have warm winter clothes.)

Know more - say less. (The proverb, in my opinion, is understandable and means: absorb useful information, knowledge and information and do not talk in vain about what you don’t need to say, do not talk about what you do not know.)

Look to the root. (It means look into the very essence, look for the essence of the issue, and not its consequences.)

And it doesn’t blow in my mustache. (A saying about a person who does not worry about anything or does not take any action in relation to a particular situation.)

And the wolves are fed, and the sheep are safe. (The proverb is said about a situation in which all parties remain in an advantageous position and are happy with it, there are no offended or injured people.)

And the bear in captivity dances. (The proverb means that when a person is deprived of freedom and choice in life, it is very easy to break him psychologically.)

And gray-haired, but no mind; and young, but holds a parish. (A proverb about the mental capabilities of people. Some seem to be experienced and experienced, but have never gained intelligence and wisdom and have achieved nothing, while others, despite their early age, are already wise, intelligent and purposeful.)

And the Swede, and the reaper, and the player of the pipe. (A proverb about a master - a generalist who understands many professions and does any work efficiently.)

It is not worth it. (The proverb refers to a matter or situation for which there is no point in trying or making efforts.)

You can't make a dream out of a crooked log. (Polish proverb)

From a small cloud comes big rain. (Polish proverb. It means that you need to take into account absolutely every little detail in any business. Even something small can lead to great success or great disaster.)

Looking for a needle in a haystack.

Look for the wind in the field. (The proverb refers to the case when it is useless to look for something, since the chances of finding what you are looking for are zero.)

To soft wax is a seal, and to young wax is learning. (The proverb means that it is necessary to study as much as possible when young. Parents need to guide their children to study in their youth.)

Every person is a mystery. (The proverb means that each person has his own way of thinking, his own thoughts, secrets, cunning ideas that make us different from each other.)

I shave as best I can. (A saying about a person who does not do his job very well, is lazy, or does his job without the talent and necessary knowledge.)

The book is not a plane, but will take you far away. (The proverb means that when reading a book, a person mentally travels with the characters in the book and, with the help of the book, learns a lot of new things about what he has never seen.)

Books don't tell, but they tell the truth. (The proverb means that through reading books we learn a lot of new and interesting things.)

When they don't know how to write, they say that the pen is bad. (The proverb talks about people who always blame other people or circumstances for their personal failures. Although most often they themselves are to blame, because of their mistakes.)

When the cancer on the mountain whistles. (A saying about a situation that will happen unknown when, not soon, or very unlikely. It will be very difficult for Cancer to whistle on the mountain, which means this situation has very little chance of happening)

When the conscience was distributed, he was not at home. (A saying about an unscrupulous, arrogant, rude person.)

Scapegoat. (This is what they say about a person who was made the only one to blame for an offense that several people committed. Or a situation happened where people or property were harmed, and in order to punish at least someone, they are looking for a “scapegoat” on whom they will place all the blame for that.)

Who cares what, but the blacksmith cares about the anvil. (A proverb is said when discussing the peculiarity of any work.)

A kopeck saves the ruble. (A proverb about the need to be careful with what is given to you in life. Without a penny there will be no ruble, so do not thoughtlessly throw away either money or gifts of fate.

The root of the teaching is bitter, but its fruits are sweet. (It is very difficult to learn and acquire knowledge, you need to try and be patient, not everyone succeeds. But those who have learned and were able to acquire knowledge will have a decent, beautiful and interesting life in the future.)

The bird is red in its feathers, and the man is in his learning. (The proverb means that animals and birds are decorated by their appearance, but a person is decorated by his knowledge and intelligence. No matter how beautifully you dress, if you are an illiterate and narrow-minded person, then good people are unlikely to like you.)

Brevity is the soul of wit. (The meaning of the proverb is that in any business or conversation, the most effective is short, but clear and understandable information that is said to the point and reveals everything you need to know about the matter.)

Whoever owns information owns the world. (A proverb that valuable information, knowledge, valuable secrets in the hands of smart people bring enormous advantages over those who do not have this information. If a person has the necessary information, then he will certainly achieve success in business.)

Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword. (Russian proverb. This is what Russian heroes and warriors said in ancient times about the enemies attacking Rus'. It means that everyone who attacks our land will be defeated.)

He who pays calls the tune. (It is said that in a certain situation, the one who pays for everything, or who takes responsibility, dictates his terms.)

I bought a pig in a poke. (The saying means that a person bought a fake, a low-quality product, or a thing that costs much less than what was paid for it, and also if he paid money and did not receive the product.)

The chickens laugh. (A saying about a funny-looking person, or some ridiculous act that will make even chickens who cannot laugh laugh.)

An affectionate word costs nothing to oneself, but gives a lot to others. (A proverb about the power of a kind word. A kind word spoken to another will definitely return kindness to you.)

Easy to remember. (A famous Russian proverb. They say that when you just remember a specific person, he immediately comes right away. For me personally, this happens very often.)

It is easier to withstand a sea storm than human meanness. (Polish proverb. Means that there is nothing worse and more unpleasant than meanness committed by people.)

The forest will give birth to rivers. (The meaning of the proverb, it seems to me, has several variants. My version is that almost all rivers begin in the forest. That is, the sources of the river come out of the forest, from nature, there is always a forest along the banks of the rivers.)

You won't sweat in the summer, but you won't stay warm in the winter. (A proverb about work. To get results you need to work hard and make efforts. If you don’t prepare firewood in the summer, it will be cold in the winter.)

In the summer you will lie down - in the winter you will run with your bag. (Similar to the previous proverb. “You will run away with your bag” means you will be poor and hungry.)

Down and Out trouble started. (A proverb that it is very difficult to decide to start a difficult business, but once you find the strength to start it, then things will go easier and better.)

A fly in the ointment. (The meaning of the saying is that one small bad deed, or a small bad word, can ruin any good deed, or any pleasant situation.)

White lie. (The saying means that there are moments when, by lying, a person saves the situation, another person and makes things better for everyone. Such situations happen very, very rarely, but they do happen.)

A horse is known by riding, but a man is known by being in trouble. (Proverb. If suddenly a problem happens to a person and he needs help, then it immediately becomes clear which of his friends and relatives will come to the rescue and who will not. This is how people are known. Well, a horse... and a horse is known by how good and resilient she can drive.)

Better the bitter truth than a sweet lie. (The proverb means that most often it is better to immediately find out the truth, whatever it may be, than later everything will turn out to be much worse and more complicated.)

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (Russian folk proverb. They say when there is an opportunity to take less, but now it’s guaranteed, than to wait for something more, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get it.)

It’s better to appear like a fool and ask something stupid than not to ask and remain a fool. (Folk wisdom. It means that if you want to understand something in your studies or work, you should not be shy and ask the teacher if you don’t understand something. If you remain silent and are embarrassed to ask, then you certainly won’t understand anything and won’t you'll figure it out.)

It's better to die standing than to live on your knees. (English proverb. It means that it is better to accept death, proudly calling yourself a man, than to humiliate yourself and be a slave, voluntarily allowing yourself to be morally trampled.)

Love is blind. (One of the most popular proverbs. It means that if a person is dear to you, then even if he has a thousand shortcomings, you don’t notice them and love him anyway.)

There are many people, but no man. (Proverb. It is often said about a group of people who lack positive human qualities, such as kindness, compassion, the desire to help others.)

Small, but smart. (A proverb about those who, from early childhood, have good abilities and talent, despite their early age.)

Small spool but precious. (The proverb emphasizes the value of the small, simple, inconspicuous, but very important. A part called a “spool” is very small in appearance, but without it no system will work. Very small, but such a necessary thing. My primary school teacher said this proverb , when a small student answered the lesson well, while stroking the student’s head.)

Less people - more oxygen. (The saying is usually said when a person whose presence is undesirable, or a person who does not like you, leaves. It is also said in a situation where a large number of people will only create difficulties and interfere.)

The world is not without good people. (The proverb means that in life there will always be kind people who will support and help in difficult times. If you deserve them, then they will definitely appear and help.)

My home is my castle. (English proverb. It means that a person is almost always most comfortable, convenient and safe in his own home.)

Young in years, but old in mind. (A proverb about a person who, despite his young age, is very smart and wise in thoughts and actions.)

Well done against the sheep, and against the well done the sheep itself. (They talk about a person who demonstrates his strength only to those who are weaker than him. As soon as a stronger person is in front of him, he immediately becomes cowardly and submissive.)

Young is green. (Means that in youth there is a lack of restraint and wisdom.)

Young - yes early. (A saying about a person who shows ability and talent for something earlier than usual.)

The young one - toys, and the old one - pillows. (It means that in youth you are full of strength, enthusiasm and desire for an active life, but in old age you want to relax more.)

The young go to battle, and the old go to thought. (It means that in youth there is a lot of strength and desire to use this strength, and with age comes wisdom and the ability to approach things more carefully.)

Youth is a bird, and old age is a turtle. (The proverb says that in youth there is a lot of strength and energy, but in old age strength and energy decrease.)

Silent means consent. (If a person is silent in response to a question asked, then among the Slavic peoples it is believed that the person gives an affirmative answer, or agrees.)

They know my hand. (A saying about a master of his craft.)

My house is on the edge, I don’t know anything. (Ukrainian folk proverb. Means an indifferent, cowardly attitude towards any actions or situation when others need your help.)

Husband and wife, one of Satan. (Russian proverb. This is what they say about spouses who are united by one goal or way of life, who are always together and their actions are the same and their beliefs are the same.)

My husband ate too many pears . (The saying goes when a husband leaves his wife.)

There is silk on the belly, and crack in the belly. (A saying about a poor man who spent his last money on expensive clothes.)

Worth its weight in gold. (A saying about something very valuable, extremely necessary and very expensive. This can also be said about people (example: “Such a blacksmith is worth his weight in gold.”)

Simplicity is enough for every wise man. (Russian proverb. It means that all people can make mistakes, even very smart and experienced ones. Also, even an experienced and very smart person can be deceived.)

Cats are scratching at my soul. (The saying means that a person is in a very difficult psychological state, he is offended, in pain, he is worried about something, or he is ashamed of his action.)

Every rag on the beauty is silk. (The proverb says that almost any clothes suit a beautiful person.)

He is dying. (They talk about a very sick person, or something that is about to deteriorate or break completely.)

The animal runs towards the catcher. (The saying means that exactly the person he really needs for some business comes to a person or meets on his way.)

At dinner, everyone is neighbors, but when trouble comes, everyone is separated like water. (A proverb about acquaintances and friends who are next to you when you are successful and generous, but as soon as you need help, they all disappear somewhere.)

That's why the pike is in the river, so that the crucian carp doesn't doze off. (The meaning of the proverb is that in any business there must be an intelligent leader who does not allow its participants to relax, otherwise the matter may end in vain.

Don't open your mouth to someone else's loaf. (The proverb means that you should not take away what does not belong to you; it is better to do everything to honestly buy or have what is yours, and not think about how to take it from someone else.)

On someone else's side I'm glad to see my dear Voronushka. (When a person is far from home, he usually longs to go home and remembers dear moments associated with his native land.)

Audacity second happiness. (The proverb says that it’s easier for arrogant, rude people to go through life; they don’t worry about anything, they only do what’s convenient for them and they don’t care about others. But is this happiness?)

Give us some bread, and we'll chew it ourselves. (Russian folk proverb. This is what they say about a very lazy person who is used to doing nothing.)

Dress a pig in earrings, it will still get into the mud. (A saying about a sloppy, sloppy person who manages to instantly stain or ruin new clothes.)

You won't be nice by force. (The meaning of the proverb is that no matter how hard you try, if others don’t like you or your actions, proposals, or words, then these people will never please you, won’t like you, or won’t do business with you.)

I started for health, and ended for peace. (A proverb means that a person in a conversation or in a verbal dispute changes the content of his speech to the opposite, or irrelevant.)

Our song is good, start over. (The proverb is said when a person did something, and then it all turned out to be wrong or in vain, and everything will have to be done again. It means that everything needs to be redone.)

Our regiment has arrived. (Russian proverb, said at the time of replenishment, the arrival of new people, reinforcements in the army, or the help of new people in business.)

Don't run, but get out on time. (French proverb. Means: in order to do any task on time or not be late, you need to calculate the time correctly. Sometimes being late can deprive a person of the biggest chance in his life.)

Not food for the horse. (The proverb literally means that no matter how much you eat, you are still thin. They often say this about a situation when a person cannot understand some information, some science, that is, he lacks intelligence. They also say if a person cannot do something - to achieve. Examples: “Vasya wanted to study as a physicist, but he couldn’t, it wasn’t food for the horse.” “Vasya wanted to lift a bag weighing one hundred kilograms, but it wasn’t food for the horse.”)

Not everything goes to the cat. (The meaning of the proverb is that not all the time will be easy and good, and always “doing nothing” will not work.)

