Perhaps one of the best inititial ways into a understanding a surface view of indigenous wisdom of any peoples are their sayings and proverbs - the well worn grooves in their minds that show how they think, what they value and their view of how the universe works. In Gaelic, these are known as the seanfhacal (lit: old word). Enjoy a small selection.
A smooth tongue will blunt wrath.
Brisidh an teanga bhog an cneath.
Three kinds of men who fail to understand woman, -- young men, old men, and middle-aged men
Tri shaghas fear go dteipeann ortha bean do thuisgint, -- fir oga, fir aosda, agus fir mheadhon-aosda.
The three most imcomprehensible things in the world -- The mind of a woman, the labour of the bees, the ebb and flow of the tide.
Na tri ruda is deacra do thuigsint san domhan, -- inntleacht na mban, obair na mbeach, teacht is imtheacht na taoide.
Who won’t take advice is worthless; who takes all advice is the same.
Is diù nach gabh comhairle, ‘s diù ghabhas gach comhairle.
Pity him who has his choice, and chooses the worse.
Ged b’e gheibheadh a roghainn, ‘s mairg a thaghadh an diù
If you wish peace, friendship and quiteness, listen, look and be silent.
Mas math leat sith, càirdeas agud cluain, èisd, faic is fuirich sàmhach.
When the cup is fullest it is most difficult to carry.
An uair as laine 'n cupan, 's ann as dorr' a ghiulan.
A man may force a livelihood, but cannot force fortune.
Bheir duine beath' air eiginn, ach cha toir e rath air eiginn.
Neither draw me without cause, nor return me without honour.
Na tarraing mi gun adhbhar, 's na pill mi gun chliu.
Where the stream is shallowest, greatest is its noise
Far an taine 'n abhainn, 's ann as mo a fuaim
Vanity is not without trouble.
Cha bhi uaill gun dragh.
There never was great news, But was a loss to somebody.
Cha robh naigheachd mhòr riamh, Nach robh na chall do dhuin'eigin
Sorrowing always is not good, And music (mirth) always is not good.
Cha'n fhiach bròn a ghnàth, 'S cha'n fhiach ceòl a ghnàth.
No door closes without opening another door.
Cha d' dhùin dorus nach d'fhosgail dorus.
In the face of inevitability, "There is not usually sunshine without shadow."
Cha dual grian gan sgaile
Truth is often harsh to tell.
Is minig a bha an fhirinn searbh ri h-innse.
The medicine (or liniment) that hurts the most Is generally the best healer.
A'chungaidh leighis is goirte, 'Si is moth'tha deaneamh feum.
No fumes from the pot, but from what it contains.
Cha tig as a phoit ach an toit a bhios innte.
If it is a lie I told, it is a lie I got.
Ma's breag uaim i, Is breag chugam i.
A man's faults will be as large as a mountain ere he himself sees them.
Bithidh cron duine cho mòr ri beinn mas leir dha fhèin e.
A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.
Bu mhath an sgàthan sùil caraid.
"Honey may be sweet, but who would lick it from the top of a briar?"
Ge milis a' mhil, cò dh'imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i?
He that is rude thinks his rudeness bad manners.
Am fear a bhios gun mhodh, saoilidh e gur modh am mi-mhodh.
Youth foresees not poverty, nor the fool his mischief.
Cha tuig an t-og aimbeart, 's cha tuig amadan aimhleas.
too much rush causes delay.
Luathaid gu deanamh maille
Raindrops come heavy on a house unthatched.
Is trom snighe air taigh gun tughadh.
Long sleep makes hot rowing.
Is e 'n cadal fada ni 'n t-iomradh teth.
He who will not look before him, Will look behind him.
Am fear nach seall roimhe, Seallaidh e as a dheigh.
Do not light a whisp (fire) that you cannot yourself put out
Na las sop nach urrainn duit féin a chuir as
A blessing feeds no one.
Cha bheathaich beannachd neach 's am bi.
Good is not obtained without trouble.
Cha'n fhaighear math gun dragh.
All the keys in the land do not hang from one girdle.
Chan eil gach iuchair san tir an crochadh ri aon chrios.
The first story from the host, And tales till morning from the guest.
A cheud sgeul air fear an taighe, Is sgeul gu làth' air an aoidh.
