Vocabulary

good advice is harsh to the ear

the early bird catches the worm

if you rely too much on your greatest strength, it will be your greatest weakness

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king; a bat in a village without birds

having few faults as well as few virtues; not burning agarwood (incense); not passing wind

the biggest fish is always the one that got away

we have piped unto you and ye have not danced; people ignoring one's invitation or effort to do something together

strike while the iron is hot

God doesn't give with both hands; God does not give two gifts; heaven does not grant people more than one talent

autumn comes with harvest time and clear weather; autumn with the sky clear and blue, and horses growing stout

all's grist that comes to his mill; turn everything to good account; turn anything to profit

to exhaust all one's options

East is East, and West is West

a man of virtue will naturally attract admirers; good wine speaks for itself

the wrongdoer never lacks a pretext; even thieves have their reasons; give the devil his due

the doting parent's purse is plundered; the thief caught turns out to be one's own son

the biggest fish is always the one that got away

he that fights and runs away may live to fight another day; discretion is the better part of valor; fleeing is winning

not to be spoken of in the same breath; cannot be compared; defying all comparison; bearing no comparison; not a same-day discussion

to hoist one's sail when the wind is fair; to get one's time to shine

harmless but pointless; neither bad nor good

once you've committed a crime, commit to it; in for a penny, in for a pound; if you've eaten poison, (lick) the plate

if you run after two hares you will catch neither

what happens twice will happen thrice

the day is short, and the work is much; my goal is still a long way off

cut your coat according to your cloth

patience is the only way

temptation one can't resist; setting a wolf to mind the sheep; trusting a cat with milk

the heat is off; things calm down; the excitement dies down

the New Year begins

age will tell

to be extremely cautious; to be as sure as sure can be; to make assurance doubly sure

birds of a feather flock together; horses work best together; don't mix your horses with your cows

everything comes in handy when used correctly; use the right tools for the right job; fools and (blunt) scissors have to be used in the right way

a born fool is never cured; there is no cure for stupidity; there is no medicine for fools

one who knows little often repeats it; a fool's one bit of knowledge

don't be a sore loser; don't make excuses for your failures; a defeated general should not talk of strategy

one plank's thickness below lies hell; on a boat, one is only an inch or two from a watery grave

to have one's kindness taken advantage of; give him an inch and he'll take a mile; to lend out the eaves but have one's whole house taken

it is hard to please everybody; damned if you do and damned if you don't