Not all pines in the forest are pines. (The proverb says that not everything in life is the same; there is good and bad, high-quality and low-quality, pleasant and unpleasant.)

All that glitters is not gold. (In relation to a person, the proverb means: there is no need to draw conclusions about a person only by his appearance. It often happens that a person is attractive and seems so sweet in appearance, but in fact turns out to be evil, deceitful and dangerous, and vice versa. Therefore, they judge a person by his deeds and attitude towards others. This proverb was originally used when assessing gold, when a counterfeit was detected, and then they began to apply it to people.)

Not all birds click like a nightingale. (A proverb about a person who has no talent, or is not as good at his craft as other masters.)

Don't do to others what you don't want to do to yourself. (If you hurt someone, you will receive twice as much pain a little later, if you helped a person, goodness will return to you twice as much. This is the law of Life.)

Not for knowledge, but for title. (Russian proverb, it talks about a person who went to study to get a diploma, but the knowledge itself is of little interest to him.)

If you don't know the ford, don't go into the water. (The meaning of the proverb is that if you do not know all the information about any matter or situation, then you should not rush to get involved in this matter, or rush to resolve the situation.)

Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends. (The proverb means that the most valuable thing in human relationships is friendship. You spend a hundred rubles and they are gone, but true friends will always come to the rescue in difficult times, help out and support you when you feel bad, and can even borrow the same hundred rubles.)

I'm not a fool. (Russian proverb. This is what they say about a worthy person. It means: not simple, not stupid, cunning, strong. Bast is the wooden bark from which bast shoes were sewn in the old days.)

Not caught, not a thief! (The proverb means that if you do not have clear evidence of the guilt of another person, then you cannot consider him a criminal until you prove this specifically and irrefutably.)

Don't dig a hole for someone else, you'll fall into it yourself. (The proverb means: the evil that you do without reason towards another person will definitely come back to you, but twice as much. This fact is confirmed by many years of experience in people’s lives.)

Don't cut the branch you're sitting on. (The proverb is said when a person can harm himself through his actions or words.)

Slurping not salty. (The saying means “being left with nothing”, “not getting what you wanted or expected.”)

Don't be quick with your words, be quick with your actions. (You shouldn’t talk or brag about anything in advance. Do the job first, and then talk about what you did.)

Do not pick unripe fruits: if they ripen, they will fall on their own. (Georgian proverb. It means that in any matter there is no need to artificially rush things or rush, you need to do everything on time.)

It is not man’s happiness, but man who creates happiness. (Polish proverb. It means: to achieve what you want, you need to make an effort, with your actions you need to bring “your happiness” closer; it will not come on its own.)

It’s not clean where they sweep, but where they don’t litter. (A simple and at the same time very wise proverb means that in a cultured, developed society of smart people, there is always cleanliness and order, life is more comfortable and joyful.)

It is not the rank that is respected, but the person according to his truth. (Belarusian proverb. Means: a person is evaluated by his intelligence, knowledge and actions. If a person is honest, kind, helps others, then such a person will always be respected and revered by others. It is unlikely that anyone will trust a liar, a deceiver and a greedy person in life, even if he is rich or influential.)

There is no forest without a wolf, no village without a villain. (The proverb means that among people there are not only good people, there are always bad ones, that’s how nature works.)

If you never make a mistake, you will achieve nothing. (Spanish proverb. It means that a person learns from mistakes. His mistakes, which a person understood and corrected, provide invaluable life experience and results.)

At night all cats are gray. (German proverb. In the dark, any color appears gray to human eyes. The proverb is said in a situation where it is very difficult to find something you need or someone you need, because of the sameness.)

I need it like a dog needs a fifth leg. (The saying means superfluous, unnecessary, interfering.)

They've been waiting for the promised thing for three years. (Russian folk proverb. It means that very often a person promises something, but almost always forgets about his promise. Therefore, if you were promised something, it is very likely that the promise will not be fulfilled.)

Burnt on milk, he blows on water. (Russian proverb. It means that someone who has made a mistake or failed becomes careful and prudent in all matters, because he is afraid of making a mistake again and repeating the “bitter experience.”)

Oats don't follow the horse. (Russian folk proverb. It means that if a horse wants to eat, it goes to the oats, and not vice versa. So in life, efforts should be made by the one who needs it. You don’t need to do anything for others unless you are asked to do so. And If they ask, then it’s up to you to decide whether to do it or not.)

A sheep without an udder is a ram. (Folk proverb, they say about a person who has no education and is not an expert in anything.)

There is safety in numbers. (Russian folk proverb. It means that when people help each other, it is easier for them to cope with a task, enemy or difficulty than alone. One person, without the help of friends, comrades and just good people, rarely achieves success. Make reliable friends and always help people if you are asked and you have the opportunity to help.)

One pant leg steals, the other keeps watch. (The saying goes when one trouser leg is tucked into a boot and the other over the boot.)

They are smeared with the same world. (The proverb is used when talking about people who share a common character trait, similarity, or a common goal.)

Be at the right time, in the right place. (The saying means a happy accident that helped in the matter only because at the moment you were in this particular place. If you were in another place, then things would have gone differently.)

He won't even hurt a chicken. (They talk about a very kind person.)

He won't die from modesty. (This saying is used to describe a very boastful or arrogant person.)

Out of boredom at all trades. (They jokingly talk about a person who has learned many professions and can do almost any job efficiently)

An apple comes from an apple tree, a cone comes from a Christmas tree. (Belarusian proverb. It means that every person should do the business in which he is most talented and successful. If a shoemaker bakes bread, then it is unlikely that anything good will come of it.)

Open your own door and you will find others open. (Georgian proverb. It means that you want to treat an open and honest person also openly and honestly.)

It's a double-edged sword. (A proverb about a situation that will have two results at the same time - in some ways it will be good and profitable, and in others bad and unprofitable. Example: “Buying a summer house is a double-edged sword, fresh air and your own fruit are good , but you have to work a lot and hard on it, this is of course bad.”)

A bad soldier is one who does not dream of becoming a general. (The proverb means that it is bad if a person does not strive for anything, does not dream of success in his business, does not achieve success, and it is good when a person strives for better, for more, strives to be the best in his business.)

For business and reward. (The meaning of the proverb: all deeds in life necessarily have results and consequences. Bad deeds will definitely, sooner or later, lead to an answer and retribution. Good deeds will definitely be rewarded.)

Repetition is the mother of learning. (The proverb means: in order to learn and remember the necessary knowledge, it is necessary to repeat the lesson, since the material is quickly forgotten the first time. And only by repeating what you learn can you remember it forever and then this knowledge will serve in life.)

Water does not flow under a lying stone. (The meaning of the proverb is that if you do nothing to achieve a goal, you will never achieve it.)

Anything suits a scoundrel. (The famous saying that any clothes suit a handsome, charming person.)

Until the thunder strikes, the man will not cross himself. (A famous Russian proverb. It means: a Russian person begins to eliminate a problem or a dangerous situation only when this danger or problem has already brought real trouble. But it is almost always possible to prepare in advance, foresee and eliminate these troubles before they appear.)

After us there might be a flood. (Russian proverb about people who do not care what their actions will lead to much later, the main thing is now to get their benefit from these actions now.)

If you hurry, you will make people laugh. (A famous proverb reminds us that haste often leads to bad results. Always make decisions calmly and after careful consideration.)

The truth hurts my eyes. (The saying is said when a person really doesn’t like the truth, but that’s how it really is and there’s no getting around it.)

Forewarned is forearmed. (The proverb means that if a person has received a warning about something, then in a normal situation he should use the time correctly: draw conclusions, take action, or prepare for what he was warned about.)

Have a finger in the pie. (Proverb. Means active participation in any work, business or event.)

It fit like a cow's saddle.

The bird has freedom, the man has peace. (Belarusian proverb. In my opinion, this proverb has the right to exist in two interpretations. Choose for yourself which one you like:
1) To be happy, a bird needs freedom from a cage, but a person has access to the entire planet.
2) to be happy, a bird needs freedom from a cage, and most of all for a person to be happy, it is necessary for there to be peace and no war.)

Work is not a wolf; it will not run away into the forest. (The most famous Russian folk proverb. This is what they say when they don’t want to do work now, or a person talks himself out of doing it. In general, this is an excellent excuse for not washing the dishes.)

Work until you sweat, and eat when you want. (Russian folk proverb. Anyone who works well, or does his job, will definitely receive results in the form of decent pay.)

Work with light. (The saying goes when a person enjoys what he does. He works with desire, joy and enthusiasm.)

Risk is a noble cause. (A proverb is said when one wants to justify taking a risk in something. Very often, in order to achieve success, you need to take risks.)

The Motherland is your mother, know how to stand up for her. (Every man should be able to defend his land, his home, his relatives, the people living next to you. This is the concept of Motherland.)

Groves and forests are beauty to the whole world. (The meaning of the proverb is that you need to take care of the forest, it is the beauty of the Earth, the source of many necessary resources, as well as the source of life for many animals and birds.)

My hands are itching. (A saying about wanting to do what you love as soon as possible.)

The Russian man is strong in hindsight. (Russian folk proverb. It means that the wisest solution to a problem always comes to mind much later than was necessary in solving it.)

Streams will merge - rivers, people will unite - strength. (The proverb shows the power of uniting people. When many people unite together, they can solve any problem.)

The fish rots from the head. (Popular proverb. Means that in any social or political entity, in the army, or in an enterprise there are problems, lack of discipline, corruption and chaos due to the incompetence, greed or evil actions of their leaders.)

Stigma into the cannon. (The saying is about a person who is guilty of something or has done something bad.)

Dressed to the nines. (The saying is about a man dressed in beautiful clothes that suit him very well.)

With the world on a thread - a naked shirt. (Russian proverb. It means that if many people put together a little money or things, they will get a significant amount of money or things. Usually said when everyone together wants to help a friend, neighbor or relative in trouble.)

From a bad bush the berry is empty. (Belarusian folk proverb. It means that the “fruits” of any labor or deed depend on how hard you try.)

You can't go wrong with the craft. (French proverb. It means that if you are talented in something, then your talent will always help you make money if you use it.)

He is a black grouse himself, but wants to look like a peacock. (A proverb about a person who wears clothes that are not his style, that do not suit him.)

The most valuable thing seems to be what your work is invested into. (A proverb that every person considers the most valuable thing in life is what he has achieved through his labor and efforts.)

A pig is never satisfied. (A proverb about a person for whom everything in life is not enough and who is always dissatisfied with something.)

Your own pain hurts more. (A proverb about an egoist to whom everything seems to be much worse for him than for others.)

One's own land is sweet even in sorrow. (The proverb means that the Motherland always seems to be the best to a person)

Your shirt is closer to your body. (Russian proverb. Means that one’s own interests and well-being are more important than the interests of other people.)

Business before pleasure. (The proverb means that if you have successfully solved any business, you need to rest, relax, and gain strength for new things.)

Today the feast is a mountain, and tomorrow he goes with a bag. (French proverb. It says about those people who spend all their money without a trace, without thinking about what will happen tomorrow.)

Seven do not wait for one. (Russian folk proverb. It is said when one person is late and the majority is forced to wait for him. It is also said when one person creates problems or inconvenience to a large number of other people by being slow.)

Seven spans in the forehead. (This is what they say about a very smart and intelligent person. The span is an old Russian measure of length. That is, it literally means a high forehead.)

Seven Fridays a week. (The proverb refers to a fickle person, a person who changes his intentions and opinions too often.)

Measure seven times and cut once. (The meaning of the proverb is that before you do anything, check everything carefully and think carefully, slowly, whether you have taken everything into account.)

The heart bleeds. (Usually said when they are worried about the grief of other people, or when they are upset because of some loss.)

It sits like a collar on a cow. (A saying about a man whose clothes do not suit him.)

Sitting on the stove, you won’t even earn money for candles. (About work and laziness. If you idle, you will be poor; if you are persistent and hardworking, you will achieve success.)

The strong will defeat one, the knowledgeable - a thousand. (The proverb means that with the help of knowledge and science, any business will be much more effective and better than without it.)

No matter how much you feed the wolf, he still looks into the forest. (A wolf will not exchange freedom for anything, it is very difficult to tame him, he is always drawn to the forest. It’s the same with people: if a person really wants to go somewhere, or change something, then nothing can stop him or dissuade him.)

Reluctantly. (The proverb is used when something is done against one’s will, when one does not want to do it, but it is necessary or forced by circumstances.)

Miser pays twice. (The proverb means that a person often saves where he should not, and subsequently this saving costs many times more. People also often buy cheap and low-quality things that immediately break or become unusable and have to be bought again.)

To follow good is to climb a mountain, to follow evil is to slide into an abyss. (The proverb clearly shows: what will happen to a person depends on his actions. Good will lift you up, evil will lower you to the bottom.)