Better than gold is the tale well told
Is fhearr na'n t-òr sgeul air inns' air chòir
A good tale is not the worse of being twice told.
Cha mhisde sgeul mhath aithris da uair.
Great gaps may be filled with small stones
Lionar
A small spark has often kindled a great fire.
Is tric a bheothaich srad bheag teinne mór
Say but little and say it well.
Abair ach beagan agus abair gu math e.
He who holds his tongue keeps his friend
Am fear a ghleidheas a theanga, gleidhidh e a charaid
Don't lift me up until I fall
Na tog mi gus an tuit mi
Don't interfere with something that doesn't belong to you.
An rud nach buin duit na buin do.
It is no secret when three know it
Cha sgeul rùin e is fios aig triuir air
The manners of the folk where thou art thou must adopt.
Beus na tuath, far am bithear se nithear.
The best apple will be on the highest bough.
Bidh an ùbhal ìs fhearr air a mheangan is
Tell not thy mind to thy foolish friend, nor to thy wise enemy.
Na innis do run do d'charaide gorach, no do d'namhaid glic.
On an unknown path every foot is slow.
Is mall gach cos air chassan agn eolus
Necessity will get something done.
Bheir an èigin air rud-eigin a dheanamh.
If the messenger be worthy, the business is.
Mas fhiach an teachdaire, ‘s fhiach an gnothach.
He will make of you a tool, and of me a liar.
Ni e dhiotsa feumannach, ‘s ni e dhiomsa breugadair.
A person in need gets nothing
Cha tig spilgein air fear eiginn
A man can sleep on every hurt but his own
Caidlidh duine air gach cneadh ach a chneadh fhein.
A favour often costs more than what's hard-bought.
Is tric as daoir' a' chomain na 'n dubh-cheannach.
Remember the people whom you come from.
Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
The man who is known as an early riser can sleep late/sleep until
Am fear a gheibh ainm na mocheirich, faodaidh e cadal anmoch /gu meadhon latha
Renown is more lasting than life.
Is buaine bladh na saoghal.
He who is late rising will be in a hurry all day
Am fear e bhios fada gun eiridh, bidh e na leum fad' an latha
There is no deceit/fraud so great as the promise unfullfilled.
Cha'n eil fealladh ann cho mòr ris an gealladh gun choimhlionadh.
Promising but not fulfilling, is worse than refusing.
Gealladh gun a'choimhghealladh, is miosa sin na dhiùltadh
He that promises the most will perform the least.
Am fear as mò a gheallas, ‘s e as lugha cho-gheallas.
Better not to begin than stop without finishing.
B'fhearr gun tòiseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh.
A promise can never be tied (or tethered.)
Cha chuirear gad air gealladh.
Quick to promise often deceives.
Am fear a tha grad gu gealladh, ‘s tric leis mealladh.
Like Ossian after the Feinne.
Mar Oisean an dèidh na Fèinne.
If it is worth taking, it is worth asking for.
An rud is fhiach a ghabhail, 's fhaich e iarraidh.
Anger may look in on a wise man's heart, but it abides in the heart of
a fool.
Faodaidh fearg sealltainn a stigh air cridh an duine ghlic, ach còmhnaichidh i an cridh an amadain.
What cannot be helped, Must be put up with.
An rud nach gabh leasachadh, 'S fheudar cur suas leis.
Patience will get relief or reward
Gheibh faidhidinn furstachd
You cannot pull a cow backwards,
Cha tharraing tu bò an comhair a h-earball
Sweet sings each bird in his own grove.
Is binn gach eun 'na dhoire fhein.
Night is a good shepherd, it brings home man and beast
Is math am buachaill' an oidhche, bheir e dhachaidh gach beathach is duine
Men will meet, but the hills will not.
Tachraidh na daoine, ach cha tachair na cnuic.
Every flood will have an ebb.
Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh.
A great sea comes not through a narrow strait
Cha tig muir mhor tron chaolas chumhann.
See that your own hearth is swept before you lift your neighbour's ashes
Feuch gu bheil do theallach fhéin sguaibte, ma's tog thu luath do choimhearsnaich
It's easy to keep a castle that's not besieged.
Is fhurasda caisteal gun seisdeadh a ghleidheach.
Although you would put the fool into a wine press, foolishness will not part from him.
Ged a chuireadh tu an t-amadan ann an amar-bruthaidh, cha dhealaich amaideas ris
Though separation be hard, two never met but had to part.
