Table of Contents:

Serbian Proverbs and Sayings

Some Other Favorite Proverbs at almost the very end

References

SERBIAN PROVERBS AND SAYINGSAko činiš dobro, ne udaraj u veliko zvono. If you do good, don’t bang into big bells.

Ako je ko lud ne budi mu drug. Whoever is crazy, don’t be their friend.

Ako kantar ne valja, ti budi ispravan. Even though the scale is wrong, you be right.

Ako komšijska kuća gori, gledaj u svoju. If the neighbor’s house is on fire, check your own.

Ako ne počneš nećeš ni završiti. If you don’t start, you won’t finish.

Ako zlo neće na tebe, a ti beži od njega. If evil won’t be after you, you run away from it.

Ako želiš jezgro, slomi ljusku. If you want the core, break the shell.

Ako sreću ne sretneš, nećeš je ni stići. If you don’t meet luck, you won’t catch her.

Ako zima ustima ne ujede, ona repom ošine. If winter doesn’t bite, it swooshes with its tail.

Bolje je jedanput zaplakati nego sto puta uzdahnuti. It is better to once cry than to sigh hundred times.

Bolje je ne obećaćti nego reč ne održati. It is better not to promise than to break your word.

Bolje je pokliznuti nogom nego jezikom. It is better to slip with foot than with tongue.

Baci dobro niz vodu, voda će opet tebi da donese. Throw away good downstream, the water will still bring to you.

Badava je dobro seme kada je rđavo oranje. Good seed is wasted when the plowing is bad.

Batina ima dva kraja. A beating stick has two ends.

Biser ne valja pred svinje bacati. Don’t cast pearls in front of swine.

Boj se Boga, ali i onoga koji se Boga ne boji. Be afraid of God and of those who are not afraid of God.

Bolest i planinu obori, a kamoli čoveka. Illness can take down a mountain, and certainly a man.

Bolje je biti malo lud, nego malo pametan. It is better to be a little crazy than a little smart.

Bolje je svoje jaje, nego tuđa kokoška. Better to have your own egg than someone else’s hen.

Bolje svašta jesti, nego svašta govoriti. Better to eat whatever than to speak whatever.

Bolje poštena smrt, nego sramotan život. Better honest death than shameful life.

Budalu ne ruži, već mu savet pruži. Don’t badmouth a fool, but give him advice.

Bez zdravlja nema bogatstva. No health, no wealth.

Bez muke nama nauke. No knowledge without effort.

Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego soko na grani. Better a sparrow in your hand than an eagle on the tree.

Dete mnogo milovano nikad dobro vaspitano. A child too much catered to is never well raised.

Drži se novog puta i starog prijatelja. Hang onto a new road and an old friend.

Drvo se na drvo naslanja a čovek na čoveka. A tree leans on a tree, and a man leans on a man.

Dok ne iskopaš nov bunar, ne pljuj u stari. Until you dig a new well, don’t spit into the old one.

Da je maćeha dobra u bašti bi se sejala. If a step mother was a good thing, she would have been grown in garden.

Da nema vetra pauci bi nebo pomrežili. If it weren’t for the wind, the spiders would net the whole sky.

Da se reči kupuju, manje bi se govorile. If words had to be paid for, they would be spoken less.

Dobro je teško videti, a lako se pozna. Good is hard to see, and easy to recognize.

Dok srce ne zaboli, ne može oko zaplakati. Until the heart is in pain, the eye cannot cry.

Daleko od očiju, daleko od srca. Far from sight, far from heart.

Dobar glas daleko ide, a loš još dalje. Good reputation goes far, and bad one even further.

Dva puta meri, a jednom seci. Measure twice and cut once.

Dok jednom ne smrkne drugome ne svane. Until one gets it bad, the other one doesn’t get it good.

Davljenik se i za slamku hvata. A drowning man tries to reach for a straw.

Dobra devojka sama se udaje. Loosely: Good product sells itself.

In this case, “product” is a young lady trying to get married.

Dobra žena praznu kuću čini da je puna. A good woman makes an empty house seem full.

Državi ne duguj, sa žandarima ne druguj, a ženi tajne ne kazuj. Don’t owe to the government, don’t fraternize with police, and don’t tell secrets to your wife.

Državu čuvaj od neprijatelja, a ženu od prijatelja. Protect the country from enemies, and wife from friends.

Gledaj napred, al se osvrni i nazad. Look forward, but glance back too.

Gde nevolja ruča, tu i tuga večera. Where the trouble has lunch, grief has dinner.

Gde se stariji ne čuju, tu Bog ne pomaže. Where the Elders are not heard, God doesn’t help.

Gde velika zvona zvone tu se mala ne čuju. Where big bells ring, the little ones are not heard.

Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. Iron is cast while hot.

Čovek se nada dok god je duše u njemu. Man hopes as long as he is alive.

Čuvaj se čoveka koji nije kadar suzu da pusti. Be aware of the man who cannot shed a tear.

Čovek želi od svakog da je bolji, a od sina da je gori. A man wants to be better than anyone and worse than his own son.

Čovek sve daje za obraz, a obraz ni za šta. Man gives everything for his reputation, and reputation for nothing.

Čovek bez slobode kao riba bez vode. A man without freedom is like a fish without water.

Čuturom se pregrabi i najveće bure. With a cup you can empty the biggest barrel.

Čovek pokaže pravo lice u tri slučaja: u besu, u bogatstvu i u pijanstvu. Man shows his true face in three cases: in anger, in wealth, and in drunkness.

Kad oči govore, usta ćute. When eyes speak, mouth is silent.

Konju, ženi i pušci ne treba verovati. Don’t trust your horse, gun, and women.

Kašalj, šuga i ljubav ne mogu se sakriti. Cough, skin disease and love cannot be hidden.

Kad čovek nema svoga dobra, tuđe zlo premeće. When a man has no good fortune of his own, he gets busy with other’s misfortune.

Kad srce gori, iz usta dim izlazi. When the heart is on fire, there is some smoke coming out of the mouth.

Ko staro ne krpi, ni novo ne nosi. Who doesn’t patch the old, doesn’t wear the new either.

Koju vodu moraš piti, nemoj je mutiti. Whatever water you must drink, don’t muddy it.

Krpi rupu dok je manja. Patch the hole while still small.

Ko do dvadeset ne zna, do trideset nema, teško kući koja ga ima.

Who doesn’t know until age of 20, doesn’t have until the age of 30, is a burden for his household.

Ko se ljudi ne stidi, ljudi se ne boji. Who is not ashamed of people, has no fear of people.

Koji se pas silom u lov vodi, taj zeca ne hvata. The dog who is taken by force to hunt will not catch any rabbits.

Ko laže za tebe, lagaće i protiv tebe. Whoever lies for you, will also lie against you.

Ko ne plati rukom, taj će dušom. Who doesn’t pay with their hands, will pay with their soul.

Ko visoko leti, nisko pada. Whoever flies high, falls down low.

Ko ne plati na mostu, platiće na ćupriji. Whoever doesn’t pay on the bridge, will pay on the bridgeworks.

Lako je ljubav steći, ali je teško zadržati. It is easy to find love, but hard to keep it.

Ljubav je puna i meda i jeda. Love is full of honey and grief.

Lako je iza šest volova plug držati. It is easy to hold the plow behind six oxen.

Lako je tuđim rukama vrelo gvožđe hvatati. It is easy to grab hot iron with someone else’s hands.

Ludi boj biju, a mudri vino piju.

Lepa reč gvozdena vrata otvara.

Ne ceni vola po rogovima ni čoveka po brkovima.

Ne boj se smrti, nego zla života. Don’t be afraid of death, but of bad life.

Ne valja pljuvati pa lizati. It’s bad to spit then lick.

Ne zamahuj ako ne smeš da udariš. Don’t raise your hands up if you cannot strike.

Ne može se dlanom sunce zakloniti.