Too many cooks only spoil the mess. (German proverb. It is said when it is important not to overdo it and do everything in moderation.)

Words are good when they come from the heart. (Spanish proverb. The proverb means that when a person sincerely speaks good words, they sound special and especially pleasant.)

The word is not a sparrow: if it flies out, you won’t catch it. (A proverb teaches a person: if you have already said something, then be responsible for your words. Also, if you want to say bad and hurtful words to someone, think a hundred times whether it is worth saying it. Then the situation may never be corrected, or you may end up creating trouble.)

Resin is not water, swearing is not hello. (Proverb that swearing is bad.)

Snow is a warm cover for the earth-nurse. (The meaning of the proverb is that snow is a shelter from frost for plants. If there is no snow in winter, the winter crop and plants may freeze.)

Ate the dog. (Russian proverb. It means that a person has acquired great experience in something, achieved mastery, and knows a lot about it.)

Advice with people never hurts. (Belarusian proverb. It means that if it is very difficult for you to make a decision, then you should consult with more experienced and wise people. But after listening to their advice, the decision is still yours to make.)

A magpie on its tail brought it. (Popular saying. This is how they answer the question: “How did you know?” when they do not want to reveal their source of information.)

You can't put thanks in your mouth. You can't spread thanks on bread. (Proverbs are said when they hint about payment for a service rendered.)

I hid the ends in water. (Proverb: He hid the truth well, disguised it so that there was no way to find out.)

Through the sleeves. (The saying goes when a person does something very poorly and poorly. Example: “our football players played carelessly and lost 3:0.”)

It's an old proverb, but it speaks of something new. (Means that old proverbs are always relevant, even in our modern world.)

An old friend is better than two new ones. (The proverb teaches you to value time-tested friendship. There is nothing more valuable than friendly mutual assistance, tested by life. New friends have yet to prove that they are worthy of the word friend, just like you.)

So-and-so (The proverb is said when they do something poorly and without effort. Example: “our players played “this way and that” and lost 2:0.”)

Such people do not lie on the street. (A saying about a master of his craft, about a valuable person that other people need.)

Such a master will be torn off everywhere. (A saying about a person who is very talented in his field and other people really need him.)

Talent without work is not worth a penny. (The proverb is that even if a person has the ability to do something, but he is lazy, then no one will appreciate him or his abilities. Success loves hard work.)

Patience and work will grind everything down. (A proverb about the value of such human qualities as hard work and endurance. Persistent, hardworking people who see things through to the end are sure to achieve success in Life.)

Only stupid people buy firewood when it rains. (Spanish proverb. They say about a person who acts unreasonably and does not think about his actions.)

It's hard to learn, but it's easy to fight. (The proverb means that it is difficult and not easy to learn anything, or acquire knowledge, but when you were able to learn everything, or learn as expected, you will definitely achieve success or victory. You need to remember once and for all: before you try to do anything business, first you need to learn everything that will help you do this business very well.)

Everyone has their own skeleton in their closet. (It means that everyone has their own sin, deed or deed for which he is very ashamed and he repents of what he did.)

Whoever is in pain talks about it. (The proverb means: if a person constantly discusses the same thing in conversations with different people, it means that this worries him greatly in his thoughts.)

A mind without a book is like a bird without wings. (The proverb means that one who does not read books is unlikely to be able to acquire complete knowledge.)

Smart head, but the fool got it. (A proverb about a person who seems not to be stupid, but commits rash, stupid actions.)

A smart person won't climb a mountain, a smart person will go around a mountain. (The proverb means that a smart person will find the most correct and effective solution to a situation.)

The harvest comes not from dew, but from sweat. (To get results in any business, you need to make efforts and work.)

The truth speaks through the mouth of a baby. (The proverb means that often children, due to childish naivety, speak simple, understandable, but at the same time correct decisions, or the truth, because they do not yet know how to lie.)

The morning is wiser than the evening. (Russian folk proverb. It means that in most situations there is no need to rush, make decisions “in the heat of the moment”, there is no need to rush, you need to calm down and think carefully. As a rule, if you go to bed, then in the morning the situation will seem different and the decision will be made deliberately, it will be much more effective.)

The scientist leads, the unlearned follows. (The proverb means that a literate person will always manage illiterate people. Those who have not studied and do not have knowledge will only do hard work.)

Learning is light and ignorance is darkness. (The proverb means that knowledge gives a person the opportunity to know the depth and beauty of life, allows him to have more opportunities; the life of illiterate people, as a rule, is dull and dull, spent in poverty and hard work.)

Facts are stubborn things. (A proverb written by the English writer Elliot. It means that what is seen with the eyes, what is visible and obvious to everyone at the moment will be considered true.)

The tit boasted to light the sea. (The proverb is said about a boastful person who is a hero in words, but in action is incapable of anything.)

Bread is the head of everything. (Means that bread is the main product in people’s lives. You need to be careful with bread.)

Good clothes won't make you smarter. (The proverb means: no matter how you look, smart people will evaluate you for your intelligence and your actions, and not for your expensive appearance.)

Good fame gathers people, but bad fame drives people away. (Belarusian proverb. It means that good deeds attract people, and bad deeds repel others.)

If you want a big spoon, take a big shovel. If you want to eat honey, keep bees. (Proverb about work. If you put in the effort and your work, you will receive a reward and result.)

If you want to eat rolls, don't sit on the stove. (Similar to the previous one, if you want to live well, then you need to put in perseverance and work.)

If you want to know a person, give him a loan. (The proverb means that if you lend a person money and the time comes for him to repay the debt, it will become clear whether he is a decent person or an ordinary deceiver.)

If I want, I can do half of it. (The proverb means that if a person has a desire to do something, he will always find ways to do it. Life will definitely tell you.)

Limps on both legs. (The saying can be heard when discussing a bad employee, a student who is behind in his studies, or some unfortunate business.)

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. (The proverb means: all deeds are judged by their outcome. For children: If the owner of the chickens took good care of them, made efforts and his work, then in the fall all the chickens will grow into big hens and cockerels, that is, there will be a result. So in other matters - if you make an effort, be persistent and hardworking, you will definitely achieve success.)

A man lives for a century, but his deeds last two. (A proverb about what a person has achieved in his life. If he did good deeds and achieved success, then people will remember and talk about him for a very long time.)

A person is born, and his fingers are already bending towards themselves. (The proverb means that almost every person, from birth, has the desire to become rich, to have money and all sorts of benefits.)

Whatever the child amuses himself with, as long as he doesn’t cry. (The meaning of the proverb is that let a person do whatever he wants, as long as he doesn’t cause trouble. Most often, this proverb is said about people who do stupid, funny things in order to comment on their antics.)

Even a horse cannot gallop through force. (Means that you need to know moderation in everything.)

Either in the forehead or on the forehead. (Russian proverb. They talk about a person who cannot understand and understand what is being explained to him.)

What's in your mouth, thank you. (The proverb was said in ancient times when people or Life were thanked for delicious food.)

What suits the face is what makes it beautiful. (Proverb about wearing clothes that suit the person and look good on them.)

What is born in the summer will come in handy in the winter. (The meaning of the proverb is that you need to take care of the summer harvest, as it will feed people in the winter.)

What is written with a pen cannot be cut out with an axe. (The proverb means: if what is written on paper (law, order, complaint, etc.) has come into force or has been read by other people, then it is very difficult to correct, change or cancel it.)

What goes around comes around. (A famous Slavic proverb. It means: how you treat a task at the beginning is what you will get in the end. If you tried and did well, then the result of any undertaking will be good. If you did something poorly, poorly, or did it incorrectly, then the result accordingly it will be deplorable.)

To eat a fish, you have to get into the water. (The proverb means that results can only be achieved through effort and hard work.)

The cat smells it, whose meat it has eaten. (Russian folk proverb. They talk about a person who stole from another person, or harmed him. And when he found out who he had harmed, he was very scared.)

Someone else's chicken looks like a turkey. (A proverb about envy, when you envy another person.)

Other people's children grow up quickly. (The saying means that when you don’t have your own children, it seems that others grow up quickly, because you don’t see the problems that their parents face every day. To raise your children, you need to face a lot of troubles every day, so it seems that they take a long time to grow up.)

The stockings are new, but the heels are bare. (A proverb about someone who instantly ruins new clothes.)

Whose cow would moo, and yours would be silent. (It means that in a certain situation, it is better to remain silent than to say something at the wrong time or place. It is often said in a situation where a person is obviously guilty, but is trying to justify himself by blaming others.)

A step forward is a step towards victory. (There is no need to reveal anything here. This proverb should be a motto in all your affairs.)

Murder will out. (Said in a situation when someone is trying to hide something that is already clear, or will definitely become known.)

These are just flowers, the berries will be ahead. (A saying about any business or event, the consequences of which are not yet fully visible. That is, the most important results and events from this matter will come later.)

I helped him out, and he taught me. (A proverb about how a person’s good is reciprocated with ingratitude and betrayal.)

I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things. (Phrase of one famous person. He wanted to say that he buys only expensive and high-quality things that will serve him for a long time and reliably. Cheap things, as a rule, are of poor quality and break down very quickly.)

I am not me, and the horse is not mine. (They say a saying when they want to show that they are not involved in a situation, do not interfere, etc.)

The apple never falls far from the tree. (The proverb means that children are very often similar to their parents both in character and in actions.)

Tongue without bones. (A saying about a person who knows how to speak beautifully and a lot.)

Language will take you to Kyiv. (The proverb means that a person who knows how to speak correctly and beautifully will always find what he needs. We are talking about both a specific place and success in any business.)

My tongue is my enemy. (The proverb is said in the case when a person blurted out something “unnecessary” and his words ultimately harmed him or people dear to him.)

Teach your grandmother to suck eggs. (A proverb is said to a person who is younger and more inexperienced, but tries to teach older and more experienced people in business or life.)

No matter what the initiative is - there is a hole, there will be a gap.
The beginning is hard, but the end is near.
Young people scold - they have fun, and old people scold - they get angry.
Don’t open your mouth to someone else’s loaf, get up early and start your own.
It’s not all Maslenitsa, there will be Lent too.
The woodpecker is not sad that he cannot sing and the whole forest can hear him.

A new broom sweeps in a new way, but when it breaks, it lies under the bench.
Alone in the field is not a warrior, but a traveler.
Horses die from work, but people grow stronger.

It's a double-edged sword - it hits here and there.
Repetition is the mother of learning and the consolation of fools.
Repetition is the mother of learning and a refuge for the lazy.
For a drunk, the sea is knee-deep, and the puddle is up to his ears.
The dust is a column, the smoke is a rocker, but the hut is not heated, not swept.
Grow big, but don't be a noodle, stretch a mile, but don't be simple.
The fisherman sees the fisherman from afar, so he avoids them.
If you get along with a bee, you'll get honey; if you get along with a beetle, you'll end up in manure.
Seven troubles - one answer, the eighth trouble - nowhere at all.
The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give it to the cattle.
An old horse will not spoil the furrows, and it will not plow deep.
If you drive more quietly, you will be further away from where you are going.
Fear's eyes are big but they don't see anything.
The ward is lost and the key is lost.
Bread on the table - and the table is a throne, but not a piece of bread - and the table is a board.
Miracles in a sieve - there are many holes, but nowhere to jump out.
A healthy mind in a healthy body is a rare blessing.
Whoever remembers the old is out of sight, and whoever forgets both.
There is a black sheep in the family, and because of the black sheep, everything is not pleasing.
Hunger is not an aunt, but a mother.
If you hit one cheek, turn the other, but don’t allow yourself to be hit.
The bullet is afraid of the brave, but it will find the coward even in the bushes.
Appetite comes with eating, and greed comes with appetite.
Thinness is like water off a duck's back (bathhouse proverb.

And a blind horse carries, if a sighted man sits on the cart.
Good advice is good in time.
Everyone seeks the truth, but not everyone creates it.
Every bird loves its nest.

There is joy overseas, but it’s someone else’s, but here we have grief, but it’s our own.

We live by chewing bread - and sometimes adding salt.
The affectionate calf sucks two queens, but does not give one to the vigorous one.
My tongue is my enemy - it speaks before my mind.
Not fish, not meat, not caftan, not cassock.
A hand washes a hand, but a thief hides a thief.
The hand washes the hand - and both whites live.
Horses do not roam for food, and they do not seek good for good.
The morning is wiser than the evening - the grass is greener than the straw.
For a beaten man they give two unbeaten men, but if it doesn’t hurt, they take it.
Two are waiting for the third, but seven are not waiting for one.
As you hit, so will you receive - with the same end in the same place.
It's hidden, and the knot is right there.
My tongue is my enemy, prowling before my mind, looking for trouble.
Poverty is not a vice, but twice as bad.
It was smooth on paper, but they forgot about the ravines and walked along them.
Goal is like a falcon, and sharp as an axe.
A lip is not a fool; a tongue is not a shovel.
There are two pairs of boots, and both are left.
The girlish shame - to the threshold - she crossed and forgot.
The master is afraid of the work, but the master of the work is afraid.
A spoon is on its way to dinner, and then at least for a bench. Even if a fool is happy, he puts two of his own. A mosquito will not knock down a horse until the bear helps. The hen pecks every grain, and the whole yard is covered in droppings.