Ge cruaidh sgarachdainn, cha robh dithis gun dealachadh.
Save, and for whom? Remember death?
Caomhain, is cò dha? Cuimhnich am bàs.
A man with neither strength nor art is worth nothing.
Chan fhiach duine gun neart gun innleachd.
One cow breaks the fence, and a dozen leap it.
Aon bho a bhristeas an garradh, 's a dha dheug a leumas
Wrong cannot rest, nor ill deed stand.
Cha bhi suaimhneas aig eucoir, no seasamh aig droch-bheairt.
The more you get of what's good, The less you will get of what's bad.
A mheud 'sa gheibh thu gu math, Se'n lughad a gheibh thu de'n olc.
Three that come unsought - fear, jealousy and love
Trian a thig gun iarraidh - eagal, iadach is gaol
Nothing asked, nothing learned.
Chan fhiosrach mur feòraich.
The herb that cannot be found will not give relief.
An luigh nach fhaighear cha'n ì a chobhras.
Everything but the right thing.
A h-uile rud ach an rud bu chòir.
Bailing the sea with a creel.
A taomadh na mara le cliabh.
All is not lost that is in peril.
Cha chaillear na thèid an cunnart.
Who farthest away e'er did roam
Heard the sweetest music on returning home.
Am fear, is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile,
Chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh.
The man who farthest away did roam, heard the sweetest music on
returning home
Am fear is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile Chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis
nuair thill e dhachaidh
A house without a dog, a cat or a little child, is one without affection or merriment.
Taigh gun chù gun chat gun leanabh beag, tigh gun ghean gun ghàire
Sickness needs many things which health requires not.
Is ioma rud a dh’fheumas an euslaint nach fheum an t-slàinte.
Better rise early than sit late.
Is fheàrr èirigh moch na suidhe anmoch.
The best of nursing may overcome the worst disease.
Ruigidh an ro-ghiullachd air an ro-ghalar.
To live life to the full, though you would only live a half hour.
Bhith beò beathail ged nach bitheadh tu beò ach leth-uair.
The contented person has no needs but to be born and brought up.
Chan eil air an duine sona ach a bhreith agus àrach
The deaf will hear the clink of money.
Cluinnidh am bodhar fuaim an airgead.
It is not the quietest sow that eats the least.
Cha'n i a mhuc is sàimhche, Is lugh a dh'itheas de'n drabh.
He that gets most will ask most.
Am fear as mò a gheibh, ‘s e as mò a dh’iarras.
Due civility never broke a man's head,
And great the pity to be at any time without it.
Cha do bhris deagh urram ceann duine riamh,
Agus is mòr-am-beud a bhi uair 's am bith as aonais.
A request merits no reproof.
Cha toill iarratas achmhasan.
The hand that gives is the hand that will receive, Except when given to a bad man.
An làmh a bheir 'si a gheibh, Mar a d'thugar do dhroch dhuin'e.
Borrowing and lending have always been world-wide habits.
Bha iasad ga ghabhail 's ga thoirt riamh air feadh an t-saoghal.
‘Tis when food is scarcest it should be divided.
Is ann an uair as gainn’ am biadh as còir a roinn.
During the year when meal is scarce Let big bakings be few.
A bhliadhn' is gainne a mhin, Dean fuine mhòr aineamh.
Friendship is as it's kept.
Is ann a tha 'n cairdeas mar a chumar e.
A friend in court is worth more than crowns in the purse
’S fheàrr caraid sa chùirt na crùn san sporan
What is got by guile will disappear with the wind.
An rud a thig gu dona falbhaidh e leis a ghaoith.
The long clean road, and the short dirty road.
An ràthad fada glan, is an ràthad goirid salach.
Quickness and neatness do not go together.
Cha bhi luathas is grinneas còmhla.
Quick and fine don't combine.
Cha bhi luathas agus grinneas an cuideachd a' cheile.
The three dearest things there are: hen eggs, pork and old women’s praise.
Na tri rudan as daoire a th’ann: uighean chearc, feòil mhuc, glòir chailleach.
Honour belongs to old age.
Buinidh urram do'n aois.
He who won’t take counsel will take a roundabout way.
Am fear nach gabh comhairle, gabhaidh e cam-lorg.
Better be without being than without instruction.