Nema zime dok ne padne inje, ni proleća dok sunce ne sine, ni radosti dok ne deliš s kime.

Nije sramota pasti, sramota je ne dići se. it’s not a shame to fall down, it’s a shame not to get up.

Novac sitno zveči, al se daleko čuje.

Nemoj da te pita starost gde ti je bila mladost. Don’t make your old ask age ask you where your young age went.

Ne kaži sve što znaš, ne čini sve što možeš, ne veruj sve što čuješ. Don’t tell everything you know, don’t do everything you can, don’t believe everything you hear.

Nije siromah ko malo ima, već ko mnogo želi.

Nije zlato sve što sija.

Zao glas i ptice nose.

Zlato se u vatri probira, čovek u nevolji. Gold is tested in fire, man in trouble.

Žena će samo onu tajnu čuvati koju ne zna. A woman will keep only the secret she doesn’t know.

Ženu mnogo ne mazi nego je pripazi. Don’t cater too much to your wife but watch over her.

Žena muža nosi na licu, a muž ženu na košulji. Wife carries her husband on her face, and husband carries his wife on his shirt.

Žedan konj vode ne probira. A thirsty horse is not choosey about which water to drink.

Od ljubavi se ne živi al se za nju gine. It is not possible to live from love but people die for it.

Obraz ide s glavom.

Obećanje, ludom radovanje. Promises are fool’s joy.

Pored suha drveta i sirovo izgori. Near the dry wood, the green wood burns too.

Prazna vreća ne može uspravno da stoji.

S polja gladac a unutra jadac. Flawless outside, and faulty inside.

Sitna mačka miševe ne lovi. A small cat cannot catch mice.

Svaka je kvočka na svom gnezdu jaka. Every hen is strong on her own nest.

Svaka muka za vremena, a sramota zavijeka. Any trouble runs its course, but shame always stays.

Starog slušaj al ne idi za njim. Listen to the old one, but don’t follow him.

Siroto dete samo sebi pupak vezuje. A poor child has to tie its own umbilical cord.

Teško vuku za kojim psi ne laju. Poor is the wolf after which dogs don’t bark.

Torba je najteža kada je prazna. A bag is most heavy when empty.

Teško onoj kući gde dima nema. Too bad for a house without smoke.

(they are either too poor to keep a stove going, or sick, or ….)

Što pređe preko zuba ode preko brda. Whetever goes over the teeth, goes over the hills.

U sreću se uzda lud, a pametan u svoj trud. Fools have faith in good luck, smart ones have faith in their effort.

U kojoj kući muž ženu bije, tu sreće nije. There is no happiness in a house where the hunsband beats his wife.

U zdravom telu, zdrav duh. In healthy body, healthy spirit.

Jedno krivo drvo, ceo tovar raspe. One crooked stick, ruins the whole slew.

Jezik je više glava posekao nego sablja. Tongue cut more heads than sword.

Iz krivog odžaka dim pravo izlazi. From the crooked chimney, smoke still comes out straight.

(A marriage party came to look at a girl, who had cross-eyes. They said: nice house, but the chimney is crooked. She said: from the crooked chimney, the smoke still comes out straight.)

Iz prazne kuće i miševi beže. From an empty house even mice ran away.

Drvo se savija dok je mlado. A tree is bent while young.

Voda sve opere osim crna obraza. Water can wash everything except a bad reputation.

Vrana vrani oči ne vadi. A crow doesn’t peck the eyes of another crow.

Vo se vezuje za rogove a čovek za reč. A bull is tied by his horns and a man by his word.

Ko prvi devojci, njegova devojka. Whoever gets to the girl first, gets the girl.

Ko rano rani, dve srece grabi. Getting up early is double luck.

Early bird catches two worms.

Ko se dima ne nadimi, taj se vatre ne ogreje. Without being smoked out, cannot get warm by the fire.

Dok sa nekim ne pojedeš džak soli ne znaš kakav je. Until you eat a sack of salt with a man, you don’t know

what he is like

I školjke iz dosade bisere prave Even shells make pearls out of boredom

Zasviraj ali i za pojas zadeni. Play your flute but put it back too.

Pravda gmiže ali stiže. Justice crawls but arrives.

dala baba banku da uđe u kolo, dala bi i dve samo da izađe... Old woman gave one dollar to get into the dance, she would give two to be able to get out.

Tudja ruka svrab ne cese. A stranger’s hand cannot scratch the itch.

Pita se od govana ne pravi Cannot make a pie out of shit

Ne uči svinju da svira klavir. Svinja će se samo iznervirati, a ti ćeš samo izgubiti vreme.

Don’t teach a swine to play piano. Swine will just lose its temper, and you will just lose your time.

Sta mozes danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra. Whatever you can do today, don’t leave for tomorrow.

Cija sila, toga i pravda.

Bolje je nemati, nego otimati. It is better not to have, than to grab by force.

Bolje je neznalica no tvrdoglavica. It is better not to know then to be stubborn.

Bolje je pokliznuti nogom nego jezikom.

Bolje je s mudrim pakati nego s ludim pevati. It is better to cry with the wise than to sing with the

crazy.

Bolje je svoje jaje nego tudja kokos.

Bez alata nema ni zanata! Without tools there is no craft.

Bez muke nema nauke!

Bivsi prijatelj je gori nego neprijatelj. A former friend is worse than enemy.

Brak bez dece je dan bez sunca. Marriage without children is like a day without sunschine.

Bolestan se pita, a zdravom se daje. Ask the sick, and give to the healthy.

Bolje je dobroga sluziti, nego rdjavu zapovijedati. It is better to serve a good person than to command a bad person.

Vremenu se valja pokoravati it is prudent to comply with the times.

Um caruje, snaga klade valja Mind is the king, force is the laborer.

Više vredi što žena uštedi nego što muž zaradi. It is worth more whan wife saves than what husband

earns.

Ko dvaput slaže, treći put mu se ne veruje. Who lies twice, third time is not taken seriously.

Nije siromah ko malo ima, već ko mnogo želi. It is not poor who has little, but who wants too much.

Pravda je spora, ali dostižna. Justice is slow, but arrives.

Ako je go, ali je soko. Maybe he is naked, but he is an eagle.

Ako je i koliba, naša je. Maybe it is a hut, but it is ours.

Ako je ko lud, ne budi mu drug.

Ako mi ne možeš pomoći, nemoj mi odmagati. If you cannot help me, don’t deter me.

Ako neće zlo od tebe, beži ti od zla. If evil won’t run away from you, you run away from it.

Ako ti mogu kupiti kapu, pamet ne mogu. I can buy you a hat, but not the brains.

Ako znaš šta ti je bilo, ne znaš šta će ti biti. If you know what happened, you don’t know what will happen.

Ako ženu tučeš, svoju sreću tučeš. If you beat your wife, you beat your good fortune.

Beži kud ti je volja, od sebe ne uteče. You can run anywhere you want, you won’t run away from yourself.

Blago onome ko zna da ne zna, a hoće da zna. Blessed is the one who knows that he doesn’t know, and wants to know.

Bogat je ko nije dužan, a mlad ko je zdrav. Rich is the one who is not in debt, and young the one who is healthy.

Bolan se pita, a zdravom se daje. (when serving people food etc, you just give it to them without asking.)

Bolje je dobroga služiti, nego rđavom zapovedati.

Bolje je i malo s blagoslovom, negoli i dosta s prokletstvom. Better a little with a blessing then a lot with a curse.

Bolje je imati rđavu godinu, nego rđavog suseda. Better to have a bad harvest than a bad neighbor.

Bolje je ne početi, nego ne dočeti. Better not start then not to finish.

Bolje je nemati, nego otimati.

Bolje je neznalica no tvrdoglavica. Better unlearned than stubborn.

Bolje je pokliznuti nogom nego jezikom. Bolje je s mudrim plakati nego s ludim pevati. Bolje je svoje jaje nego tuđa kokoš. Bolje je u kolibi pevati nego u dvoru plakati. Better sing in a hut then cry in a palace.

