Latvian proverbs

Sayings of Latvian origin

Proverbs of Latvia

There isn’t a just person without a sin.
A smart man always takes, a fool always gives.
Each sin has its consequences.
Even the horse is tired on the way to church.
The young ones dance as the old ones whistle.
Old love does not rust.
Give the devil a little finger and he will take the hand.
Dogs bark at the last.
The man needs the woman as the ship needs an anchor.
Once you’ve cut the bread, you cannot put it together again.
If you can’t use your eyes, follow your nose.
The quiet pig digs a deep hole.
A crow will not pick out the eyes of another crow.
Temperate man already assured place in paradise.
A good work demands a good lash.
A smiling face is half the meal.
The name is as it sounds.
«We have rowed well», — said the flea as the fishing boat arrives at its mooring.
Woods have ears, fields have eyes.
Your belly is not a book.
All that shines is not gold.
Many a rosy apple is rotten to the core.
Sleep is the poor man’s treasure.
On the hook of truth only small carp will bite; in the net of falsehood the big salmon are caught.
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Protect yourself, and God will protect you.
Keep a candle under a bulb.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Promised berries will not fill the basket.
Solitary trees in the wind more easily fall.
You must not run after two birds at the same time.
Two ones will overcome even a bear.
Errors of youth spoil the face in old age.
A strange glass is emptied in one draught; your own glass not even in ten.
As long as you live, you learn.
No matter how much you eat, save some seeds for sowing.
Nettles to foreign hands comfortable pick.
All God Pleasant things are three.
As everything in life happens.
In dense woods the trees grow straight.
Our cats don’t lick the empty dishes.
Master has a lash, and the priest has a prayer.
Better to die than to live dishonest.
The sin carries its shame on the back.
Hear much talk a little.
He who will believe relatives will be duped.
A good backside will easily find a bench to sit on.
Every man forges his own destiny.
Never wrestle with a strong man nor bring a rich man to court.
Let the devil into church and he will climb into the pulpit.
Even the devil himself does not know where women sharpen their knives.
The man promises, the man executes.
He hopes like an ox for the horns.
The ready back gets all the loads.
Cannot see woods behind the trees.
It’s better to have a straw from own mother, than wool from the stepmother.
He who catch hold of a fire has the burning fingers.
Time is money.
The master sleeps — the woods grow.
He that will not work, shall not eat.
He who hasn’t a sin wasn’t born.
The church is situated not far from a tavern.
It’s better to have potato and lose than never have potato.
Stones are heavy but the sins are heavier.
If there is no apple one eats a little carrot.

The Republic of Latvia

Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast, as well as sharing a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi). The country has a temperate seasonal climate. ( Source)

Riga is the capital and the largest city of Latvia. With 639,630 inhabitants (2016), Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states, home to one third of Latvia’s population and one tenth of the Baltic states’ population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of the Daugava.

Latvian is a Baltic language spoken in the Baltic region. It is the language of Latvians and the official language of Latvia as well as one of the official languages of the European Union.

“Dievs, svētī Latviju!” (God, Bless Latvia!) is the title of the national anthem of Latvia.