Old sayings

-Whose are you, young man? - Zubchevsky merchant. -Where were you? – In Moscow I walked around the world.

But I'm a fool for nuts.

And listen to our speech: if you resist, eat it!

Where are our sleighs? Either they disappeared or they didn’t exist.

Where is the bread that you ate yesterday?

And I would crush it and carry manure

Do you know what it smells like?

And just as the prince is thin, so is he in the mud.

When will there be leisure? - And when we are not there

And when was this? - How else did our glorious Cuban lake burn?

And when? - A long time ago, when the woman was still a girl

Who has ever heard of a bear flying?

Who told you to think?

And youth - oh-oh!

Does the dog know anything about Friday?

Well, well! hit me if you dare. Well, more!

Well, let’s consider it our own: how did grandma’s grandson goat suit her mother-in-law’s hen?

And when they woke up, they announced the gospel for Matins.

And you would have grabbed it like you were sitting on a splint; and then he realized that he had rolled down the mountain

And the devil knows!

What do I care about Lansky snow?

What's new? - The archimandrite marries, takes the abbess

What will people say about this?

What are you asking for Moscow?

So, my dear guests, let’s go for the birthday celebrations

Well, good man, have you seen the evil Tatar?

And so that it will be useful to you, but come back to your own yard!

Abram, Abram, but not God's temple

Avvakum is not a godfather, he will treat you with his brotherhood

Avos is a great word

Maybe he lives - he won't do any good

Perhaps they bring it to the point that at least give up

Perhaps it pushes the fisherman in the sides.

Perhaps not God, but there is a demigod

Perhaps I'm a brother

Perhaps he will deceive you and go into the forest

Perhaps the hare falls into a snare

Avoska is a thief, he will deceive

Avoska is probably a stuffed brother

Avoska is a good guy: he will either help you out or teach you

Avoska left, but probably left

They believe in avoska's debt

Trust the string bag without a deposit

Maybe don’t believe it at all

Don't trust Avosya at all

Maybe they ate the junk

Agrippina's back was itching

Hell without bottom, age without end

Hell groans and weeps, it takes in the sinners

Peasant proverbs. Proverbs and sayings about the peasant

• The peasant is drunk - he is his own master.
• Do not let the peasant become overgrown, but shear him, like a sheep, naked.
• Peasant gathering - zemstvo vodka.
• The peasant belly went around the back.
• A peasant's throat is a cloth reed: everything is crushed.
• It is not the hand of a peasant son to eat rolls.
• Peasant work will not make you rich, but you will be hunchbacked.
• The peasant lives by his cattle.
• A peasant without land is like a tree without roots.
• Peasant share in a wide field.

Proverbs and sayings about Rus'

The Holy Russian land is great, and the sun is everywhere.

The Volga is the mother of all rivers.

Every bird loves its nest.

Every pine tree makes noise in its own forest.

Everyone has their own side.

Where someone is born, that’s where they will come in handy.

Where the pine tree is mature, there it is red.

The bird that doesn't like its nest is stupid.

Houses and walls help.

Overseas there is joy, but it is someone else’s, but here we have grief, but our own.

And wormwood grows on its roots.

And the dog knows his side.

Each has its own sweet land.

Love for the Motherland is stronger than death.

On my native side, even the pebble is familiar.

On the other side, the Motherland is doubly dear.

There is no more beautiful country in the world than ours.

Homeland is more beautiful than the sun, more valuable than gold.

You can even dream about your native land.

The native side is the mother, the alien side is the stepmother.

The Russian is proud in words and firm in deeds.

Russian enthusiasm awaits.

The Russian does not joke with the sword or the roll.

Russians are patient to the very beginning.

Russian people remember good things.

Your own land is sweet even in a handful.

Your own side is never cold.

Siberia is a goldmine.

A bad bird is one that soils its nest.

Historical proverbs. Russian proverbs and sayings about history

Close to the king - close to death.

It happened: and the boyars howled like a wolf.

Here's to you, grandma, and St. George's Day!

Temporary workers are great by nature, but short-lived.

The hungry Frenchman is happy with the crow.

Wait for St. George's Day, when the cancer whistles.

The man swore off taking care of his master's goods on Yuryev's day.

You can’t drink water from Volkhov, you can’t kill people in Novgorod.

If a prince is bad, then the prince is in the dirt.

Who is against God and Veliky Novgorod?

It’s a small town, but there are seven governors.

Novgorod is being judged in its own court.

The Novgorodians tucked and tucked, and Novgorod continued to tack.

I warmed up in Moscow, but froze on the Berezina.

Kutuzov came to beat the French.

Disappeared as a Swede near Poltava.

Empty, as if Mamai had passed.

The Frenchman burned himself and froze himself.

One sheep has seven shepherds.

The king's hands are in debt.

The Frenchman is striking, but the Russian is persistent.

The royal favors are sown into the boyar sieve.

Like other types of folk art, proverbs, these sayings of folk wisdom, based on centuries-old observations and experiences, belong to a wide variety of eras.

Each nation has a unique mental and spiritual origin, which is reflected in folk proverbs and sayings.

Proverbs did not appear suddenly, some were born from observations of life phenomena, the realities of the surrounding world, the character and behavior of people; others have replenished the linguistic treasury, wandering from literary works.

Proverbs are valuable folklore material that reflects the worldview and worldview of many generations.

Among ancient peoples, proverbs were called “parables.” Often they were an integral part of some kind of narrative, story, fairy tale. Having a dimensional warehouse, these generalization expressions stood out and were remembered. Some stories were no longer remembered, and common judgments from them fell into the tongue and were passed on from generation to generation.

There are proverbs preserved from pagan or semi-pagan times, the so-called “mythical”. They reflected pagan beliefs and rituals.

There are many historical proverbs that began during outstanding periods of historical life, or after a famous event. For example, “he died like a Swede near Poltava.”

The oldest historical proverbs were found in ancient chronicles.

There are a large number of proverbs related to family life. Marriage in its historical development has gone through several stages, which is reflected in proverbs. Examples of proverbs relating to marriage and family are the following. “Don’t rush to get married soon, so as not to be angry later,” “Choose a horse that comes from nature, and a horse from home.”

There are proverbs relating to social life. Many of them express a reasonable understanding of life and a correct view of it, for example, “Learning is light, but ignorance is darkness.”

Proverbs play an important role in human life. Proverbs are a kind of guiding principles for activity. When justifying one or another action, a person cites a proverb as evidence. And you can’t go against the proverb anymore.

Historical reference

Peter I was very fond of Russian proverbs and sayings. He knew most of them by heart and knew how to apply them appropriately and appropriately. Even in foreign lands, the sovereign did not forget proverbs. So, while in Amsterdam, where he studied naval art, he wrote to Levashev about sending him books with proverbs, asking him not to forget about this fact. At the end of the letter, Peter stated:

"From Amsterdam, February 15th 1717, Peter."

Old Russian proverbs and sayings

From angel there is one, from man there are two, from earth there are three.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Small sparks of fire cause great things to burn.
You can't hide from death even under a stone.
The cut piece will not stick.
He cuts off his head and cries over his hair.
From goodness the roots and branches of goodness.
Rain comes from God, lies from the devil.
You hide it from people, but not from God.
Kiryukha cut off his ear.
From a pure heart, the eyes see pure.
It fell behind the shore, but did not reach the other shore.
They do not seek good from good.
From thin birds come thin songs.
Proverbs about fate: God gave the way, but the devil threw a hook.
It’s time for anyone to know Mount Athos
Proverbs about life and fate: If you hunger for someone else’s, you will lose yours.
Wise Proverbs about fate: God does not give a horn to a carnivorous cow.
Proverbs about the mind: A beard is like a gate, but the mind is a small joke...
Proverbs about swearing: Swearing does not like the truth.
Proverbs about courage Fear of wolves - to be without fungi.
Proverbs about family life: If you take the devil into the house, do not knock him out with your forehead
Proverbs about fate: To survive a century is not to overtake a field.
Proverbs about Russian officials: A raven will not peck out a raven's eye.
Proverbs about life: Every good man follows his example.
Proverbs about worldly wisdom: The bear is to blame for eating the cow; and the cow that roamed the fields was not right.
Proverbs about thrift and politeness: A thrifty horse does not kill an animal in the field.
Proverbs about good and sin: The sinful body and soul have been eaten.
Proverbs about smart people and fools. If there is a pie, we eat it, but if there is no pie, we look at it.
Proverbs about friendship and disputes: Farther into the forest there is more firewood. Further into the argument - more words
Proverbs about worldly wisdom. Fir cones from roots to tower.
Proverbs about family and family life. The wife is a plaster for her husband, and he is her shepherd.
Proverbs about wives. Women's minds are like Tatar sums.
Proverbs about marriage and wives. If he gets married, he will change.
Proverbs about evil and good. The most evil of all is the evil wife.
Proverbs and sayings about prudence. The needle serves - as long as the ears; and people are still souls.
Proverbs about truth and lies. True not false: it is impossible to fight against the devil
Proverbs about studying. Whatever the arable land, such is the brutality.
Proverbs about male prudence and female cunning. Listen to your ears, eat your lips, and don’t give free rein to the eyes of fools
Proverbs about male prudence and female cunning. Listen to your ears, eat your lips, and don’t give free rein to your foolish eyes

Other wise proverbs and sayings:

Proverbs about sin and punishment It is obvious that sin creates little guilt.
Proverbs about women and marriage. The worm eats the tree, but the woman is evil.
Proverbs and sayings about secret and obvious The fur coat is a sheep, but the soul is human.
Proverbs about fate and affection. Whatever is little is also expensive.
Proverbs about life and death. Hour by hour, but closer to death.
Proverbs about kings and service. To stand before the king, despise yourself.
Proverbs about business and craft. Bad craft is better than good theft.
Wise proverbs. Although the pine tree stands in the middle of the field, and besides, the forest is noisy.
Wise proverbs. He who blows on milk will blow on water.
Wise proverbs. Thomas will not buy his mind.
Wise proverbs. Teach your wife and children without people.
Wise proverbs. Then praise the dream when it comes true
Beautiful proverbs. Humility is a man's necklace.
Wise proverbs. Proverbs about faith. With faith, a splinter of something is not a candle.
Wise proverbs. They learn to fly, and pride itself grows.
Proverbs about friendship Through self-interest, one gets to know a friend.
Proverbs about life The priest and the rooster sing bitterly and do not whine bitterly.
Proverbs about life Proverbs about deception. The hand scratches the hand, and both itch.
Proverbs about ingenuity. If you measure water with a sieve, you will waste time.
Proverbs about self-will Hunting is worse than bondage.
Proverbs about intelligence and wealth. He acquired wealth and forgot his brotherhood.
Proverbs about kindness and mercy. It is not he who gives much mercy who is merciful; he is merciful who does not offend anyone.
Wise proverbs about guests and neighbors. Dear guest, what a soul; they eliminate him like a hedgehog.

Proverbs about friendship

Remember friendship, but forget evil.
A friend and brother is a great thing: you won’t get it soon.
It is better to listen to a friend's reproaches than to lose him.
Where friendship is strong, things go well.
You will not get to know your friend without trouble.
Where friendship is valued, enemies tremble.
I was at a friend’s place and drank the water – it seemed sweeter than honey.
Holding on to each other means not being afraid of anything.
Friendship is like glass: if you break it, you can’t fix it.
Stand together for peace - there will be no war.
A strong friendship cannot be cut with an axe.
He who is cool in character is no one's friend.
Whoever leaves a friend in trouble gets into trouble himself.
To tell the truth is not to make a friend.
A heart friend will not be born suddenly.
Better the bitter truth of a friend than the flattery of an enemy.
A thing is good when it is new, but a friend is good when it is old.
Don't recognize a friend in three days - find out at three years.
You recognize a horse in the army, but a friend in trouble.
Without a friend - an orphan; with a friend - a family man.
An untested friend, the nut is not cracked.
The mountain is destroyed by the wind, human friendship is destroyed by words.
Why be friends with someone who wants to scold.
Whoever you mess with, that's how you'll gain: from a bee to honey, from a beetle to manure.
If you hold on to each other, you won’t be afraid of anything.
You will quarrel into smoke, then you will burn with shame.
It is bad without a friend who is lost, but it is also bad with a friend who is unfaithful.
Without a good friend, you won't recognize your mistakes.
The mountain is destroyed by the wind, human friendship is destroyed by the word.
A friend is a valuable treasure, but no one is happy about an enemy.
A father is a mentor, a brother is a support, and a friend is both.
Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
What you don’t want for yourself, don’t do to others.
As is your friend, so is the respect for you.
Die yourself and help your friend.
If you don’t have a friend, look for him, but if you find him, take care of him.
Make new friends, but don't lose old ones!
A good piece won't get boring, a good friend won't get bored.
Don't lose a friend - don't give him a loan.
Don’t reveal secrets to a friend - know that he also has a friend.