Bolje mršav mir nego debela parnica. Better a skinny peace than a fat lawsuit.

Bolje se s junakom biti, nego s rđom ljubiti. Bolje slep očima, nego slep pameću. Better blind in eyes then blind in mind.

Bolji je dobar glas nego zlatan pas. Better a good reputation but a golden belt.

Bolji je i crn kolač nego prazna torba. Better a burnt cake than an empty bag.

Brat brata nad jamu vodi, ali u jamu ne meće. Brother takes his brother to a hole but doesn’t put him in there.

Brdo se s brdom ne može sastati, a živi se ljudi sastanu. A hill cannot meet another hil, but live people meet each other.

Buči više ko manje razloga ima. The less reason, the louder the person.

Čija sila, toga i pravda. Whoever wins, makes the law.

Čovek je tvrđi od kamena, a slabiji od jajeta. Man is harder than stone and weaker than eggshell.

Čovek želi da je od svakoga bolji, a od sina da je gori.

Čovek se uči dok je živ, pa opet lud umre. Man learns as long as he lives, and yet dies a fool.

Čuvaj bele novce za crne dane. Keep white monies for black days.

Čuvaj se onoga ko stavlja obraz pod opanak. Be aware of the one who puts his cheek under his shoe. (this is hard to translate, because “cheek” also means “reputation.”)

Da je steći ko što reći, svi bi bogati bili. If it were as easy to get rich as it is to talk, everyone would be rich.

Da ga zemlja ne vuče sebi, poleteo bi. If the earth didn’t hold him down, he’d fly.

Da padne na leđa, razbio bi nos. If he fell on his back, he would break his nose.

Dobra ovca mnogo ne bleji, ali mnogo vune daje. Good sheep doesn’t baa a lot, but gives a lot of wool.

Dobro je lasno zaboraviti, a zlo nikada.

Dobro se ne pozna dok se ne izgubi. Good is not known until lost.

Dok je leđa, biće i samara. As long as there are backs, there will be saddles.

Dok je šiba tanka, treba je ispravljati. While the branch is young, it should be straightened.

Drvo bez grane i čovek bez mane - ne mogu biti. A tree without a branch and a man without a fault – cannot be.

Drvo se na drvo oslanja, a čovek na čoveka.

Duboka voda je bistra, a plitka mutna. Deep water is clear, shallow is murky.

Gde brat brata ne voli, tu nema sreće. Where a brother doesn’t love his brother, there is no happiness.

Gde je sreća, tu je i nesreća. Where there is happiness, there is also unhappiness.

Gde nije žene, tu nije ni kuće. Where there is no woman, there is no home.

Gde se god sastanu ljudi, ocjenjuju druge, a sebe ne. Wherever there are people meeting, they always judge others, and not themselves.

Gde velika zvona zvone, tu se mala ne čuju.

Gde je čija kuća tu je i sredina sveta. Where is someone’s house, there is the center of the universe.

Gde je stida, tu je i poštenja. Where there is shame, there is honesty.

Gde zlato gospoduje, razlog se ne čuje. Where gold rules, reason cannot be heard.

Gde zlato govori, usta ćute. Where gold speaks, mouth is silent.

Gospodskom smehu i vedru nebu ne valja verovati, jer se začas promene.

Rich person’s laughter and clear sky are not to be trusted, because they can change instantly.

Gvožđe reže i drvo i kamen, ali i njega rđa jede. Iron cuts both wood and stone, but is eaten by rust.

Hoćeš li da te svi mrze, reci svakome ko je ko. If you want everyone to hate you, tell them exactly what they are like.

I ljude poslušaj, i svoje pameti imaj. Listen to other people, and also have your own wits.

I najmudriji da proda sve što ima, ne može da kupi sve što nema. Even if the wisest sold everything he had, he couldn’t buy everything he didn’t have.

I sunce prolazi kroz kaljava mesta ali se ne okalja. Sun passes through muddy places and never gets muddy itself.

I zid ima uši, i plot ima oči. Walls have ears, fences have eyes.

Ide vreme, nosi breme. Time flies, brings burdens.

I loncem o kamen ili kamenom o lonac, teško loncu svakojako. The pot bangs on the stone, or the stone bangs on the pot, it is difficult for the pot no matter what

Izvan očiju, izvan srca. Far from sight, far from heart.

Jezik kosti nema, ali kosti lomi. Tongue has no bones, but breaks bones.

Kad bi se sve pameti iznele na vašar, svak bi se svoje mašio.

If you put all brains out on a fair, everyone would grab for his own.

Kad čovek tone i za vrelo gvožđe se hvata. When a man drowns, he grabs even for hot iron.

Kad je volje i zlo ide na bolje. Where there is good will, even bad trouble gets better.

Kad najviše grmi, najmanje kiše pada. When it thunders the most, it rains the least.

Kad sultan nazebe, raja kija. When the king catches a cold, the people sneeze.

Kako došlo onako i prošlo. As it came, it went.

Ko ljude ne sluša, ni čovek nije. Who doesn’t listen to people, is not a man.

Ko mnogo zbori - ili mnogo zna ili mnogo laže. Who speaks a lot – either knows a lot or lies a lot.

Ko neće brata za brata, on će tuđina za gospodara. Who doesn’t want a brother for his brother, takes a stranger for the rules.

Ko nema sokola i kukavici se veseli. Who doesn’t have a hawk, gets happy even with a cookoo bird. (pun with gender – also means female vs male children)

Ko nosi, ne prosi. He who caries, doesn’t have to beg.

Ko prati tuđ posao, svoj zaboravlja. Who follows other’s business, forgets his own.

Ko se seli, taj se ne veseli. He who is moving is not cheerful.

Ko u nebo pljuje na obraz mu pada. Who spits at the sky, it falls on his cheak.

Ko u krčmu ide, tuđu decu hrani. Who goes to the tavern, feeds other people’s children.

Koja se ne rekne, ona se ne čuje. Word never spoken is word never heard.

Kupuj prvo suseda, pa posle kuću. Buy the neighbor first, then the house.

Ludi boj biju, a mudri vino piju.

Ljudi se po odelu sretaju, a po pameti prate. People meet based on clothes, but follow each other based on brains.

Ljudi su gusto posejani, ali retko niču. People are densely planted, but seldom grow.

Mnogo ašova treba dok se istina sahrani. Many showels are needed to bury the truth.

Ne boj se onoga kome nisi dobro učinio. Don’t be afraid of the person that you weren’t nice to.

Ne zna da besjedi, a ne ume da ćuti. He doesn’t know how to speak, but he cannot be silent.

Nemogoše pojedoše, a nekćeše sve popiše. Couldn’ts ate it all, nothanks drunk it all.

Nesta blaga, nesta prijatelja. When the wealth is gone, friends are gone.

Nije siromah ko malo ima, već ko mnogo želi.

Nov bunar kopaj, u star ne pljuj. Dig a new well, and don’t spit into the old one.

Novci sitno zveče, al' se daleko čuju. Money has a quiet sound but is heard far.

Oteto - prokleto. Grabbed by force is cursed.

Otkud sam se nadao da me sunce ogreje, otuda me led bije.

Where I was hoping for some warmth from the sun, there is icy cold blowing at me.

Pošto se kola slome, mnogi put kazuju. When the car breaks, many show the way. ?

Poštuj, ako hoćeš da si poštovan. Respect, if you want to be respected.

Prav se smeje, a kriv se krije. Honest laughs, guilty hides.

Rđa jede gvožđe, a tuga srce. Rust eat the iron, sadness eats the heart.

Starost je bolest od koje svako umire. Old age is disease from which everyone dies.

Svud je proći, al' je doma doći. It’s nice to go everywhere, even nicer to come back home.

Što danas ne potrošiš, to si stekao. Whatever you don’t spend today, you earned.

