Water Proverbs

Sayings about Water

The word of a woman is as a little feather on the water. ~ French Proverb

Filthy water cannot be washed. ~ African Proverb

Whenever the water rises, the boat will rise too. ~ Chinese Proverb

The greatest virtue is like water; good for everything. ~ Chinese Proverb

Water can do without fishes, fishes cannot do without water. ~ Chinese Proverb

Flowing water never gets dirty. ~ Chinese Proverb

The fool is thirsty in the midst of water. ~ Ethiopian Proverb

When you drink the water, remember the spring. ~ Chinese Proverb

Why jump in the water before the ship turns over. ~ Chinese Proverb

With water make rivers, with rice make armies. ~ Cambodian Proverb

A coward sweats in water. ~ Ethiopian Proverb

When men are friendly the water is sweet. ~ Chinese Proverb

Water and words are easy to pour but impossible to recover. ~ Chinese Proverb

In shallow waters, shrimps make fools of dragons. ~ Chinese Proverb

The remedy for dirt is soap and water. The remedy for dying is living. ~ Chinese Proverb

For the sake of the rose the thorn is watered too. ~ African Proverb

Water can wear away even the hardest rock.~ Burmese Proverb

The water in which one drowns is always an ocean. ~ Armenian Proverb

It is too late to learn to swim when the water is up to your lips. ~ Danish Proverb

On a rainy day many offer to water the chickens. ~ Armenian Proverb

For people who love even water is sweet. ~ Chinese Proverb

Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy. ~ Albanian Proverbs

Well water is not an enemy of spring water. ~ Chinese Proverb

The water that a ship sails on is the same water that swallows it up. ~ Chinese Proverb

Muddied water does not reflect. ~ French Proverb

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. ~ English Proverb

Good words cool more than cold water. ~ English Proverb

Water that has reached its level does not flow. ~ Chinese Proverb

He who travels over land has to drink enough water. ~ Chilean Proverb

Water always finds a way out. ~ Cameroonian Proverb

Only in water can you learn to swim.~ Czechoslovakian Proverb

When someone gives you a drop of water reward him with a never ending source. ~ Chinese Proverb

Wood may remain ten years in the water, but it will never become a crocodile. ~ Congolese Proverb

We never know the worth of water until the well is dry.~ English Proverb

When the water falls the stone becomes visible. ~ Chinese Proverb

When it rains, collect the water.~ Burmese Proverb

If the seawater were hotter we could catch boiled fish. ~ French Proverb

Still waters run deep. ~ English Proverb

Don’t sign a paper without reading it, or drink water without seeing it.~ Spanish Proverbs

To give counsel to a fool is like throwing water on a goose. ~ Danish Proverb

Boil the water and the scum will rise to the top. ~ Berber Proverb

Don’t throw away dirty water before you have more clean water. ~ Danish Proverb

Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine. ~ Slovakian proverb

You cannot turn blood into water. ~ Albanian Proverb

Taking water from the same well doesn’t make all the wives’ gravy taste good. ~ Ivorian Proverb

A fool and water will go the way they are directed. ~ Ethiopian Proverb

To ask a favor from a miser is like trying to make a hole in water. ~ Armenian Proverbs

Foul water will quench fire. ~ English Proverbs

With true friends . . . even water drunk together is sweet enough. ~ Chinese Proverb

Water from far away is no good for a fire close by. ~ Chinese Proverb

When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water falls, the ants eat the fish.~ Lao Proverb

Everyone tries to make the water flow to his mill. ~ Corsican Proverb

All water flows into the ocean or into the purse of the rich. ~ Danish Proverbs

Prepare yourself for when the water comes up to your knees. ~ Congolese Proverb

Quotations about Water

I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.~ Mark Twain

There is no small pleasure in sweet water. ~ Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)

This life is like a swimming pool. You dive into the water, but you can’t see how deep it is. ~ Dennis Rodman

The people are like water and the ruler a boat. Water can support a boat or overturn it. ~ Li Shimim

But I do see the good side of water now. How good it is when you’re really thirsty, how it glitters and gurgles! How alive it is! ~ G.K. Chesterton

I love the sounds and the power of pounding water, whether it is the waves or a waterfall. ~ Mike May

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. ~ Lao Tzu

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~ Thomas Fuller

Expect poison from standing water.~ William Blake

The earth requires the use of its two-thirds water to keep its face clean. ~James Lendall Basford

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. ~ Loren Eiseley

Water flows uphill towards money. ~ Author Unknown

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit. ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

Water Proverbs and Their Meanings

Water is the world’s oldest teacher, and the proverbs above prove it: cultures everywhere have looked at rivers, wells, and oceans and drawn the same lessons about patience, gratitude, and the quiet power of persistence. Here are some of the best-loved water proverbs explained.

• “Still waters run deep” (English) — a calm, quiet surface often hides deep and powerful feelings or thoughts; quiet people can be the most profound.
• “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” (English) — you can give someone an opportunity, but you cannot force them to take it.
• “We never know the worth of water until the well is dry” (English) — we fail to appreciate what we have until we have lost it.
• “Water can wear away even the hardest rock” (Burmese) — gentle, steady persistence overcomes the greatest obstacles in time.
• “Nothing is softer than water, yet nothing can resist it” (Lao Tzu) — yielding and gentleness can ultimately overcome what is hard and strong.
• “Flowing water never gets dirty” (Chinese) — staying active and engaged keeps body and mind healthy; it is idleness that decays.
• “When you drink the water, remember the spring” (Chinese) — never forget the source of your good fortune; stay grateful to those who helped you.
• “Water and words are easy to pour but impossible to recover” (Chinese) — once spoken, words cannot be unsaid, so choose them with care.
• “It is too late to learn to swim when the water is up to your lips” (Danish) — prepare for difficulties before they arrive, not in the middle of a crisis.
• “Don’t throw away dirty water before you have clean” (Danish) — don’t give up what you have until you’ve secured something better to replace it.
• “The water in which one drowns is always an ocean” (Armenian) — to the person suffering, their own trouble always feels like the greatest in the world.
• “The greatest virtue is like water; good for everything” (Chinese) — the highest goodness, like water, benefits all things without striving or competing.
• “Muddied water does not reflect” (French) — a troubled, agitated mind cannot see clearly or judge well.

For sayings on the other elements, see our fire proverbs and rain proverbs, or explore the full library of proverbs and their meanings.

Water Proverbs — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a famous proverb about water?

The best-known are “still waters run deep” — meaning quiet people often have hidden depth — and “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”

What does “still waters run deep” mean?

It means that a calm, quiet exterior often conceals strong emotions, deep thought, or a powerful character beneath the surface.

What do proverbs say about the value of water?

“We never know the worth of water until the well is dry” is the classic — a reminder that we only appreciate what we have once it is gone.

What is a Chinese proverb about water?

Chinese tradition is rich in them; “when you drink the water, remember the spring” teaches gratitude to one’s source, and “flowing water never gets dirty” praises staying active.