Turkish Proverbs

Damlaya damlaya göl olur

Little by little, one achieves great things

Akıllı köyden ver malı, deliye şehir yakışır

Wisdom is more valuable than appearances; a wise simple person is better than a foolish sophisticated one

Acele işe şeytan karışır

Haste makes waste; rushing leads to mistakes

Ağaç yaşken eğilir

Children should be educated and disciplined early

Akıl akıldan üstündür

Two heads are better than one; collaboration is valuable

Ayağını yorganına göre uzat

Live within your means; don't overextend yourself

Bal tutan parmağını yalar

Those in advantageous positions benefit from them

Dost başa, düşman ayağa bakar

Friends focus on your virtues, enemies on your faults

Düşenin dostu olmaz

People abandon you when you're in trouble

El elin eşeğini türkü çağırarak arar

People don't take others' problems seriously

Gülme komşuna, gelir başına

Don't mock others' misfortunes; you might face the same

Her şeyin başı sağlık

Health is the most important thing

İşleyen demir ışıldar

Practice makes perfect; staying active keeps you sharp

Kendi düşen ağlamaz

You can't complain about problems you caused yourself

Ne ekersen onu biçersin

Your actions determine your consequences

Sabreden derviş muradına ermiş

Patience brings success

Söz gümüşse sükût altındır

Sometimes silence is better than speaking

Yuvarlanan taş yosun tutmaz

Constant change prevents growth or accumulation

Çok yaşa diye selam verme, çabuk git diye hediye verme

Be sincere in your well-wishes; don't be superficial

Allah işini bilen kuluna yardım eder

Fortune favors those who are competent and prepared

Baba oğula bir değirmen bırakmış, oğul babaya bir çuval un vermemiş

Children can be ungrateful despite parents' sacrifices

Çok gezen çok bilir, az gezen yolda kalır

Experience and exposure bring wisdom

Dağ dağa kavuşmaz, insan insana kavuşur

People will meet again even if circumstances separate them

Elden gelen öğün olmaz

What you get from charity/others doesn't truly satisfy; independence is important

Güneş balçıkla sıvanmaz

The truth cannot be hidden

Her horoz kendi çöplüğünde öter

Everyone is confident in their own domain

İnsan deniz, içinde nice dertler var

Everyone has hidden struggles and depths

Kaz gelecek yerden tavuk esirgenmez

If you'll receive something great, you won't be denied something small

Kurt kocayınca köpeklerin maskarası olur

The mighty become weak with age and are disrespected

Mart kapıdan baktırır, kazma kürek yaktırır

March weather is deceptively warm, making you think winter is over

Papaz kendi düğününde okumasını bilmez

People become nervous and perform poorly in their own important moments

Su uyur, düşman uyumaz

Always be vigilant; enemies never rest

Taşıma su ile değirmen dönmez

Temporary or inconsistent effort doesn't produce lasting results

Yalancının mumu yatsıya kadar yanar

Lies are eventually exposed; truth will come out

Zarar eden şey fazlası da zarar eder

Even good things are harmful in excess

Adamın adı çıkacağına canı çıksın

Reputation is more important than life itself

Az tamah çok ziyan

Greed leads to greater loss

Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var

Unity and cooperation are powerful

Çiçek bülbüle ver, salatayı kendine

Give each person what they truly need or appreciate

Deve diken yemezse, eşek de yemez

People follow leaders' examples, especially bad ones

Gören göze çöp batar

Those who see others' secrets/faults may suffer for it

Her tencere bir kapak bulur

Everyone finds their match eventually

İyi dost kara günde belli olur

True friends are revealed in hard times

Körle yatan şaşı kalkar

You become like those you spend time with

Muhtaç olduğun kapı taşını öpme, yüzünü kirletir

Don't be too submissive even when you need help; maintain dignity

Nine bir, yemesi var, iki kişi, yetmesi var

What seems insufficient alone becomes enough when shared

Rengi değişmeyen altın iyi değerler

Those who stay true and consistent are valued

Sözün kısası

In short, to sum up, long story short

Tatlı dil yılanı deliğinden çıkarır

Kind words can accomplish anything; politeness is powerful

Üzüm üzüme baka baka kararır

People influence each other through association

Vakitsiz öten horozun başı kesilir

Speaking out at the wrong time brings trouble

Zararın neresinden dönülürse kardır

It's better to cut your losses than continue losing

İşten at eden söz işten esirger

Speaking your mind may cost you, but silence has its own price

Geç gelen daha güzel olur

Good things are worth waiting for

Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır

Neighbors depend on each other, even for small things