Yiddish sayings – Delight in the wisdom and wit of Jewish culture

If God lived on Earth, people would break his windows.

A wise man knows everything, a shrewd one, everybody.

Even a duck can pretend to be a swan.

A person should not be seen running, unless it’s for ones’ life or livelihood.

When God created relatives, He gave everyone their own.

If the sky were to fall, we would serve it up on a platter.

An overly beautiful bride will always inherit a wicked mother-in-law.

If you see trouble coming, cross to the other side of the street.

Give the right advice to someone else, and the wrong advice to yourself.

Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.

A father and mother may raise as many children, but only the youngest will leave a mark.

If you don’t want your head to hurt, don’t wear a hat that’s too tight.

Time is a great healer, except for a pig bite.

Small children can sleep on three wooden planks.

Don’t run after two hares, catch one.

When a fly lands on your nose, let it be not from your family.

A man may dance on the edge of a sword, but not for long.

When it’s gloomy outside, it’s good to have someone who makes you laugh.

Honor your mother-in-law, but make sure she’s distant.

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.

If you don’t dress up in Shabbos your whole week will be a working week.

You sweat and toil the whole week, and pray for wind on Shabbos.

He who marries for love has bad days. He who marries for money has bad nights.

A good name is like a second soul.

Don’t count the days, make the days count.

A lucky shot is worth visiting the shooting range for.

He who knows and, knowing, knows he knows, is wise, follow him.

The bigger the roof, the more the snow it carries.

Don’t blame the fish for jumping out of the water, blame the fisherman for not catching it.

Pray to God, but keep rowing towards shore.

If you don’t have any children, you will lack gray hairs.

When a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick.

If you want your dreams to come true, don’t sleep.

A thief doesn’t like a lock, nor does a rich man.

A husband is someone who takes out the trash and gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house.

A mother understands what a child does not say.

Never give advice unless asked.

Two-thirds of the world are covered by women; the rest by men who have no fear of diving.

The first mistake is that you did not cover up the other mistakes.

You can’t have both the wolf and the lamb at the same time.

Don’t spit into the well; you may drink from it later.

Do not ask the barber if you need a haircut.

A tailor makes a hole to bring himself work.

The devil is not as black as he is painted.

One may not look a gift horse in the mouth, but the zebra is fair game.

A bird may be known by its song.

A closed mouth catches no flies.

Too much honey will make you nauseous.

The best way to get praise is to be a good listener.