Što je svačije, to je ničije. Whatever is everybody’s, is nobody’s.

Što je više brdo, to je dublja dolja. The taller the hill, the deeper the valley.

Što više sile, više i zla. More force means more evil.

Tko nije služio, ne ume ni zapovedati. Who didn’t serve, cannot command.

Tuđe je sve lepo, ali je svoje najlepše. Other’s stuff is all nice, but own is the nicest.

Učini čoveku sto puta dobro, a jedanput ne učini - sve je zaboravljeno. Make good to a person for hudred times, and miss once – everything is forgotten.

Više vredi što žena ustedi nego što muž zaradi. Voda svašta opere do crna obraza.

Zaludu mi je biser kad mi grlo davi. Wasted is this pearl when it strangles me around neck.

Zid ruši vlaga, a čoveka briga. Wall breaks down with moisture, and man with worry.

Zver zvera, ptica pticu - čovek čoveka jede. Animal animal, bird bird – man man eats.Bogata je teško darovati, sita gosta još teže častiti. It is hard to gift a rich man, even harder to host a visitor arriving with a full stomach.

Bolje da te smrt preka digne, nego suza siromačka stigne. Better to die early then to live to poverty tears.

Da je srce tvrđe od kamena, opet bi ga rastopilo zlato. If the heart were harder than stone, still gold would melt it.

Dobro mi je i boljem se nadam; u čem hodim, u tome i spavam. I am fine and hoping for better; whatever I wear by day is what I wear to sleep. (meaning: I am poor, have only one suit.)

Ko jedan put slaže, drugi put zaludi kaže.

Koji zdravo diže nos, taj će skoro ići bos.

Nema zime dok ne padne inje; ni proleća dok sunce ne sine; ni radosti dok ne deliš s kime.

There is no winter until there is snow; no spring until there is sunshine; and no joy until it is shared with someone.

Ne pada sneg da pokrije breg, nego da svaka zver svoj trag pokaze.

Nikad zao na gorega neće, vrana vrani oči ne vadi. Evil person never attacks worse than him, crow doesn’t peck eyes of another crow.

Učini dobro, ne kaj se; učini zlo, nadaj se. Do good, and have no remorse; do bad, and hope.

Batina ima dva kraja. Biser ne valja pred svinje prosipati. Dobrom čoveku sve dobro stoji. Drži se novog puta i starog prijatelja.

Inat je nesrećan zanat. Spite is a unhappy craft.

Jeftina raba kasu prazni. Cheap goods empty the piggy bank.

Krivac se i senke boji. Guilty one is afraid even of shadows.

Lasno je zdravome bolesnoga savetovati. It is easy for the healthy one to advise the sick.

Najpre ispred svoje kuće počisti. First sweep in front of your own house.

Od samoće ništa gore nema. Nothing worse than loneliness.

Vesela mladost najveća je radost. Cheerful youth is a big joy.

Zbog sirotog sunce greje. Sun schines for the poor.

Zlato je čisto i u prljavoj kesi. Gold is clean in a dirty bag.

Pas laje – vetar nosi. Dog barks – wind blows.

Moze samo da mi pljune pod prozor. He can just spit under my window. (meaning: he cannot do anything to me.)

Nije ljubav paradichkom csorba. Love is not a simple potato soup.

(paradichkom csorba= supa od paradjza,vrlo jednostavno jelo, jednostavna stvar)

Lako je tuđim srcem po trnju mlatiti It is easy to beat the thorny bushes with another’s heart

Ili ne pokušavaj, ili dovrši.

-Rugale se ruge... pa postaše druge! Making fun of others – became the same.

- Nemoj babu na konja! (kad se na silu nešto radi) Don’t put an old woman on a war horse.

Stoji mu ko zabi gace.

Probirač nadje otirač

Ko se jednom opeče i u hladno duva Who gets burned once, blows into cold (to cool it down)

Koga zmija ujede taj se i guštera boji. Who gets bit by a snake is afraid of a lizard.

Ko rano rani, dve srece grabi.

Ko drugome jamu kopa, sam u nju upada. Who digs a hole for others, falls into it himself.

Vuk dlaku menja, ali cud nikako. Wolf changes coats, but not his nature.

Biser ne valja pred svinje bacati

Prazna vreca ne moze uspravno da stoji Empty bag cannot stand up straight.

Gde nevolja ruca tu i tuga vecera

Da je maceha dobra u basti bi se sejala

Dok jednom ne smrkne, drugom ne svane

iz krivog odzaka, dim pravo izlazi

Lako je iza sest volova plug drzati It is easy to hold the plow behind six oxen

Ludi boj biju, a mudri vino piju Fools fight, wise get together and party

Koji se pas silom u lov vodi, taj zeca ne hvata

Sto se grbo rodi, vreme ne ispravi If born crooked, time cannot straighten it

Ako cinis dobro ne udaraj u veliko zvono

Sto prodje preko devet zuba ode preko devet brda whatever passes over nine teeth goes over nine hills

Spolja gladac a unutra jadac

Svaka je kvocka na svom gnezdu jaka

Ne moze se dlanom sunce zakloniti Cannot cover the sun with the palm

Ne ceni vola po rogovima ni coveka po brkovima Don’t judge the bull by his horns and man by his

moustache

Bez starog vola nema duboke brazde Without old bull, there is no deep plowing

Ko umije, njemu dvije Whoever is handy, scores double

Jak vetar prvo najvise drvece obara. Strong wind topples the tall trees first.

neke od Baba Micinih:Preko prece naokolo blize Shortcut is short and roundabout is closer

Sto je babi milo, to joj se i snilo What she wants, she sees

Ne pada sneg dapokrije breg, nego da svaka zverka trag svoj otkrije

Nema hleba bez motike. No bread without

Lepa rec i gvozdena vrata otvara.

S kim si, taki si. Who you are with, that’s what you are like.

Niko se nije naucen rodio. Nobody was born knowing.

Cega se pametan stidi, lud se hvali. What the wise is ashamed of, fools are proud of.

Pusti pevca na prag, ode na pajantu. Let the rooster to the doorstep, he will go to town.

Na muci se poznaju junaci. Trouble reveals heros.

Ko se cuva, i Bog ga cuva. God takes care of those who take care of themselves.

Pricam ti pricu, a ti se smesi. Take my story with a smile.

Od ljubavi se ne zivi. It is impossible to live on love alone.

Ides ko grlom u jagode. Going to pick strawberries just by letting them fall in your mouth?

Ako koza laze, rog ne laze. If the goat is lieing, her horn isn’t.

Ko hoce vece, izgubi iz vrece. Who wants more, loses what is already in the sack.

Niko se nije naucen rodio. Nobody was born learned.

Dok se mlada obuce, i svadba se provuce. By the time the bride got dressed, the wedding was over.

Nikad nije kasno da se ljubi strasno. It’s never too late for a true love.

Some are duplicates, keeping them in cyrilic, which gives it the right flavor.

Од прута бива велико дрво. From a small stick grows a big tree.

Од ране трешње и лепе жене човек мало користи има. There is little use from early cherry tree and beautiful woman.

Од речи му нема тврђег града. There is no harder fort than a word.

Од зла горе,а од добра боље нема. From evil there is no worse, and from good there is nobetter.

Од зле ћуди нема већег зла. There is nothing worse than a moody mean person.

Од љубави се живи, али се за њу гине.Обећање, лудом радовање.Образ иде с главом.

Образ нема више од два прста, али више вреди од два света.

Овце блеје кад су жедне, а људи кад се напију. Sheep baa when they are thirsty, and people when they have drunk.

Речи вежу и дреше. Words can tie and untie.

Рђав је човек који се туђем злу радује. It is a bad man who find joy in others’ misfortune.

Паметан попушта, магарац не допушта. Smart man gives, a donkey doesn’t.

Празна врећа не може усправно да стоји.Покрај сува дрвета и сирово изгори.

Под једним пазухом не могу се две лубенице носити. Impossible to hold two watermelons under one armpit.

