A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Chacun doit balayer devant sa porte. Every one should sweep before his own door.

Chacun le sien, ce n’est pas trop. Every one his own, is but fair.

Chacun n’est pas aise qui danse. Not every one that dances is glad.

Chacun porte sa croix. Every one bears his cross.

Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous. Every one for himself and God for all.

Chacun prêche pour son saint. Every one preaches for his own saint.

Chacun prend son plaisir où il le trouve. Every one takes his pleasure where he finds it.

Chacun se fait fouetter à sa guise. Every one takes his flogging in his own way.

Chacun sent le mieux où le soulier le blesse. Every one knows best where the shoe pinches him.

Chacun son métier, et les vaches seront bien gardées. Let every one mind his own business, and the cows will be well tended.

Chacun tire l’eau à son moulin. Every one draws the water to his own mill.

Chacun vaut son prix. Every man has his value.

Changer son cheval borgne contre un aveugle. To exchange a one-eyed horse for a blind one.

Chaque demain apporte son pain. Every to-morrow brings its bread.

Chaque potier vante son pot. Every potter vaunts his own pot.

Chaque médaille a son revers. Every medal has its reverse.

Charbonnier est maître chez soi. The coalheaver is master at home.

Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même. Well-regulated charity begins with one’s self.

Château abattu est moitié refait. A mansion pulled down is half built up again.

Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide. A scalded cat dreads cold water.

Chercher midi à quatorze heures. To look for noon at fourteen o’clock.

Chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin. To look for a needle in a bundle of hay.

Cherté foisonne. Dearness gluts.

Cheval rogneux n’a cure qu’on l’étrille. A galled horse does not care to be curried.

Chien affamé, de bastonnade n’est intimidé. A hungry dog is not afraid of a cudgelling.

Chien enragé ne peut longuement vivre. A mad dog cannot live long.

Chien hargneux a toujours l’oreille déchirée. Snarling curs never want sore ears.

Chien qui aboie ne mord pas. Barking dogs don’t bite.

Chien sur son fumier est hardi. Every dog is valiant in his own kennel.

Chose perdue, chose connue. A thing lost is a thing known.

Choses promises sont choses dues. Things promised are things due.

Chose trop vue n’est chère tenue. A thing too much seen is little prized.

Chou pour chou. Cabbage for cabbage.

Comme on fait son lit on se couche. As you make your bed so you must lie on it.

Communautés commencent par bâtir leur cuisine. Communities begin by building their kitchen.

Compagnon bien parlant vaut en chemin chariot branlant. A pleasant companion on a journey is as good as a postchaise.

Comparaison n’est pas raison. Comparison is not proof.

Comparaisons sont odieuses. Comparisons are odious.

Contre coignée serrure ne peut. No lock avails against a hatchet.

Couard souvent coup mortel au preux donne. A coward often deals a mortal blow to the brave.

Coudre la peau du renard à celle du lion. To sew the fox’s skin to the lion’s.

Courte messe et long dîner. A short mass and a long dinner.

Courtoisie qui ne vient que d’un côté ne peut longuement durer. Courtesy that is all on one side cannot last long.

Craignez la colère de la colombe. Dread the anger of the dove.

Crier famine sur un tas de bled. To cry famine on a heap of corn.

Croyez cela et buvez de l’eau. Believe that, and drink some water (to wash it down.)

D

Dans la nuit tous chats sont gris. All cats are alike grey at night.

Débander l’arc ne guérit pas la plaie. Unstringing the bow does not cure the wound.

De court plaisir long repentir. From short pleasure long repentance.