Initially, proverbs were part of short stories about some events, fairy tales, songs and represented an aptly and briefly expressed generalization of what was discussed in the story or song. Often distinguished by their regularity of structure, often having consonances at the beginning and in the middle (alliteration) or at the end (rhyme), these generalizations were easily remembered, stood out from the stories and even survived the stories themselves in the people's memory.

Examples of proverbs that are still associated with stories or songs include the following: “It’s not hard to live in grief, but to walk naked is not to be in disarray” (from the song), “curls curl in joy, split in sorrow,” “pull out your nose.” , the tail gets stuck, the tail pulls out, the nose gets stuck" (from the fairy tale about the crane), "and the broom bush stands for the truth" (from the fairy tale about the murdered sister and the pipe), "the beaten one carries the unbeaten" (from the fairy tale), "now the old man, then and action" (from antiquity).

Proverbs play an important role in folk life: they serve as guiding principles for activity; they are referred to to justify their actions and actions, they are used to accuse or denounce others. The people expressed the importance of the proverb in proverbs: “An old proverb will not break forever,” “an old proverb is not spoken in passing,” “a good proverb does not hit the mark, but straight to the eye,” “there is no judgment on a proverb.”

Proverbs relate to historical events, reflect ancient life, pagan and Christian beliefs, family and social life, morality, etc.

PROVERBS REFLECTING PAGAN BELIEFS AND RITES. Examples: “The sun works during the day, and takes rest at night” (animistic view of the sun), “Whichever God soaks, he will dry” (polytheism), “The slaughtered ram left, and the wandering one came home” (a hint of sacrifice), “He lived in forest, prayed to the stumps" (veneration of the goblin), "Brave, strong, but you can’t handle everything with the goblin,” “If there were a demon, there would be a goblin,” “There is a goblin in the forest, but a stepmother at home,” “Egory and Vlas are the eyes of the whole household " (veneration of Volos), "What the wolf has in its teeth, Yegoriy gave", "I sat on the stove, prayed to the bricks" (veneration of the brownie), "The brownie will not love (cattle), no matter what you take", "Not everything is a mermaid, that dives into the water”, “An old raven will not caw by”, “Any raven would croak on his own head”, “They were crowned around the spruce, and the devils sang” (marriage without a church ceremony), “I took the little god by the little leg, and on the floor "(overthrow of idols).
Under the influence of the clergy, they began to look at the pagan gods as evil spirits, demons, the devil, and Satan. This is reflected in the following proverbs: “From an empty hollow, either an owl, or an owl, or Satan himself” (i.e., goblin), “Every devil is free to wander in his own swamp” (water), “Devils are found in still waters.”
Some proverbs express faith in fate: “You can’t get around your betrothed and you can’t ride around on horseback,” “Don’t be afraid, but fate cannot be avoided,” “Where there is no share, there is not much happiness,” “Don’t be born good or bad.” handsome, be born happy”, “The evil ones are not afraid of the mountains”, “Money goes to the rich, the evil ones go to the poor”, “You can’t escape from evil.”

PROVERBS CONCERNING HOUSEKEEPING. These proverbs express mainly agricultural labor. Examples: “It’s not the field that feeds, but the cornfield”, “You can’t travel the whole field with one horse”, “Fish is water, berries are grass, and bread is the head of everything”, “It’s not a problem that there is quinoa in the rye, but troubles are not rye, no quinoa", "The man is going to die, but plow the land", "Expensive goods grow from the ground."

PROVERBS THAT REFLECT CHRISTIAN BELIEFS Examples: “God is not in power, but in truth,” “Without God, not even to the threshold, but with God, even across the sea,” “If the Lord does not preserve the city, then all the guards and fences are in vain,” “Gold He is tempted by fire, but man is tempted by adversity", "A parable of the town" (from the psalter), "Humble in spirit, but proud in belly", "He looks at the sky, but rummages on the earth", "You burn thick incense, you will conceive the saints", "In front - blessed husband, and behind her, she’s staggering like crazy” (about people who cover up bad deeds with external piety).

PROVERBS THAT REFLECT FAMILY LIFE. Examples: “The master of the house is like a khan in the Crimea”, “As God is before people, so is a father before children”, “Woe is lost in girls, given in marriage - double the profit”, “One matchmaker swears for someone else’s soul”, “ There’s a bear in the forest, and a stepmother at home,” “Letting your wife down means no good,” “Love your wife like a soul, shake her like a pear,” “He who loves, beats” (the wife), “Don’t beat your wife— "Don't be nice."

PROVERBS THAT REFLECT THE MEANING OF PUBLIC - PEACE. Examples: “What the world has ordered, God has judged”, “You are for the world, and the world is for you”, “The world’s truth stands firmly”, “The world is a great man”, “The world will stand up for itself”, “There is no judgment against the world ", "The world will roar, so the forests will groan."

PROVERBS THAT REFLECT ANCIENT COURT PROCEEDINGS. Examples: “A judge is like a carpenter: he cut down what he wanted”, “What laws are to me: judges are familiar to me”, “Don’t be afraid of the court - be afraid of the judge”, “A horse competed with a wolf - the tail and mane remained”, “God punished the people – the governor sent”, “The horse loves oats, and the governor loves the food.”

PROVERBS ABOUT WEALTH AND POVERTY. Examples: “Money weighs heavily on the soul like stones”, “The rich man will not buy his conscience, but destroys his own: if he climbs into wealth, he will forget brotherhood”, “The naked and naked are right before God”, “The rich man does not feed the poor, but everyone is full”, “A rich man would eat money if the poor man didn’t feed him bread”, “If money speaks, then the truth is silent”, “Don’t ask a rich man, ask a poor one”, “In the wrong hands a piece of bread seems big, but how we will get it, it will seem so small."

PROVERBS. REFLECTING MORAL CONCEPTS. Examples: “You can’t look at the truth like the sun”, “Fill the truth with gold, and it will emerge”, “The truth is carried away from the day of the sea”, “You will go through the whole world with a lie, but you won’t come back”, “It’s better to lie to endure rather than to spin the truth,” “There was, they say, truth in the world, but in the villages it was lost,” “Truth does not stand in the world, but walks around the world,” “You can’t live without truth, and you can’t live about the truth.” ", "The truth is not good for business, but put it in an ark and pray", "Fish looks for where it is deeper, but man looks for where it is better", "A zealous horse does not live long."

PROVERBS THAT DRAW THE CHARACTER OF PEOPLE. Examples: “It hisses like hot iron when you spit” (about a hot, irritable person), “You can’t handle it with a mortar and pestle” (stubborn), “He walks in boots, but the trail is barefoot” (cunning), “Wherever he steps, here he’ll knock” (the lump), “Hemmed by the winds” (fickle), “He says it’s like dragging a collar on a horse with pincers” (mumble), “He’s one of the young and early, crows like a rooster” (upstart), “He babbles like a magpie” ( about someone who speaks quickly), “He said that he cut off” (about someone who speaks briefly and decisively), “He says that the river is flowing” (smoothly), “Coos like a dove” (gently), “Whatever he says, he says in rubles will give" (well-spoken and sensible).

PROVERBS FOR DIFFERENT LIFE OCCASIONS. Examples: “Don’t be afraid of the dog that barks, but be afraid of the one that bites on the sly,” “Don’t be angry at a rude word, and don’t give in to a kind word,” “To get to know a person, you need to eat a pound of salt with him.”

THE PROVERB DOES NOT SAY FORMALLY

BUSINESS BEFORE PLEASURE.
A handwritten note from Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629 - 1676) to a collection of rules for falconry, a favorite pastime of that time. It is usually said as a reminder to a person who, while having fun, forgets about the matter.

TWO DEATHS CAN'T HAPPEN, BUT ONE CAN'T BE SAVED.
The inevitable will still happen, whether you take risks or not. It speaks of the determination to do something associated with risk, danger, and at the same time with the hope that the danger can still be avoided.

THE FIRST DAMN IT IS LOMIC.
It often happens that the housewife doesn’t succeed in the first pancake (it doesn’t come out of the frying pan well, it burns), but the housewife uses it to determine whether the dough is well kneaded, whether the pan is warmed up, or whether it needs to add oil. It is said to justify the unsuccessful start of a new, difficult business.
IF YOU CHASE TWO HARRIES, YOU WILL NOT Catch EITHER.
It is said when someone takes on several (usually beneficial for himself) tasks at once and therefore cannot do any of them well or complete them.

GRANDMOTHER SAID TWO.
In two (simple) - vaguely, with the ability to understand one way or another. It is unknown whether what is expected will come true; It is still unknown how it will be: one way or another. They say when they doubt the implementation of what they propose.

FOR ONE BEATEN, THEY GIVE TWO UNBEATEN.
They say when they understand that punishment for mistakes made is good for a person, because this is how he gains experience.

AN OLD FRIEND IS BETTER THAN TWO NEW ONES.
It is said when they want to emphasize the loyalty, devotion and irreplaceability of an old friend.

ONE HEAD IT'S GOOD, BUT TWO BETTER.
It is said when, when solving a problem, they turn to someone for advice, when they solve a matter together

GET LOST IN TWO PINES.
Not being able to understand something simple, uncomplicated, not being able to find a way out of the simplest difficulty.

FROM THE POT IS THREE VERSHKS.
Very short, short, small.

I PROMISED THREE BOXES.
A lot (to say, promise, lie, etc.).

THE PROMISED WILL BE WAITING FOR THREE YEARS.
They say it jokingly when they do not believe that someone will soon fulfill their promises or when the fulfillment of what is promised is delayed indefinitely.

CRY IN THREE STREAMS.
That is, it is very bitter to cry.

THE FIFTH WHEEL IN THE CART.
A superfluous, unnecessary person in any matter.

SEVEN DO NOT WAIT FOR ONE.
This is what they say when they start something without someone who is late, or with a reproach to someone who makes many (not necessarily seven) wait.

SEVEN TROUBLES - ONE ANSWER.
Let’s take the risk again, and if we have to answer, then for everything at once, at the same time. It speaks of the determination to do something else risky, dangerous in addition to what has already been done.

SEVEN TIMES MEASURE CUT ONCE.
Before you do anything serious, think it over carefully, foresee everything. It is said as advice to think through all possible options before starting any business.

TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.
Without an eye (obsolete) - without supervision, without supervision. Things are done poorly and unsatisfactorily when several people are responsible for it at once. It is said that when several people (or even organizations) responsible for a matter rely on each other and each individual treats their responsibilities in bad faith.

ALL TRIN IS GRASS.
The mysterious "tryn-grass" is not at all some kind of herbal medicine that people drink so as not to worry. At first it was called "tyn-grass", and tyn is a fence. The result was “fence grass,” that is, a weed that no one needed, everyone was indifferent to.

ADD ON THE FIRST NUMBER.
Believe it or not, in the old school students were flogged every week, no matter who was right or wrong. And if the “mentor” overdoes it, then such a spanking would last for a long time, until the first day of the next month.

GOAL LIKE A FALCON.
Terribly poor, beggar. They usually think that we are talking about a falcon bird. But she has nothing to do with it. In fact, the "falcon" is an ancient military battering gun. It was a completely smooth (“bare”) cast iron block attached to chains. Nothing extra!

ORPHAN OF KAZAN.
This is what they say about a person who pretends to be unhappy, offended, helpless in order to pity someone. But why is the orphan “Kazan”? It turns out that this phraseological unit arose after the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. The Mirzas (Tatar princes), finding themselves subjects of the Russian Tsar, tried to beg all sorts of concessions from him, complaining about their orphanhood and bitter fate.

INSIDE OUT.
Now this seems to be a completely harmless expression. And once it was associated with shameful punishment. During the time of Ivan the Terrible, a guilty boyar was placed backwards on a horse with his clothes turned inside out and, in this disgraced form, was driven around the city to the whistling and jeers of the street crowd.

LEAD BY THE NOSE.
Deceive by promising and not fulfilling what was promised. This expression was associated with fairground entertainment. Gypsies led bears by a ring threaded through their noses. And they forced them, the poor fellows, to do various tricks, deceiving them with the promise of a handout.