Поштена је човека лако преварити. Honest man is easily swindled.

Ако кантар не ваља, ти буди исправан.Ако комшијска кућа гори, гледај у своју.

Ако пијемо као стока - биће доста, ако пијемо као људи - биће мало.If we drink like cattle, there will be enough. If we drink like people – there will be too little.

Ако желиш језгро, сломи љуску.Ако чиниш добро, не ударај у велико звоно.Ако зло неће на тебе, а ти бежи од њега.

Ако зима устима не уједе, она репом ошине.Ако срећу не сретнеш, нећеш је ни стићи.

Ако хоћеш да напакостиш човеку, пожели да му жена умре.If you want to be mean to a man, wish that his wife dies.

Ако не почнеш, нећеш ни завршити.

Ако некоме нешто није дало мајчино млеко, кравље није надокнадило.If someone didn’t get it with mothers’ milk, he won’t make it up with cow’s milk.

Љубав је пуна и меда и једа.Што прође преко девет зуба оде преко девет брда.Споља гладац а унутра јадац.

Свака мука за времена, а срамота завијека.

Свака је квочка на свом гнезду јака.

Свекрва се не сећа да је и она некад снаха била. Mother in law doesn’t remember that she used to be a daughter in law.

Старог слушај, ал не иди за њим.Сирото дете само себи пупак везује.

Сита мачка мишеве не лови. Full cat doesn’t hunt mice.

Бадава је добро семе, када је рђаво орање.

Јабука која доцкан сазри, дуго стоји. Apples that ripen late, stay fresh long.

Навика је једна мука, а одвика две муке. Habit is one trouble, and unlearning is twotroubles.

Баци добро низ воду, вода ће опет теби да донесе.Батина има два краја.Не кажи све што знаш, не чини све што можеш, не веруј све што чујеш.Не може се дланом сунце заклонити.Не ваља пљувати па лизати.

Не ваља сваком лонцу бити поклопац, ни свакој чорби запршка.It’s a bad idea to be lid on every pot and spice in every soup.

Не бој се смрти, него зла живота.

Не чини добро, да те чудо не нађе. Don’t do good, so that the unseen doesn’t find you.

Не чини зло, да ти не дође још горе. Don’t do evil, so that you don’t get it even worse.

Не цени вола по роговима ни човека по брковима.Не замахуј ако не смеш да удариш.

Не тражи ђаво човека,него човек ђавола. It’s not devil looking for man, but man looking for devil.

Не испирај сваким уста. Don’t rinse your mouth with everyone.

Велика дрва дуго расту, али зачас падну. Big trees grow for a long time, but fall down quickly.

Нема терета без детета. There is no burden without a child.

Нема зиме док не падне иње, ни пролећа док сунце не сине, ни радости док не делиш с киме.Немој да те пита старост где ти је била младост.Будалу не ружи, већ му савет пружи.Жедан коњ воде не пробира.Једно криво дрво цео товар распе.Без муке нема науке.Без здравља нема богатства.Без старог вола нема дубоке бразде.

Језик боде у срце. Tongue stabs into heart.

Језик је више глава посекао него сабља. Tongue cut more heads than sword.

Неста вина - неста разговора, неста блага - неста пријатеља.No more wine – no more talking, no more wealth – no more friends.

Жена мужа носи на лицу, а муж жену на кошуљи.

Жена је зло без којег се не може. Woman is an evil necessary for life.

Жена ће само ону тајну чувати коју не зна.

Жена се узда у плач.а лупеж у лаж. Woman relies on her crying, and criminal on lieing.

Жену много не мази, него је припази.Жене су да зборе, а људи да творе.Врана врани очи не вади.

Нико никог не може осрамотити, док се сам не осрамоти.Nobody can shame anyone else until he shames himself.

Није злато све што сија.Није срамота пасти, срамота је не дићи се.Није сиромах ко мало има, већ ко много жели.

Ниједно зло не прође неопажено. No evil goes unnoticed.

Бисер не ваља пред свиње бацати.Во се везује за рогове а човек за реч.

Богат једе кад хоће,а сиромах кад може. Wealthy eats when he wants, and poor when he can.

Болест и планину обори, а камоли човека.

Вода свашта опере, осим погана језика. Water can wash all kinds of things, except a dirty tongue.

Вода све опере осим црна образа.Новац ситно звечи, ал се далеко чује.

Боље кад капље него кад тече. Better to drip than to flow.

Боље поштена смрт него срамотан живот.

Боље манастир да растуриш него двоје младих да раздвојиш.Better to break up a monastery than two young people.

Боље врабац у руци, него соко на грани.Боље је поклизнути ногом него језиком.Боље је бити мало луд, него мало паметан.

Боље је имати паметног непријатеља, него лудог пријатеља.Better to have a smart enemy than a crazy friend.

Боље је једанпут заплакати, но сто пута уздахнути.Боље је своје јаје него туђа кокошка.Боље је не обећати, но реч не одржати.Боље свашта јести него свашта говорити.Бој се Бога, али и онога који се Бога не боји.

Гледај вола јел дебела врата, а девојци каква јој је мајка.Judge ox by thickness of its neck, and girl by her mother.

Гледај напред, ал се осврни и назад.Где велика звона звоне ту се мала не чују.Где се старији не чују, ту Бог не помаже.Где невоља руча ту и туга вечера.Да је маћеха добра у башти би се сејала.

Да је добро, и ђаво би се женио. If marriage was good, the devil would be married too.

Да се речи купују, мање би се говориле.Да нема ветра пауци би небо помрежили.

Далеко од очију - далеко од срца.Два пута мери, а једном сеци.Дављеник се и за сламку хвата.Гвожђе се кује док је вруће.Дете много миловано - никад добро васпитано.Тешко вуку за којим пси не лају.

Тешко ономе ко нема свога за невољу. Poor is the one who has nobody of his own in troubled times.

Тешко оној кући где дима нема.Дрво се савија док је младо.Дрво се на дрво наслања, а човек на човека.Државу чувај од непријатеља, а жену од пријатеља.Држави не дугуј, са жандарима не другуј, а жени тајне не казуј.

Држи реч ко решето воду. Hold your word like a sieve holds water.

Држи се новог пута и старог пријатеља.

Док имаш - свачији си, кад немаш - ничији си. When you have – you are everyone’s. When you don’t have – nobody’s.

Док једном не смркне другом не сване.Док срце не заболи, не може око заплакати.Док не ископаш нов бунар, не пљуј у стари.Добар глас далеко иде, а лош још даље.Добра девојка сама се удаје.Добра жена празну кућу чини да је пуна.Добро је тешко видети, а лако се позна.

Говори да бих те видео. Speak so that I can see you.

Торба је најтежа када је празна.

Гори је женски језик но турска сабља. Women’s tongue is worse than Turkish sword.

И кад куне, мајка благосиља.И из кривог оџака дим право излази.Златан ланац слободу не пружа.Злато се у ватри пробира, човек у невољи.

Зло брзо дође, а полако прође. Misfortune comes fast and leaves slow.

Зло ништа не ради у пола.

Злоба једе душу као рђа гвожђе. Spite eats the soul like rust eats iron.

Зао глас и птице носе.Из празне куће и мишеви беже.

Зид руши влага, а човека брига.Младо се дрво савија.Лако је туђим рукама врело гвожђе хватати.Лако је љубав стећи, али је тешко задржати.Лако је иза шест волова плуг држати.

Лавица једно окоти, али лава. Lioness gives birth to only one, but a lion.

Лепа реч и гвоздена врата отвара.Луди бој бију, а мудри вино пију.

Много добија онај који свашта не купује. Much is gained by the one who doesn’t buy trinkets.

Много времена треба да од детета постане човек. Much time is needed to grow a man out of a child.

У којој кући муж жену бије, ту среће није.У срећу се узда луд, а паметан у свој труд.Кад човек нема свога добра, туђе зло премеће.