B'fhearr a bhi gun bhreith na bhi gun teagasg.
If you are a man of skill, let us hear your masterpiece.
Ma tha thusa ‘nad fhear-ealaidh, cluinneamaid annas do làimhe.
Fingal's sword never had to cut twice.
Cha d'fhag claidheamh Fhinn riamh fuigheall beuma.
The man that went farthest from home had as far to come back.
Am fear as fhaide chaidh riamh on taigh, bha cho fad’aige ri tighinn dachaigh.
Neither seek nor shun the fight
Na sir 's na seachainn an cath
His
A chuid de Fhlaitheanas dha.
Fear is worse than fighting.
Is mios' an t-eagal na 'n cogadh.
Desperation will give courage to a coward.
Bheir eu-dochas misneachd do'n ghealtair àirde.
A day's work - getting started
Obair là - tòiseachadh
It's difficult to draw pure water from a dirty well.
Is duilich burn glan a thoirt a tobar salach.
You will never know a man, Until you do business with him.
Cha'n aithnich thu duine, Gus am bi do ghnothaich ris.
Where a good man is, he is a man, whether in company or alone.
Far am bi an deagh dhuine, is duin’e ‘n cuideachd ‘s na aonar.
What's done in the corner will come to the hearth.
An rud a nitear sa chuil, thig e dh'ionnsaigh an teine.
There is no concealment of evil, But by avoiding it.
Cha'n eil cleith air an olc, Ach gun a dheanamh.
The man who would strike my dog would strike me.
Am fear a bhuaileadh mo chù, bhuaileadh e mifhéin.
Do not judge by appearances, a rich heart may be under a poor coat
Na toir breith air réir coltais faodaidh cridh beartach a bhi fo chòta bochd
A wise man will form a year's judgement from one night's knowledge of another man
Bheir duine glic breith bliadhna air fear na h-aon oidhche
A man is known by his company
Aithnichear duine air a chuideachd
He that is courteous will be courteous to all.
Am fear a bhios modhail, bidh e modhail ris a h-uile duine.
Praise the good day at the close of it.
Mol an latha math mu oidhche.
Better the small scone with blessing than the large scone with cursing.
’S fheàrr am bonnach beag le beannachd na am bonnach mòr le mallachd
Better a small portion with a blessing than a large portion with a cursing
Is fhearr bloigh bheag le bheannachd, na bloigh mór le mallachd
Peace to your soul, and a stone on your cairn.
Sìth do d'annam, is Clach air do Chàrn
The world will pass away, but love and music will endure
Thig crioch air an saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl
Shun evil company.
Seachain droch-chuideachta
Pride with nothing to back it up
Bosd gun chur leis
A conceited fellow and a laird's tyke, Two who should not be allowed their own way.
Balach, is balgaire tighearna, dithis nach còir a leigeil leòtha.
He thought the ocean his own under his spells.
Shaoil leis gum bu leis fhein an cuan fo gheasaibh.
Good sword has often been in poor scabbard.
Is minig a bha claidheamh math an droch thruaill.
Timely advice is better than a late gift
Is fhearr còmhairl na thrath, na tiodhlac fadalach
Often has wise counsel comes from a fool's head.
Is minig a thainig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain.
Council can be given, but not conduct.
Bheirear comhairle seachad ach cha toirear giùlan.
Silence is consent.
Is ionnan tosd is aideachadh.
Say that, when you have spent a stack of peats along with it.
Abair sin, nuair a chaitheas tu cruach mhòine còmhla ris.
What is well done will be shown by results.
An rud a nithear gu math, chithear a bhuil.
The oar that's nearest at hand, row with it.
An ràmh is fhaisg air laimh, iomair leis.
One hapless act may undo a man,
And one timely one will re-establish him.
Cuiridh aon bheart as an duine gu lom, is gun bhonn fo cheill,
Is cuiridh beart eil' e ann, ach a bhabhail am féin.
It's better to try than to hope.
Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.
It is not the nodding of heads that does the rowing.
Chan e gogadh nan ceann a ni an t-iomradh.
I would know your gift by your graciousness.
Dh'aithnichinn air do sheirc do thabhartas.
That were a star on a dark night.
B' i sin reul 's an oidhche dhoilleir.
Better to hear the evil than see it.
Is fhearr an t-olc a chluinntinn na fhaicinn.
