Vocabulary

the early bird gets the worm

a small leak will sink a great ship

a journey of a thousand miles feels like only one mile (when going to see the one you love)

genius shows from childhood; the Japanese bead tree is fragrant from when a sprout

being the same thing (as); being indistinguishable (from)

learn wisdom from the follies of others; learn from others' mistakes; the toppling over of the cart in front serves as a warning for the cart behind

it is easy to start an enterprise but hard to maintain it

all roads lead to Rome

first born, least clever

ill weeds grow apace

very messy; (stuff) all over the place; no space even for one's feet

even a chance meeting can lead to a deep bond; even a chance meeting is due to the karma of a previous life

we'll cross that bridge when we get there; we'll think about it when the time comes

you must lose a fly to catch a trout; sometimes the best gain is to lose

the busier you are, the better you work

a watched pot never boils

good things come to those who wait; if you wait, there will come a fine day for taking the sea route

better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion

mind your own business!; keep out of it!

don't put the trivial ahead of the important; don't sweat the small stuff; don't bother with the details (before embarking on a great enterprise)

big heads have little wit

nothing costs as much as what is given to us; there's no such thing as a free lunch

knock, and it shall be opened unto you; God answers prayers

haste makes waste; anger and haste hinder good counsel

where there's a will, there's a way

widowers are untidy; a man alone soon goes to seed; a man goes to pieces without a woman to look after him

I don't give a damn; that's got nothing to do with me

ignorance is bliss

the husband is always the last to know; everyone knows of the wife's infidelity but the cuckolded husband

anyone can make a mistake; even Homer sometimes nods

money talks; money is the key that opens all doors; money is the best lawyer in hell; even the verdict of hell is determined by money

anything is better than nothing; kail spares bread; a bellyful is a bellyful, whether it be meat or drink; tea in the belly (will fill it) for a time

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