Кад се перје проспе тешко га је сакупити. When feathers get strewn, it is difficult to recollect them.

Кад стари пас лаје, треба видети шта је. When old dog barks, it is prudent to check what it is.

Кад очи говоре, уста ћуте. When eyes speak, mouth is silent.

Кашаљ, шуга и љубав не могу се сакрити.

Кајање је лек за сваки грех. Remorse is the medicine for every wrongdoing.

Крпи рупу док је мања.

Учини добро - не кај се; учини зло - надај се.Ко лаже за тебе, лагаће и против тебе.Ко признаје, пола му се прашта.

Ко ломи веру, њега ће вера. Who breaks faith, the faith will him.

Ко другом јаму копа, сам у њу пада.

Ко до двадесете не зна, до тридесете нема, тешко кући која га има.Ко високо лети, ниско пада.Ко је луд не буди му друг.Ко се људи не стиди ни бога се не боји. Who is not ashamed of people is also not afraid of God.

Ко се људи не стиди, људи се не боји.

Ко се на туђим колима вози неће далеко стићи. Who rides in another’s car, won’t get far.

Колико је од земље до неба, толико је од човека до нечовека.

How much is from the earth to the sky, that’s how much is from a man to a no-man.

Коњу, жени и пушци не треба веровати. Don’t trust your horse, gun and woman.

Коњу, жени и kurcu не треба веровати. Don’t trust your horse, gun and penis.

Што пређе преко зуба оде преко брда.

I kad kune, majka blagosilja. Even when she curses, mother blesses.

Vrana vrani oci ne vadi.

Zlatan lanac slobodu ne pruza. Golden chain doesn’t provide freedom.

Zlo nista ne radi u pola. Evil doesn’t do anything half way.

GROUP I – Lexical and Semantic CongruenceExamples:All’s well that ends well – Sve je dobro što se dobro svršiNo smoke without fire – Gdje ima dima ima i vatreAttack is the best form of defense – Napad je najbolja odbranaBarking dogs never bite – Pas koji laje ne ujedaBirds of a feather flock together – Svaka ptica svome jatu letiSilence is golden – cutanje je zlatoAn eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth – Oko za oko, zub za zubA fault confessed is half redressed – Ko priznaje pola mu se praštaA friend in need is a friend indeed –U nevolji se prijatelj poznajeThe end justifies the means – Cilj opravdava sredstvaPrevention is better than cure – Bolje sprijeciti nego lije(itiOne swallow does not make a summer – Jedna lasta ne cini proljeceNever look a gift horse in the mouth – Poklonjenom konju se ne gleda u zube

GROUP II - Lexical Incongruence, Semantic SimilarityExamples:Fight fire with fire – Klin se klinom izbijaTalk of the devil – Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrataThe apple doesn't fall far from the tree – Iverje ne pada daleko od kladeYou can't eat your cake and have it too – Ne možeš imati i jare i pareThe cat is out of the bag – Došlo djelo na vidjelo

The game is not worth the candle – Skuplja pita od tepsijeA great tree attracts the wind – Za dobrim konjem prašina se dižeMight makes right – Sila boga ne moliLong absent, soon forgotten – Daleko od ociju, daleko od srcaGive him an inch and he will take a mile – Daš mu prst a on hoce rukuPusti pevca na prag, ode na pajantu.Let the rooster to the doorstep, he will go to town.Bird once snared fears all bushes – Koga su zmije ujedale taj se i guštera plaši; Ko se omlijeko opekao duva i u jogurt; Ko se opekao i u hladno duvaThe early bird catches the worm – Ko rano rani dvije srece grabi; Ko prvi djevojci njegovaDjevojkaIt's the last straw that broke the camel's back – To je kap koja je prelila cašuMake hay while the sun shines – Gvoždje se kuje dok je vruce

GROUP III - American English Phraseologisms without Equivalents in SerbianThese need to be interpreted less metaphoricallyExamples:Put your money where your mouth is – Start doing as you sayCuriosity killed the cat – Curiosity can be dangerousA rising tide will lift all boats – An overall improvement will affect all individual segmentsDon't cry over spilled milk – Regrets are not productive and bring no availDon't judge a book by its cover – Essence and real quality lies withinDon't throw out the baby with the bath water – Do not be overly critical and neglectpositives thingsScratch my back and I’ll scratch yours – Mutual help results in synergyKeep a low profile – Do not attract much attentionKeep your powder dry – Be ready and alertMarching to a different drummer – To disobey authority and pursue own principlesClose but no cigar – Almost right, but still insufficiently soEverything is coming up roses – Positive developments and the feeling of joy relatedtherewithThe fat is in the fire; The genie is out of the bottle – Events have started and their coursecannot be reversedTo have a bigger fish to fry – To have a more important matter to attend toA shot in the arm – An influx of energy, financial or another kind of assistanceIt's all smoke and mirrors – It is a fallacious and deliberate illusion

SERBIAN SAYINGS AND IDIOMSSarena laza

Doterati cara do duvara push the king to the wall

... kosta ko svetog Petra Kajgana costs as much as St. Peter paid for the

scrambled eggs

Mlatiti praznu slamu beat empty hay

Lupa kao Maksim po diviziji

Plakati kao godina

Trapav kao slon u staklarskoj radnji

Raspamprčiću te ko mače muškatlu i will tear you up like a kitten would tear up a geranium

plant

Ko luda Nasta

Popu pop,bobu bob

Nezgodan ko kratko cebe Testy like blanket too short

Isece ga ko biciklo balegu

Glup kao tocilo dumb like grinding stone

Bistar ko ministar smarter like minister

Pade u sevdah ko sljiva u balegu

Tera mak na konac insisting to string poppy seeds

Leglo mu je ko budali samar

Stoji mu ko zabi gace fits him like panty on a frog

----similar:To pour oil on fire – Dolijevati ulje na vatruHave something up the sleeve – Imati nešto u rukavu

Black sheep – Crna ovcaIt makes my hair stand (up) on the end – Diže mi se kosa na glaviIt's the tip of the iceberg – To je vrh ledenog brijega

Looking for a needle in a haystack – Tražiti iglu u plastu sijenaTo go through the mill – Pro&i sito i rešetoOver my dead body – Samo preko mene mrtvogHe who laughs last, laughs best – Ko se zadnji smije najsla)e se smijeLet the dust settle – Nek' se slegne prašinaThe last drop that makes the cup run over – Kap koja je prelila (ašuRead between the lines – ,itati izme)u redova

Get up on the wrong side of the bed – Ustati na lijevu noguOut of the blue – Kao grom iz vedra nebaComparing apples and oranges – Porediti babe i žabeHave a screw loose – Fali mu daska u glaviTo reinvent the wheel – Izumiti toplu voduKick against the pricks – I&i uz dlaku; Bosti se s rogatimaIn his shoes – Na njegovom mjestuIt's a piece of cake – To je ma(iji kašalj

Radoznao kao koza Curious like a goat

Ruzan kao lopov Ugly like a thief

Pokondirena tikva Uppity pumpkin

Sta tu izvodis besne gliste. Stop acting out like rabid earthworms.

Sta gledas u mene, jel mi rastu rogovi? Why are you staring at me, am I growing horns?

Drzi se ko pijan plota. Hanging onto it like a drunk for the fence.

Papucic

MACHOISM, BRAVADO, MALE CHAUVINIST PIGS, AND ABUSE OF CHILDREN:The following two are from books , not from people. But those books marred people. Serbia started both World Wars.

Rani sina pa salji na vojsku – Srbija se umiriti ne moze. Рани сина па шаљи у војску, Србија се умирити не може!

Grow your son and send him to fight, Serbia cannot be subdued.

Треба служити части и имену – нека буде борба непрестана!

We should serve our honor and name – let it be unceasing fight.

Batina iz raja izasla. Beating stick came out of heavens. (to beat children)

Zene su da zbore a ljudi da tvore. Women speak, men do.

