25 Arabic proverbs that convey wisdom and truth, along with their meanings •

الوقت كالسيف، إن لم تقطعه قطعك
“Time is like a sword; if you don’t cut it, it will cut you.”
Meaning: Time is precious and should be used wisely.
العقل زينة
“The mind is an ornament.”
Meaning: Wisdom and intelligence are valuable assets.
ما كل ما يتمنى المرء يدركه
“Not everything a person wishes for can be achieved.”
Meaning: We cannot always achieve our desires.
يد واحدة لا تصفق
“One hand cannot clap.”
Meaning: Cooperation is essential for success.
من جد وجد
“Whoever strives will find.”
Meaning: Hard work leads to success.
العين لا تعلو على الحاجب
“The eye does not rise above the eyebrow.”
Meaning: One should not overstep their place.
لكل شيء إذا ما تم نقصان
“Everything that is complete has a flaw.”
Meaning: Nothing is perfect.
الحاجة أم الاختراع
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
Meaning: Challenges often lead to creative solutions.
الجمل لا يرى حردبته
“The camel does not see its own hump.”
Meaning: People often overlook their own faults.
أحب لأخيك ما تحب لنفسك
“Love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
Meaning: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
العصفور في اليد خير من عشرة على الشجرة
“A bird in the hand is better than ten in the tree.”
Meaning: It’s better to hold onto what you have than to risk it for more.
الصبر مفتاح الفرج
“Patience is the key to relief.”
Meaning: Patience leads to better outcomes.
لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين
“A believer is not bitten from the same hole twice.”
Meaning: Learn from your mistakes.
أعطِ الخبز لخبازه
“Give the bread to the baker.”
Meaning: Let specialists handle their respective fields.
إذا كان الكلام من فضة، فالسكوت من ذهب
“If speech is silver, silence is golden.”
Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to remain silent.
لا تؤجل عمل اليوم إلى الغد
“Do not postpone today’s work until tomorrow.”
Meaning: Avoid procrastination.
الصديق وقت الضيق
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Meaning: True friends show their worth in tough times.
أن تأتي متأخراً خير من ألا تأتي
“Better late than never.”
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.
العذر أقبح من الذنب
“Excuses are worse than the sin.”
Meaning: Making excuses is often worse than the mistake itself.
من طلب العلا سهر الليالي
“Whoever seeks greatness stays up at night.”
Meaning: Achieving success requires hard work and sacrifice.
بين الحلم واليقظة شعرة
“Between dreams and waking lies a thread.”
Meaning: The line between aspiration and reality can be thin.
كل إناء بما فيه ينضح
“Every container spills what it contains.”
Meaning: People reveal their true selves through their words and actions.
كلما ارتفعت الشجرة، كثرت رياحها
“The taller the tree, the stronger the winds.”
Meaning: Success brings more challenges.
اللسان ليس له عظام
“The tongue has no bones.”
Meaning: Words can be powerful and can hurt without physical force.
الحكمة ضالة المؤمن
“Wisdom is the lost property of the believer.”
Meaning: A wise person seeks knowledge wherever it may be found.