Russian proverbs and the wisdom behind them.

Без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда

Bez truda ne vytashish i rybku iz pruda

literally: Without effort you can't even pull a fish from a pond

No pain, no gain

Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь

Chto posyesh, to i pozhnosh

literally: What you sow, that you will reap

You get back what you put into something.

Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят

Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat

literally: Do not look into the teeth of a gifted horse

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Глаза боятся, а руки делают

Glaza boyatsya, a ruki delayut

literally: The eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing

A task may seem intimidating, but you should just start working.

Не горюй — беда не вечна

Ne goryuy — beda ne vechna

literally: Do not grieve — trouble is not eternal

This too shall pass.

Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей

Ne imey sto rubley, a imey sto druzey

literally: Do not have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends

Social capital and loyal connections are more valuable than money.

Не разлить водой

Ne razlit vodoy

literally: Cannot be separated by water

Two people who are inseparable friends.

Один в поле не воин

Odin v pole ne voin

literally: One in the field is not a warrior

One person cannot accomplish a major task alone.

Первый блин комом

Pervyi blin komom

literally: The first pancake is a lump

The first attempt at something is often unsuccessful.

С кем поведёшься, от того и наберёшься

S kem povedyoshsya, ot togo i naberyoshsya

literally: With whom you associate, from that one you will gather

You become like the people you spend time with.

Сказано — сделано

Skazano sdelano

literally: Said — done

If you say you will do something, do it immediately.

Старость — не радость

Starost ne radost

literally: Old age is not a joy

Getting old is difficult and brings physical decline.

Тише едешь — дальше будешь

Tyishe yedesh — dalshe budesh

literally: The quieter you go, the further you will be

Slow and steady wins the race.

У семи нянь дитя без глаза

U semi nyan ditya bez glaza

literally: With seven nannies, the child has no eye

When too many people are responsible for something, nothing gets done properly.

В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше

V gostyah horosho, a doma luchshe

literally: In guesting it is good, but at home it is better

There is no place like home.

Всё, что ни делается — к лучшему

Vse, chto ni delayetsya — k luchshemu

literally: Everything that happens is for the better

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается

Vse horosho, chto horosho konchaetsya

literally: All is good that ends well

All's well that ends well

Встречают по одёжке, провожают по уму

Vstretili po odezhke, provozhayut po umu

literally: They greet by clothes, but bid farewell by mind

First impressions are based on appearance, but true judgment comes from intelligence and character.

Язык до Киева доведёт

Yazyk do Kieva dovedet

literally: The tongue will lead you to Kiev

If you ask people, you will find your way anywhere.

За двумя зайцами погонишься — ни одного не поймаешь

Za dvumya zaytsami pogoneshsya — ni odnogo ne poymaesh

literally: If you chase two hares, you will catch neither

If you try to do two things at once, you will fail at both.