Hope for miracles, but don’t rely on one.

More Yiddish Proverbs

• The soldiers fight, and the kings are heroes.
• When a thief kisses you, count your teeth.
• Weeping makes the heart grow lighter.
• Not all nice things are dear, but those that are dear are nice.
• Make new friends, but don’t forget the old ones.
• Better the best of the worst than the worst of the best.
• The best horse needs a whip, intelligent men need advice, and devout women need a man.
• You can make the dream bigger than the night.
• Once it was the parents who taught their children to talk; now the children teach their parents to keep quiet.
• Nothing tastes bitterer than the truth.
• You can throw a cat whoever you want; it always falls on its feet.
• You can’t put thank you in your pocket.
• Better a thief for a neighbor than an overzealous rabbi.
• Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold.
• Words should be weighed, not counted.
• If you’re healthy, you’re wealthy.
• When both parties are right, it’s a bad day for “right.”
• The truly rich are those who enjoy what they have.
• When luck joins in the game, cleverness scores double.
• In life, each of us must sometimes play the fool.
• If we cannot do what we will, we must will what we can.
• Who talks a lot, talks about himself.
• Small children won’t let you sleep, bigger children won’t let you live.
• You reproach your daughter, but you mean your daughter-in-law.
• It’s good to hope, it’s the waiting that spoils it.
• She who wants to marry her stepfather regrets it in bed.
• You find everything when you are spring cleaning.