Ko nema sokola i kukavici se veseli. Who doesn’t have a hawk, is happy to have a coockoo bird (pun with words: hawk is symbol for a male child, coockoo bird for a crying female. Male kids are the only valuable kids. So people MUST have a male child.)

Gaji cerku – gaji drugom sluzavku. To raise a daughter is to raise a servant to someone else. (because she will live with in-laws).

There should be more proverbs about drinking that there are here. Serbs tend to drink a little too much, and they drink hard liquor called sljivovica, plum brandy, and also heavy Turkish coffee. And they smoke like chimneys. And they usually frown, smiles are rare. The net result: most people age very quickly, their faces are gray. Plus, the food for most people is heavy and greasy, with a lot of meat and bread and few veggies and fruit, so most adults are overweight. Young people are usually good looking and slim, because they are active and they very much DO pay attention to how they are dressed. Until they marry and have kids (about age of 30). Then the smoking, food, no exercise, etc. gets them.

SOME SAYINGS FROM SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE (writers, religious leaders, etc. both in the past and current)

Branislav Nušić misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

Brak je pismo koje je interesantno samo dok je zatvoreno.

Marriage is a letter that is interesting only while it is closed.

Mržnja onih koji su zli nije toliko opasna kao njihovo prijateljstvo.

Hatred of the mean ones is not as dangerous as their friendship.

Brak je jedna od retkih istorijskih pojava kod koje se osvajač potčinjava osvojenome.

Marriage is one of rare historical phenomena in which the conqerer submits to the conquered.

Pravda je ljudima, često, teža od nepravde.

Justice is often heavier than injustice.

Beskičmenjak je u početku samo gmizao. Uspevši se, počeo je da sikće.

Invertebrate was only crawling at first. When he rose up, he started hissing.

Brak čini troje: ljubav, poverenje i strpljenje.

Marriage is composed of three: love, trust, and patience.

Čir na želudcu je zarazna bolest. Oni koji već imaju čireve stvaraju ih drugima.

Ulcers are infections disease. Those who have ulcers make sure to make others have them too.

Karijeristi ne ostavljaju nikakav trag za sobom, osim bivših prijatelja.

Carrier oriented do not leave any tracks behind them, except former friends.

Znanje ima granice, dok neznanje ih nema.

Knowledge has bounds, but no knowledge doesn’t.

Može se radi suknje preskakati plot, ali se to, ni u kom slučaju, ne može činiti u suknji.

Prvi poljubac dođe mu kao neka mala matura, posle koje se prelazi u više razrede, gde se uči viša matematika ljubavi sa svim poznatim i nepoznatim količinama.

Nije to paradoksalna tvrdnja ako se reče: da se tragedija jače ispoljava u okviru smešnoga, onako kao što je mrka fotografija plastičnija u svetlom ramu.

Dušan Radović misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

Ko prvi devojci njegova devojka. Ko poslednji devojci, njegova žena.

Who gets first to girl, it is his girlfriend. Who gets last, it is his wife. (Who gets last, it is his child.)

Hrabri muškarci treskaju vratima kad dolaze u kuću, a kukavice samo kad odlaze.

Brave men slam the door when they enter the house, and cowards only when they leave.

Muškarci čitaju novine a žene romane. Muškarcima mnogo više odgovara mnogo kratkih uzbuđenja, a žene vole jedno, ali da traje dugo.

Muškarci ne mrze žene onoliko koliko viču na njih, niti žene vole muškarce onoliko koliko ih slišaju i trpe.

Men don’t hate women as much as they yell at them, and women don’t love men as much as they listen to them and tolerate them.

Niko ne veruje lepim ženama, suviše su lepe da bi bile verne. Takav je slučaj i sa pametnim muškarcima.

Nobody trusts beautiful women, they are too pretty to be faithful. The same case goes for smart men.

Vara se svaki muškarac kad veruje da je pouzdan u ženu samo zato što ga ona voli.

Vodite računa. Da bi svi muškarci mogli varati svoje žene, u tome moraju učestvovati i sve žene.

Do some math. In order for all those men to cheat on their women, all women must participate in that.

Ima više nevernih muževa nego nego nevernih žena. To znači da na jednu nevernu ženu pada nekoliko nevernih muževa.

There are more unfaithful husbands than unfaithful wives. That means that each unfaithful wife gets several unfaithful husbands.

Žene su kao velike, a muževi kao male kazaljke na satu. Dok žene lako i živahno optrče ceo krug, muževi se lako pomere do sledeće numere.

Žene vole da vole, a manje im je važno koga će voleti.Muškarci vole da su voljeni, ali bi hteli da biraju ko će ih voleti.

Nemojte se ženiti zbog noći. Noću možete i spavati. Tražite ženu koja će vam rešiti probleme danju.

Don’t marry because of the night. You can sleep at night. Look for a woman who will solve your problems during the day.

Ako rešite sve probleme svoje dece, ona neće imati drugih problema sem vas.

If you solve all problems of your children, they won’t have any other problem but you.

Čim očevi počnu da pričaju kako je bilo, deca znaju kako će biti.

As soon as fathers start talking about how it was, children know how it will be.

Lakše bismo vaspitavali decu kada bi ona imala samo uši, a ne i oči.

It would be easier to raise children if they had only ears, not eyes.

Roditelji se zaprepaste kada čuju da im se deca drogiraju. Ne mogu da veruju. Kad su ih poslednji put videli, nise se drogirala.

Parents get schocked when they hear that their children do drugs. When they saw them the last time, they didn’t do any drugs.

Samo deca koja ne slušaju mogu biti bolja od svojih roditelja.

Only children who don’t listen can be better than their parents.

Ima nepodmitivih ljudi, to su oni od kojih ništa ne zavisi.

There are unbribable people, those that nothing depends on.

Ne trčite za ženama, da se ne sudarite sa onima koji od njih beže.

Don’t run after women, else you might crash into those who are running away from them.

Plašimo se nekih ljudi. Oni mnogo više mogu nego što znaju. Ne dokazujte im da malo znaju, jer će vam pokazati koliko mogu.

We are afraid of some people. They can a lot more than they know. Don’t prove to them that they know little, because they will show you how much they can.

Pre nego što krenete da tražite sreću, proverite - možda ste već srećni. Sreća je mala, obična i neupadljiva i mnogi ne umeju da je vide.

Before you start looking for happiness, check – maybe you are already happy. Happiness is small, ordinary and inconspicuous and many don’t know how to see it.

Pre nego što popravite svet, popravite česmu u svom stanu.

Before you fix the world, fix the fawcett in your home.

Svet bi bio mnogo srećniji i lepši kad bi svako samo popravio česmu ili makar zube.

The world would be a lot happier and nicer if everyone just would fix their fawcett or even only their teeth.

Volite se kad niste zajedno. To je prava ljubav. Ko ume da voli samo kad je zajedno, taj ne pravi pitanje s kim je.

Love each other when you are not together. That is true love. Those who can love only when they are together, don’t care with whom they are.

Ako postoje i neke druge, razvijenije civilizacije, na drugim planetama, možda je zemlja njihov pakao.

If there are more advanced civilizations on other planets, perhaps Earth is their hell.

Ako ste nekoga zavoleli bez razloga, kasnije će vam ti razlozi sve više nedostajati.

If you fell in love with someone without any reasons, later you will increasingly miss those reasons.

Bio je niko i ništa, sad je niko i nešto.

He was nobody and nothing, now he is nobody and something.

Istine su sve glasnije, jer su oni koji treba da ih čuvaju sve stariji.

Kad je neko glup, ne možete mu to ni dokazati.

When someone is dumb, you cannot prove them even that.

Kadrovske liste prave se tajno, u najužem krugu najpoverljivijih. Mora tako, skriveno i tajno, jer i kriterijumi nisu za javnost.

Mladi moraju da žive noću - beže iz dana koji su okupirali njihovi očevi i dedovi.