SCAPEGOAT.
This is the name given to a person who is blamed for someone else. The history of this expression is as follows: the ancient Jews had a rite of absolution. The priest laid both hands on the head of the living goat, thereby, as it were, transferring the sins of the entire people onto it. After this, the goat was driven out into the desert. Many, many years have passed, and the ritual no longer exists, but the expression still lives on.

SHARPEN THE LASKS.
Lyasy (balusters) are turned figured posts of railings at the porch. Only a true master could make such beauty. Probably, at first, “sharpening balusters” meant conducting an elegant, fancy, ornate (like balusters) conversation. But in our time, the number of people skilled in conducting such a conversation became fewer and fewer. So this expression came to mean empty chatter.

GRATED KALAC.
In the old days there really was such a type of bread - “grated kalach”. The dough for it was crumpled, kneaded, “grated” for a very long time, which is why the kalach turned out to be unusually fluffy. And there was also a proverb - “do not grate, do not crush, there will be no kalach.” That is, trials and tribulations teach a person. The expression comes from this proverb.

NICK DOWN.
If you think about it, the meaning of this expression seems cruel - you must agree, it’s not very pleasant to imagine an ax next to your own nose. In reality, everything is not so sad. In this expression, the word “nose” has nothing to do with the organ of smell. A “nose” was the name given to a memorial plaque, or a note tag. In the distant past, illiterate people always carried such tablets and sticks with them, with the help of which all kinds of notes or notations were made as memories.

AFTER THE RAIN ON THURSDAY.
The Rusichi - the most ancient ancestors of the Russians - honored among their gods the main god - the god of thunder and lightning Perun. One of the days of the week was dedicated to him - Thursday (it is interesting that among the ancient Romans Thursday was also dedicated to the Latin Perun - Jupiter). Prayers were offered to Perun for rain during the drought. It was believed that he should be especially willing to fulfill requests on “his day” - Thursday. And since these prayers often remained in vain, the saying “After the rain on Thursday” began to be applied to everything that is unknown when it will come true.

BREAK A LEG.
This expression arose among hunters and was based on the superstitious idea that with a direct wish (both down and feather), the results of a hunt can be jinxed. In the language of hunters, feather means bird, and down means animals. In ancient times, a hunter going on a hunt received this parting word, the “translation” of which looks something like this: “Let your arrows fly past the target, let the snares and traps you set remain empty, just like the trapping pit!” To which the earner, in order not to jinx it either, replied: “To hell!” And both were confident that the evil spirits, invisibly present during this dialogue, would be satisfied and leave behind, and would not plot intrigues during the hunt.

KICK THE BUCKLES.
What are “baklushi”, who “beats” them and when? For a long time, artisans have been making spoons, cups and other utensils from wood. To carve a spoon, it was necessary to chop off a block of wood from a log. Apprentices were entrusted with preparing the bucks: it was an easy, trivial task that did not require any special skill. Preparing such chocks was called “beating the lumps.” From here, from the mockery of the masters at the auxiliary workers - “baklushechnik”, our saying came from.

RUB THE GLASSES.
How can glasses be rubbed in? Where and why? Such a picture would look very ridiculous. And the absurdity occurs because we are not talking about glasses at all, which are used to correct vision. There is another meaning of the word "points": red and black marks on playing cards. There is even a gambling card game called “point”. For as long as there have been cards, there have been dishonest players and cheaters. In order to deceive their partner, they resorted to all sorts of tricks. By the way, they knew how to quietly “rub in points” - turn a seven into a six or a four into a five, on the go, during the game, by gluing in a “point” or covering it with a special white powder. And the expression “to cheat” began to mean “to deceive”, hence other words were born: “deception”, “deception” - a trickster who knows how to embellish his work, pass off the bad as very good.

THEY CARRY WATER ON THE ANGRY (OFFENDED).
This proverb can be said to a person who is angry and angry unnecessarily. The roots of the saying come from ancient colloquial speech. Then the word “angry” meant diligent, zealous, diligent. It was these diligent and diligent horses that were chosen for hard work - they carried water in barrels from the river. Thus, the most “angry” (that is, diligent) got the most thankless hard work.

THE WORD IS NOT A SPARROW - YOU WILL NOT CAPTURE IT FLIGHT.
The proverb teaches that before you say anything, you need to think carefully. After all, it’s easy to say a word, but you won’t have to regret what you said later...

FEAR HAS BIG EYES...
A person gripped by fear and frightened very often exaggerates the danger and sees it where it actually is not.

THE MOUNTAIN GAVE BIRTH TO A MOUSE.
The original source of this proverb is considered to be the ancient Greek legend about the pregnant Mount Olympus. The god Zeus, fearing that the birth of this mountain would cause major upheavals in the camp of the gods, made the mountain... give birth to a mouse. The proverb “The mountain gave birth to a mouse” is used in a situation where significant and gigantic efforts ultimately bring insignificant results.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HONOR FROM YOUTH.
From a young age, adv. - from a young age, from a young age. Advice to young people from their youth to value their honor and good name (just as to save their clothes again, that is, while they are new). It is said as parting words to a young man at the beginning of his life’s journey.

WITHOUT DIFFICULTY YOU CAN’T TAKE (PUT) A FISH OUT OF THE POND.
Every business requires effort; Without effort, you can’t do anything. It is said when it takes a lot of work, hard work to achieve some result.

DO NOT COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED.
In the fall (simple) - in the fall. Not all chickens born in the summer survive on farms until autumn. Some will be carried away by birds of prey, the weak simply will not survive, which is why they say that chickens should be counted in the fall, when it is clear how many of them have survived. You have to judge anything by the end results. It is said when someone prematurely expresses joy at possible success, although the final results are still far away and a lot can change.

SMALL SPOOL BUT PRECIOUS.
Zolotnik is an old Russian unit of weight equal to 4.26 grams. It fell out of use after 1917, when the country introduced the metric system of measures, which is based on the meter (a measure of length) and the kilogram (a measure of weight). Before this, the main measures of weight were pood (16 kg) and pound (400 g), which had 96 spools. The spool was the smallest measure of weight and was used mainly when weighing gold and silver. Yes, it does. conjunction - but, however. Road - kr. form m.r. from dear. Small in size, but valuable for its qualities. It speaks of someone who is small in stature, but has many virtues, positive qualities, as well as something small in size, but very important in essence.

HERE IS YOUR DAY, GRANDMOTHER.
The saying reflects one of the episodes in the history of the Russian people associated with the enslavement of peasants. The emergence of serfdom, i.e., the legally established right of a landowner (feudal lord) to the person, forced labor and property of a peasant, dates back to the time of Kievan Rus (IX-XII centuries). The peasants, although they were considered free (free), did not have the right to pass from one owner to another during the year: custom required that they leave only after all field work had been completed, at the beginning of winter, when all the grain had already been harvested. In the middle of the 15th century, peasants were allowed to move from one owner to another once a year - a week before St. George's Day and a week after it (St. George's Day, that is, the day of St. George, in Russian Yuri, the patron saint of farmers, was celebrated November 26, old style, chronology). At the end of the 16th century, the crossing of peasants was prohibited on St. George’s Day. Thus, the peasants were attached to the land and had to remain with their landowner for life. The peasants, who were waiting for St. George's Day as the only opportunity to change their owner and try to improve their lives, were deprived of their last hope of changing their situation. This is how a saying arose, expressing regret about unfulfilled hopes.
They say it when they want to express extreme surprise or sadness at something that unexpectedly happened, something they just found out about and that took away hope and disappointed expectations.

WHERE OURS DIDN’T DISAPPEAR or WHERE OURS DIDN’T DISAPPEAR.
Let's take a risk and try to do it. It is said to be desperately determined to do something, taking risks.

THE EYES ARE FEARED (afraid), BUT THE HANDS DO.
When you start a big job, you are afraid that you won’t be able to cope, but when you start it, you calm down, you understand that you are able to overcome all difficulties.
It is said to encourage one before starting a big or unfamiliar job, or is said with joy when such work is done.

WHERE IT'S THIN, IT TEARS.
Trouble and disaster usually happen where something is unreliable and fragile. They say that when something bad happens, it’s a nuisance, although it was already bad before.

HUNGER IS NOT AN AUNT.
Initially: hunger is not an auntie, she won’t slip a pie. It is said when the feeling of hunger forces you to eat even what you don’t like, or to do something that you wouldn’t do under other circumstances.

LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS.
A person's ingrained flaws or oddities cannot be corrected. It is said when there is a belief that a person will not change.

GOOD FOR INVENTION IS CLEVER.
Goli, goli, f., collected. (obsolete) - beggars, poor people. Hitra - kr. form g. R. from cunning, here (obsolete): inventive, skillful in something. Lack, the absence of something, forces you to be inventive, to use what you have, what is at hand. It is said with approval or satisfaction when, due to a lack of something necessary, something original and, as a rule, cheap is invented.

BUCKWHEAT PORRIDGE PRAITS ITSELF.
Buckwheat - made from buckwheat grains. Buckwheat is a herbaceous plant, from the seeds of which cereals and flour are made. Buckwheat porridge is one of the favorite foods of Russians. Buckwheat porridge is so good, so tasty, its merits are so obvious to everyone that it does not need praise. It is spoken with mocking condemnation about an immodest person when he praises himself and speaks about his merits.

PREPARE A SLED IN SUMMER AND A CART IN WINTER.
Sleigh, sled, plural only - a winter cart on two runners for driving in the snow. A cart is a summer cart on four wheels for transporting goods. The sleigh and cart are harnessed to a horse. Prepare for everything in advance. It is said as advice to prepare in advance everything that will be needed in the future.

THE THUNDER WILL NOT CLASH, THE MAN WILL NOT CROSS himself.
Rumble (1 and 2 l. not used), owl - suddenly rumble, thunder. Man (obsolete) - peasant.
Cross yourself, -cross yourself, -cross yourself, sov.- make a sign of the cross on yourself with your hand: place three fingers folded together (thumb, index and middle) of your right hand sequentially to the forehead, to the chest, to one and the other shoulder. People who believed in God, professed the Christian religion, were baptized in many cases of everyday life. This was a mandatory ritual during prayer (at home and in church), before eating, when entering a hut (they were baptized while looking at the icons in the corner), etc. They baptized the mouth while yawning, baptized loved ones who were leaving or traveling far away and for a long time, they were baptized from fear at the sounds of thunder, etc. In the old days, believers were afraid of thunderstorms as an inexplicable natural phenomenon. When thunder rumbled, it was believed that thunder (not lightning) could bring misfortune (kill, cause a fire). Therefore, in order to ward off misfortune, to avoid misfortune from a thunderstorm, people were baptized precisely during the thunder; the thunder seemed to warn of a possible misfortune.
Until trouble or trouble occurs, a careless person does not remember about them and does not take measures to prevent them. They say when they do at the last moment something that should have been done in advance.

HAVING GIVEN YOUR WORD, STAY AWAY.
Either be true to your word or don't promise. It is said as a reminder of a promise made or as a reproach for an unfulfilled promise, as well as a warning, advice to refrain from making promises if you are not sure that you can fulfill them.

THEY DO NOT LOOK AT A GIVEN HORSE'S TEETH.
Gifted (colloquial) - given, received as a gift. A horse's teeth are examined when they want to determine its age. An old horse's teeth are worn out, so when you buy a horse, be sure to check its teeth so as not to buy an old one. They don’t discuss the gift; they accept what they give. They say when they receive something as a gift that they don’t like and that they wouldn’t choose themselves.

THINGS ARE GOING ON, THE OFFICE IS WRITING.
It is said jokingly about someone's active activity, which is not influenced by any external circumstances.

THINGS LIKE SOOT WHITE.
Soot is black particles from incomplete combustion of fuel that settle on the internal surfaces of stoves and chimneys. Soot is a symbol of the blackest color; there is no such thing as white soot, and the humorous comparison “white as soot” essentially characterizes a black object. The word “black” figuratively means “dark, heavy.” Bela - kr. form g. R. from white. Usually said in response to the question “How are you?”, when things are going badly or when they do not want to answer specifically and are limited to this vague answer (the answer implies an unsatisfactory state of affairs).

THE CHILD DOESN'T CRY, THE MOTHER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
Understand, nesov. (obsolete) - to understand something, to guess about something. If you don’t say what you need, no one will guess about it and therefore won’t be able to help. It is said when the lack of help to someone is explained by ignorance of his needs.

AT HOUSE WALLS HELP.
At home or in a familiar, familiar environment, a person feels more confident and calm. It is said with confidence or with the hope that in a familiar environment it will be easier to cope with any task.

ROAD SPOON FOR DINNER.
Road - kr. form g. R. from dear; here: “important, valuable to someone, one that is treasured.” Expensive, valuable is what appears at the right time. It is said when something is done or received on time, precisely at the moment when it is especially interested or needed, or it is said as a reproach to someone who did not do what was necessary on time.

FRIENDS ARE KNOWN (recognized) IN TROUBLE.
Only in difficult times will you find out who your true friend is. It is said in relation to someone who turned out to be very attentive and helped someone in a difficult situation or, conversely, showed callousness towards someone in trouble.

IT WILL HEAL BEFORE THE WEDDING.
It will pass soon, it will heal soon. It is said jokingly to console the victim.

FOR A SWEET FRIEND AND AN EARRING (EARRING) FROM EAR.
Ear - diminutive - affectionate. to the ear. For a loved one, a dear person, you don’t regret anything, you will give your best. It is said that when, out of a feeling of sympathy, a person is generous towards another, ready to do everything for him.

DEBT GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER.
Payment, payment, m. - depositing money on account of something; pay. Krasen - kr. form m.r. from red, here: (folk poet.) “beautiful; joyful, pleasant.” The way you treat someone is how they will treat you. It is said when in response to some action or attitude they do the same.

WHERE CRASHES HAVE THE WINTER.
The saying “I’ll show you where the crayfish spend the winter” originated during the days of serfdom. In the middle of winter, the master sent the guilty person to get crayfish for the table. And in winter it is very difficult to find crayfish, and besides, you can freeze and catch a cold. Since then, this saying has meant a threat, a warning of punishment.

DISCOVER AMERICA.
America was discovered by the navigator Columbus more than five hundred years ago. Therefore, when someone announces something that everyone has known for a long time, they jokingly say to him: “Well, you discovered America!”

THROUGH THE STUMP DECK.
The deck is a log. You have to move slowly through the forest when you have either a stump or a log under your feet. The expression “through the roof” means to do something somehow, indiscriminately.

INVENT THE BICYCLE.
We all know what a bicycle is and how it works. “Don’t reinvent the wheel” so as not to waste time inventing something that has already existed for a long time.

THE MASTER'S WORK IS AFRAID.
Any task is feasible if a master, that is, a skilled, knowledgeable person, takes it on. It is spoken with admiration and praise when a person shows skill and mastery in his craft.

THE HAT IS NOT GOOD FOR SENKA.
In the old days, the hat was a symbol of wealth and nobility. By its size they judged what place a person occupied in society. “It’s not a hat for Senka” - this is what they say about a person who is not able to perform this or that work or occupy a certain position.

LOOK FOR THE WIND IN THE FIELD.
Look - command, on. from ch. look for (I'm looking for, looking for), nesov. You won’t find it anyway, there’s no need to look. It talks about someone who has disappeared and who cannot be found (how useless it is to look for the wind in a field), or about something that is irretrievably lost.

YOU CAN'T ERASE WORDS FROM A SONG.
What happened, happened, everything will have to be told. They say it as if apologizing for having to tell everything without leaving out any (usually unpleasant) details (just as you can’t delete a single word from a song so as not to spoil the whole song).

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
Yes, it does. conjunction - but, however. Fire (obsolete and regional) - flame, fire. In popular speech, flame, that is, fire that rises above a burning object, is associated with greater misfortune, flame is a stronger fire. From one misfortune to another, greater one, from a difficult situation to a worse one.
It is said when a person, being in a difficult situation, finds himself in an even more difficult situation.

AND THE SWEDISH, AND THE REAPER, AND IN THE DUDU (on the pipe) THE PLAYER.
Shvets (obsolete and simple) - one who sews clothes, a tailor. The reaper is the one who reaps (cuts off when harvesting) the ripe ears of corn with a sickle. In the dudu (on the pipe) the player (obsolete) is the one who plays the pipe, a musician. About someone who can do everything or who simultaneously performs various duties.

AND YOU WANT AND HURT.
It pricks - blank, 3 l. units h. from ch. inject, nesov. "to touch something sharp, causing pain." It is said when you want to do something, but you are scared because it is associated with some kind of danger, with risk.

AND LAUGHTER AND SIN.
It is said when something is both funny and sad at the same time.

AND THE OLD WOMAN HAS A FAILURE.
Prorukha (simple) - mistake, oversight, failure. And an experienced person can make a mistake, make a mistake, a mistake. It is said to justify a mistake, a mistake made by a person from whom it could not be expected.

AND THE WOLVES ARE FEED, AND THE SHEEP ARE SAFE.
It is said when it is possible to resolve a difficult situation conveniently for both some and others, or when a solution to the issue is made that satisfies everyone.

THE CAT KNOWS (smells) WHOSE MEAT IT EATS.
Smells - 3 l. units h. from ch. smell (smell, smell), ness. (simple) feel. They talk about someone who feels guilty and shows it through their behavior.

MAKE A FOOL PRAY TO GOD, HE WILL BREAK HIS FOREHEOD (break him).
According to Orthodox custom, during prayer, believers kneel and bow low (bow), almost touching their foreheads to the floor. It is spoken with condemnation about a person who damaged the cause with excessive zeal and diligence.

WHAT I BUYED FOR IS WHAT I SELL FOR.
I repeat what I heard. They speak in their own defense when they retell rumors and therefore do not vouch for the authenticity of what was said.

BAD EXAMPLES ARE CONTAGIOUS or BAD EXAMPLE IS CONTAGIOUS.
Bad - bad. Contagious - kr. form m.r. from contagious, here: “one that causes imitation of itself, is easily transmitted to others. It is said when someone imitates the bad behavior or actions of another person.

THE LAW IS NOT WRITTEN FOR FOOLS (fools).
Laws are written for reasonable people; fools do not know the laws and do not obey them. It is said about a person when he acts, from the speaker’s point of view, strangely or unreasonably, contrary to common sense and generally accepted norms of behavior.
*in a new way*
THE LAW IS NOT WRITTEN FOR FOOLS, IF IT IS WRITTEN, IT IS NOT READ,
IF YOU READ THEN THEY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THEN IT IS NOT SO!

FRIENDSHIP IS FRIENDSHIP AND SERVICE IS SERVICE.
Friendly relationships should not affect work relationships. It is said when a person, despite friendly relations with someone occupying a different (usually higher) official position, does not deviate from fulfilling official requirements and duties.

OVER THE SEA, A HALF HEIFER, AND A RUBLE CARRIAGE.
Heifer (colloquial) - a young cow that has not yet had calves. Polushka is the smallest coin in pre-revolutionary Russia, equal to one-fourth of a kopeck (there are one hundred kopecks in one ruble). Yes, it does. conjunction - but, however. Transportation - here: payment for transported goods. Even a cheap thing will become expensive if you have to pay dearly for its transportation. They say when it is unprofitable to transport cheap goods from afar.

LIVING LIFE IS NOT A FIELD TO CROSS.
Life is complex and living it is not easy. It talks about the variety of events, about the difficulties that a person encounters throughout his life.

THERE IS NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE or NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE.
Nothing happens without a reason. It is usually said when they believe that there is some truth in the rumors that have spread.

The collection includes ancient Russian proverbs, sayings, and riddles. For middle school age.

• Wisdom and poetry

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by liters company.

© Anikin V.P., introductory article, compilation, notes, 2004

© Valeryanova E. G., illustrations, 2004

© Yakovleva T. A., illustrations, 2004

© Design of the series. Publishing house "Children's Literature", 2004

Wisdom and poetry

In everyday speech, to convince our interlocutor, we refer to proverbs. They seem to evaluate people’s behavior, teach: “Out of boredom, take matters into your own hands,” “When you are young, a hole is a hole when you are old,” they warn: “Take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor when you are young,” they sympathize with those in trouble: “The wind will not dispel the grief.” ", they make fun of stupidity: "The godfather was going to God knows where." Every proverb is a new thought.

Proverbs are similar to aphorisms - wise sayings of famous people. And the difference can be understood by comparing how the thought is expressed in an aphorism and in a proverb. The legendary poet of Ancient Greece Homer said: “Whatever word you say is what you will hear in response.” The proverb says the same thing, but in a different way: “As it comes around, so it will respond.” But the difference is also noticeable. A proverb differs from an aphorism in that, in addition to the direct meaning, it contains an allegorical, figurative, more significant meaning. Homer meant only speech, but the proverb speaks generally about human relationships. “The early bird clears its nose, the late bird opens its eyes” - the proverb speaks not only about birds, but also about people. They remember it when they want to say: the one who gets up early manages to do more in a day; he has already eaten and got down to business, and the lazy man is just getting out of bed.

The saying is similar to a proverb. For this reason they are often not differentiated, but they are different. “After the rain on Thursday,” we say about something that is unknown whether it happened or will happen. What different circumstances can this expression be applied to?! However, unlike a proverb, a saying is not a complete judgment. People say: a saying is a flower, an expression, and a proverb is a berry, a complete sentence. A saying is part of a judgment, and a proverb is a complete independent judgment. A proverb replaces only a single word or part of a sentence. So, instead of “He is cunning” they say: “He is a fox’s tail.” Comparing a cunning man with a fox is a saying.

Proverbs express the speaker's attitude to the subject of speech. After all, it’s one thing to say: such and such an event is unknown whether it will happen or not; and it’s a completely different matter when they say that it will happen “after the rain on Thursday.” Here, in addition to doubt, there is also ridicule. In the same way, calling a cunning person a “fox tail” means condemning him and laughing at him.

Polysemy makes it difficult to divide proverbs and sayings into thematic and semantic groups. In our collection, each of the sections is named after a proverb, which contains a common meaning for the section. For example, the title contains the proverb: “The bee is small, but even the bee works.” All proverbs in this section represent judgments about work.

The first section of the collection is titled: “An old proverb never goes unnoticed.” Here are collected popular sayings about the proverbs and sayings themselves. According to the people, a proverb is “not every speech”, just as not every pillar is an outskirts. The outskirts are the fence around the village. It separates the village from the surrounding fields or, in general, the surrounding area from the village. The outskirts indicate the border, fence, protect. The proverb also set a limit, teaching and warning.

The section “Everyone has his own side” is made up of proverbs about the homeland and foreign lands, about the meaning of the homeland for a person, about its protection: “Die from your native land, do not leave.” Unable to imagine their existence without their homeland, the Russian people stood against their enemies to the death. The proverbs of this section are wisdom carried through centuries that should not be forgotten.

The section, named after the proverb “Stand boldly for a just cause,” is adjacent to the previous one, but is associated with the transmission of thoughts about honor:

“For conscience, for honor, at least take your head off.” From all the trials, people came away with the firm belief that truth invariably triumphs over falsehood and lies: “Truth does not burn in fire and does not drown in water.”

The idea of ​​the indestructibility of truth is continued in the proverbs of the section “Living life is not a field to cross.” It talks about life's obstacles, the vicissitudes of fate, even the seemingly hopeless fate of someone in trouble. “Wherever you throw it, it’s all a wedge.” The fate of a free man is enviable: “Flower in the field - a man in freedom.” Proverbs taught not to be afraid of difficulties, to be prudent, persistent: “Spark the carcass before the fire, avert trouble before the blow.” From here follow everyday rules, addressed primarily to young people: “It’s hard to find, it’s easy to lose,” “The young man is young, he couldn’t stand the cold.” Here are proverbs about the difference between the habits of young and old, about the need to respect old age: “Don’t laugh at the old: you’ll be old yourself.” Another of the proverbs is combined with irony: “You can’t fool an old sparrow with chaff.” The section contains judgments about the change of generations, about the eternal desire of people for well-being.

The section “The bee is small, but it also works” includes proverbs that indicate the source of a person’s victories: this is work, the ability to do business. There is no need to be afraid of big work: “The hardest part is the beginning,” where mistakes are inevitable: “The first pancake is always lumpy.” They are compensated by success in the future, if only there was diligence: “Patience and work will grind everything down,” “Pick one berry at a time and you’ll get a whole bunch,” “Know how to start, know how to finish.”

Proverbial folklore rises to the formulation of the principle: “He who does not work, neither does he eat.” In the section there are many proverbs about the correct organization of work and skill: “The master is afraid of every work”, “Bend so that it bends, and not so that it bursts”, “A hut is not cut down by shouting, the work is not ruined by noise”, “After the job, seek advice they don’t go.”

Condemnation of bad work and lazy people is contained in the section “Maybe, maybe, at least give it up.” There are many observations here from a worker who sees and notices everything: “A long thread is a lazy seamstress” (he is too lazy to thread the needle one more time), “A fast horse is quicker” (about wasted energy). The ridicule is caustic at the incompetent Shark who began to sew, but not like this: “And I, mother, will still flog you,” at the woman for whom the bag is the enemy: she does not walk!

Often a proverb turns into a whole scene: “The dog invited the dog to visit. “No, you can’t, I don’t have time.” - "And what?" - “Yes, tomorrow the owner is going to get hay, so we need to run ahead and bark.” This is a proverbial fable. And here is a fable that recreates the simple-minded speech of an incompetent hasty person: “Knocked down, knocked together - that’s the wheel! I sat down and drove off - oh, good! I looked back - only the knitting needles were lying there.”

A person who knows how to laugh well firmly believes that he will achieve happiness. From such proverbs a section was formed: “The sun will come to our windows.” Just as sunlight comes to every window, so luck comes to the person who knows how to wait. People believe that tears cannot help grief, that to be afraid of misfortune means that happiness will not be seen, and that any grief can be tied up with a string: “Not everything is bad weather, the red sun will shine through.”

The hope of finding prosperity was not mere consolation. People express a lot of sensible thoughts: “Don’t promise a pie in the sky, give a bird in your hands.” From the circle of such concepts came proverbs condemning the ever-hesitating people who do not know how to stop at anything: “Grandma said in two: either it rains or snows, either it will happen or it won’t,” “Either the bough or the black grouse.”

The sage people saw strength in working together, in living “in peace”, as a team. In the section, named after the proverb “Get together, it won’t be too heavy,” just this judgment is made: “Even a wolf doesn’t take a willing herd.” The idea of ​​the need for unification is also presented in the proverb “Two brands smoke in the field, but one goes out in the oven.” Such proverbs with a broad generalization are accompanied by the everyday rule: “An old friend is better than two new ones” and other similar ones.

Affects proverbs and entertainment. The people are convinced that it is especially fun for those who have worked: “When you finish your work, go for a walk.” The title of the section itself fully corresponds to the meaning of the proverbs included in it.

Folk wisdom easily connects different areas of life. The proverb “You can’t erase a word from a song” is about the need to follow rules and order, and not make exceptions. This is also the proverb about buffoon horns - that each musician has his own: this means, of course, not only the game and the buffoon musicians.

The house, order in it, peace and harmony among the household were considered the key to everyday well-being. Proverbs delve into all the little things: here is the idea of ​​how a girl should behave, how to style her hair (“A braid is a girl’s beauty”), how to babysit a child, how to amuse him, how to greet a son-in-law as a mother-in-law, how to keep yourself clean and tidy How to treat yourself - a whole dozen instructions and rules. The entire section can be united by the proverb “Without an owner, a house is an orphan.” It conveys the idea of ​​order in the family, its structure, and the proper management of the house.

The proverb “Bread is the head of everything” opens a section with popular opinions about food and drink. But this is only an external, conspicuous characteristic of such proverbs. Essentially, they deeply reveal the difference between the lives of the well-fed and the hungry, and capture the despair of those suffering from cold and hunger: “A hungry man has bread on his mind,” “Bread and water is a peasant’s food.” Proverbs condemn drunkenness: “He who drinks to the bottom lives madly.”

A cheerful feast, a warm welcome of guests are the companions of abundance and prosperity. The section “The Magpie Chirps – Prophesies Guests” complements the previous one. No feast was complete without a cheerful speech or joke. Both sections talk about Russian cuisine: cabbage soup, porridge, pancakes, oatmeal, kalachi, horseradish, radish and fish are mentioned here - ruff, bream in a pie, pike, whitefish, etc.

In the section “As is the mind, so are speech” there are proverbs about speech in general, and about the value of common sense, about the uselessness of empty words. If there is no intelligence, so is speech; if a person is smart, so is speech. Some of these proverbs are worth a long discussion, for example: “An empty barrel makes more noise.”

The section “Learning is light, and ignorance is darkness” talks about the value of learning and enlightenment: “He who is good at reading and writing will not perish,” “For a scientist they give two unlearned people.” There are many proverbs about ancient teaching with its custom of teaching the alphabet to the whole class - shouting the letters loudly: “When they teach the alphabet, they shout at the top of their voices.” The teaching was accompanied by punishment - those who were lazy or could not remember the tricky rules of reading were flogged with rods: letters were called outlandishly in the old days: “az” - “A”, “buki” - “B”, “vedi” - “B” and so on way. This is where the proverb “Az, beeches, and bears are afraid” comes from. If I don’t remember, wait for a beating. And with all this, the people were able to appreciate the ultimate benefit of learning: knowledge is not a burden to anyone, and learning to read and write will always come in handy. Proverbs about the benefits of literacy did an extremely useful job - they prepared the people for the perception of education and culture.

The section “It’s not like that - don’t start over” consists of proverbs and sayings about life’s incongruities: “The calf managed to catch a wolf”, “It would have been bad weather, but the rain got in the way.” The jokes are akin to mocking fairy tales: “Falalei walks from corner to corner, but cannot find a door in the hut,” “We’ll see,” said the blind man. “We’ll hear,” said the deaf man,” “Grandfather dies, but the woman laughs,” “You, earth, shake, but we hold on to the stakes.” Whatever the proverb, it is some special move of comic thought. “The gun hits well: it fell from a shelf and broke seven pots” - how cleverly the ambiguity of the word “hits” is played out here. “The hut went through the upper room, the hallway through the chambers”; “Our beetle has grown larger than a bear” - proverbs turn concepts inside out, they are filled with absurdities. Such proverbs also relate to social topics: “In the wilderness, Thomas is a nobleman,” “Before Kuzma dug vegetable gardens, but now Kuzma has become a governor.” No one will benefit from such a lucky career!

The proverbs collected under the heading “Though the eye sees, the tooth numbs” are very close to the previous section, but they have their own theme: these are proverbs about greed, envy, and greed. Such proverbs threaten self-interested people: “If you chase someone else’s, you’ll lose what’s yours.”

The incorrigibility of vices, the old age and inertia of the general life order in the old days were noted by proverbs in the section “The wolf always has one song.” They talked with particular pleasure about the punishment of thieves, cunning people, and the miscalculations of dodgers: “Although it’s early, there will be an overnight stay,” the fox allegedly said, having fallen into a trap.

No one has ever respected cowards. The proverbs of the section “A cowardly bunny and a stump of a wolf” give vent to ridicule of the timid, who are often frightened by the imagination: “A frightened crow is afraid of a bush,” “The eyes are like bowls, but they don’t see a crumb.” Proverbs about real danger and involuntary fear are also placed here: “It is good for him to laugh who is on a dry shore.”

In the small section “As you are, so are the sleighs”, proverbs are collected about the need to take a place that corresponds to your capabilities, and in general about the advisability of reasonable restrictions. The proverb “Don’t sit in someone else’s sleigh” speaks about this. Such proverbs easily turn into judgments about natural limits: “A falcon does not fly higher than the sun,” “Ears do not grow higher than the forehead.” Whoever does not take into account reasonable restrictions is worthy of regret: “When you take off your head, you don’t cry over your hair.” Proverbs note the connection between phenomena and the dependence of effects on causes: “There is no smoke without fire,” “It won’t catch fire where there is no fire.”

The proverb “One with a fry, and seven with a spoon” notes that the plowman-peasant fed many with his labor: the priest, the master, the official, the judge, the policeman, the servant, the tsar himself. Proverbs defended the honor and dignity of the poor: “Poverty is not a vice.”

“Don’t beat Thomas for Eryomina’s guilt” - such proverbs are given a special section. It notes that there must always be justice in everything.

Thoughts about crime, guilt and punishment wandered in people’s minds and were expressed in proverbs: “A mouse’s tears will flow to a cat,” “No matter how much you twist a rope, there will be an end.” From here it was not far to rebellious thoughts: “Every song has its end.”

These are the proverbs in the section “A man on foot is not a friend to a horse”: “A pot is not a friend to a cauldron”, “A wolf is not a friend to a horse” and the like. The irreconcilability of different concepts appears in the proverb “Darkness does not like light, evil does not tolerate good.”

Thinking about the differences between things and phenomena is associated with the thought of their similarity, often in an ironic presentation: “The same cabbage soup, but on a different plate,” “What’s in the forehead, what’s in the forehead.”

The collection ends with the section “Flies high, but lands somewhere.” These are proverbs about arrogance, pride, panache, stinginess, pugnacity, petty passions, evil secret thoughts. Before us is a small encyclopedia of those vicious phenomena from which people suffer.

Proverbs and sayings, proverbial fables contain a wealth of meaning, demonstrate the amazing brevity of the language with the vastness of meaning, and the liveliness of conversational intonations. They have long gained universal fame and love.

Riddles are the intricate poetry of the people.

There is an old riddle:

Fortress-city,

yes Bel-gorod,

and in Bel-gorod

Wax brother.

What is it about? It turns out it's about a chicken egg. The riddles cannot be solved if you do not know how cities were built in Ancient Rus'. They were surrounded by rows of walls - “cities”. So, in medieval Moscow there was an earthen city, a white stone city - Kitai-gorod and, finally, the Kremlin wall. The egg is compared to city fortifications, which are placed one inside the other. Krep-gorod is an eggshell, Bel-gorod is the white, and what is called the brother of wax is the yolk.

But the riddle is quite tricky:

Tour-potutur

sits with his head down,

is waiting for guests from Nova Gorod.

Who is this mysterious tour and what guests does it expect? A real tour is a wild bull, a bison, a mighty, strong animal. If he was attacked, he became very dangerous. Bison were once found in many places in Europe and Asia. Now they have survived only in nature reserves - in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, in Transcaucasia. These tours are often mentioned in ancient manuscripts. Thus, they said about one prince that he was brave, “like a tour.” Who did the riddle jokingly call a tour? Kota: he clung to the floor, alert, ready to jump, “hunched down”, waiting for the mice. But why are mice “guests”, especially from Novgorod?

The northern land, covered with forests, mosses and swamps, could not feed itself with meager harvests. Novgorodians bought bread in the Volga region and transported it on ships from afar. This has long been done by merchants, or, as they were called in the old days, “guests.” Merchants exchanged goods for bread, and traded it profitably at home. In those days, traveling to neighboring lands was dangerous. No wonder there was a proverb: “Take one thing - either fight or trade.” The proverb equated trade with war. Novgorod merchants were often robbed when their ships sailed past other people's possessions. So the riddle jokingly talks about the prince-tour, who was preparing to attack those traveling for bread. After all, mice also come into the house for food. To solve a riddle with a whole set of funny, made-up words - “potutur”, “potuturiv”, it turns out that you need to know the history, nature of the country and the ancient language.

Our land is vast and diverse. The southern outskirts of Russia are surrounded by mountains. The further north you go, the rarer the elevated areas are. Wide rivers flow across the plain. And in the north there is the tundra. She is washed by the waves of the ocean. The riddles did not fail to highlight the diversity of Russian regions.

The riddle about the firmament, stars and month was composed by those who compared the vast steppe with the herds grazing on it, with the night sky.

The field is not measured

the sheep are not counted

the shepherd is horned.

The more you become acquainted with the riddles, the wider the expanse of earth and heaven opens up. The stars, their sparkle, the month and the rising sun, darkness and light are poeticized in riddles.

The slow flow of water in lowland rivers is also noted in riddles, which even with rhythm convey the slowness of movement.

Flows, flows -

won't leak

runs, runs -

Ancient life is reflected in the riddles in a varied and colorful way. Not far from the city of Torzhok there was a riddle about hot porridge:

In the city of Torzhok

they sell a woman in a pot.

And beyond the Urals there was a widespread riddle about dumplings - about how they are cooked:

Sheep ran

along the Kalinov bridge,

we saw the dawn,

jumped into the water.

From the riddle about the barrel we learn what materials are used to make it:

The oak itself

elm belt,

and the nose is fake.

An interesting riddle about how the sieve works:

In the forest: tyap, tyap;

at home: blunder, blunder;

around the edges: you little bastards!

in the middle: but!

The sieve has a bast-sewn shell, that is, a shingle rim, a bent splint, sides of the sieve and a cloth - part of the sieve woven from horsehair. The riddle talks about how in the forest they tear the basts from the linden tree, remove the bast that goes to the rim - “in the forest: tyap, tyap.” Along the edges of the sieve there are bast straps, “trusenki”. They were named so because they stopped the horse with tugs (also made of bast), reins. In the middle of the sieve there is a “but!” The exclamation hints at the horsehair from which the fabric is woven. “At home: blunder, blunder” is a sieve in the dexterous hands of the housewife.

You can learn a lot from riddles. Riddles about the hut, its corners, the matrix - the cross beam - and the log beam on it, about the hinges and the door, introduce you to the structure of the home. To solve the riddle, you need to know what kind of wood the floorboards are made of, what kind of wood is used to make the frames so that they do not get wet from moisture, in which corner the stove is placed so that as much heat as possible goes into the house. The riddles talk about a stove brow, a pole, a bend, a pipe, a barrier, a poker, a grip, a broom, a bench, a table, a pot, a cast iron pot, a whorl, a tub, a tub, a samovar, a sheet - in a word, the creators of the riddles recreated the furnishings, interior decoration, utensils and dishes from an old house.

End of introductory fragment.

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The given introductory fragment of the book Magic box. Ancient Russian proverbs, sayings, riddles (Collection, 2014) provided by our book partner -