Youth has to live at night – they run away from the day time occupied by their fathers and grandfathers.

Niko vam ne zavidi na sposobnosti, već na uspesima.

Nobody is jelous of your abilities, but your successes.

Dok radite, smatraju vas ludim, a kad nešto postignete, srećnim.

While you toil, they consider you crazy, and when you achieve something, lucky.

O svakome se može govoriti loše, samo je potreban povod.

It is possible to speak badly about anyone, it is just inducement that is necessary.

Nije teško biti toliko nesrećan da bi čovek počeo da pije. Ljude treba odvikavati od nesreće, a ne od alkohola. Nesreća je veći porok.

It is not difficult to be so unhappy to start drinking. People should be unlearned from unhappiness, not of alcohol. Unhappiness is the bigger vice.

Pošteni su pošteni samo zato što ne umeju ili ne smeju da budu nepošteni.

Honest people are honest because they don’t know how or don’t dare be dishonest.

Skromnost nije za svakoga. Ona lepo stoji samo onima koji bi imali zbog čega biti neskromni.

Modesty is not for anyone. It looks good only on those who have something to be immodest about.

Što je manje ono što bi ste hteli ukrasti, sve je veći rizik.

The smaller it is what you want to steal, the higher the risk.

Teško je biti sam, od toga je jedino teže kad su dvoje sami.

It is difficult to be alone, the only thing more difficult is when two are alone.

Trebalo bi do daljnjeg zabraniti sve govore. Neka svako uradi ono što je hteo da kaže.

It would be good to forbid all speeches until further notice. First, everyone should do whatever he wanted to say.

Zdravi su samo oni koji još ne znaju da su bolesni.

Siromah je onaj koji ima para, a bogat je samo onaj koji ih troši.

Poor man is he who has money, and rich is the one who spends it.

Nije važno da li neko radi ili ne, važan je samo rezultat.

It doesn’t matter if someone works or not, what matters is the results.

Naše malo može biti mnogo za one koji nemaju ni malo.

Our little can be a lot for those who don’t have even a little.

Za život je najvažnije strpljenje. Da bi ste dugo živeli potrebno je mnogo strpljenja.

The most important thing for life is patience. In order to live long, a lot of patience is needed.

Iz malog tela i velike duše, brže izrastu krila, nego kad je obrnuto.

From little body and big soul, wings grow faster, much faster than from the opposite.

Za razliku od doktora nauka, seljaci imaju više znanja nego stručne spreme.

Differently than doctors of science, farmers have more knowledge than diplomas.

Vi vredite samo onoliko koliko ste drugima potrebni.

Your are as worth as others need you.

Samo siromašni znaju da ima i siromašnijih od njih, bogati vide samo bogatije od sebe.

Only poor know that there are more poor than them. Rich people see only richer than themselves.

Ne morate biti bolji od drugih, budite samo najbolji što možete.

You don’t have to be better than others, just be the best you can be.

Petar Petrović Njegoš misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

U dobru je lako dobar biti, na muci s poznaju junaci!

It is easy to be good while it is good, the trouble reveals the heros.

Ćud je ženska smiješna rabota! Ne zna žena ko je kakve vjere, stotinu će promijenit vjerah da učini što joj srce žudi.

Women’s personality is very funny. Woman doesn’t know who is of what faith, she will change hundred faiths to do what her heart wants.

Ko na brdo ak i malo stoji, više vidi no onaj pod brdom.

Whoever stands on the hill even a little bit, sees a lot more than a person on the bottom of the hill.

Bez muke se pjesma ne ispoja, bez muke se sablja ne sakova!

Junaštvo je car zla svakojega, a i piće najslađe duševno, kojijem se pjane pokoljenja.

Bravado with vanity and pride is the king od a lot of evil, and the sweetest soul drink with which the generations are intoxicated.

Blago tome ko dovijek živi, imao se rašta i roditi!

Congrats to the one who lives forever, he was born for a lot!

Vječna zublja, vječne pomrčine nit dogori niti svjetlost gubi.

Strah životu kalja obraz često. Fear ruins the integrity of life all too often.

Oči zbore što im srce veli. Eyes speak what they are told by the heart.

Teško zemlji kuda prođe vojska! Poor is the land where soldiers pass through!

Tvrd je orah voćka čudnovata, ne slomi ga al zube polomi!

Walnut in a shell is a curious fruit: you won’t break it but will break your teeth.

Svak je rođen da po jednom umre, čast i bruka žive dovijeka.

Everyone is born to die once. Honor and shame live forever.

Iz grmena velikoga lafu izać trudno nije, u velikim narodima geniju se gnijezdo vije.

It is not difficult for a lion to live behind a large bush. In large nations, genius have their bed made for them.

Što ljudi hoće, to i vrijeme trpi.

Budale su s očima slepe, koje vide, a zaludu vide.

Fools are blind in their eyes, which see, but see nothing.

Iza tuče vedrije je nebo, iza tuge bistrija je duša, iza plača velje pojača.

After a rain, the sky is more clear, after a sadness, the soul is more clear, after a cry, we are more happy.

Kome zakon leži u topuzu, tragovi mu smrde nečovještvom.

Whoever has their law in the violence, his tracks stink of inhumanity.

Casu meda niko ne popi da je casom zuci ne zagorci.

No one ever drunk a cup of honey without bittering it with a cup of bile.

Pucina je stoka jedna grdna. Common people are like cattle.

Ivo Andrić misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti: 

Najveća budala nije onaj koji ne umije da čita, nego onaj koji misli da je sve ono što pročita istina.

The biggest fool is not the one who doesn’t know how to read, but the one who thinks that everything he reads is the truth.

Ljudi koji sami ne rade i ne preduzimaju ništa u životu lako gube strpljenje i padaju u pogreške kad sude o tuđem radu.

People who don’t work themselves and don’t take any initiatives in life easily lose their patience and make mistakes when judge someone else’s work.

Mi, to se zna, ne živimo i ne delamo zbog ljudi, nego mimo ljudi, a sve za ljude.

We, that is known, do not live and act because of people, but in spite of people and everything for people.

Ovaj svet u kom živimo tako je sazdan da je onaj koji se plaši već izgubljen.

This world in which we live is built in such a way that whoever is scared is already lost.

Vrlo rano sam saznao da svaki minut života može biti težak koliko i život ceo.

Very early I found out that every minute of life can be as difficult as the entire life.

Ljudi male pameti retko se trude da ne budu dosadni.

People with little brains seldom put effort to not be pesky.

Mir i spokojstvo, jedina su dobra i najveće dostojanstvo skromnih sudbina i bezimenih ljudi.Sladostrasnici, kad život čula protutnji i sagori, ostaju mračni, gorki i teški sebi i drugima.

Peace and tranquility are the only and the biggest dignity humble lives and nameless people. Senses lovers, when the life of senses thunder through and burn down, stay dark, bitter, and heavy to themselves and others.

Neizvesnost je imanje onih koji nemaju ništa i velika nada onih koji nisu navikli na dobro u životu.

Uncertainty is the property of those who own nothing and hope of those who are not used to good in life.

Ništa ljude ne veže tako kao zajednički i srećno preživljena nesreća.

Nothing binds people as much as together and happily overcame misfortune.

Oduvek je i svuda tako, da se sitni i bezimeni ljudi penju na leševe onih koji su oboreni u međusobnoj borbi velikih.

It has always been so, that small nameless people climb on the dead bodies of those who fell in the mutal fight of the great

Srećni i zadovoljni ljudi ne pišu nikako, ili jako kratko.

Happy and satisfied people don’t write at all, or very succinctly.

Ko je duga veka, taj nadživi sve, pa i svoje zasluge.

Who lives long, he lives longer than everything, including his own merits.

Naš čovek ne ume da se pravovremeno zaustavi ni pri usponu ni pri padu.

Our people don’t know how to stop on time while rising or falling.

Ima ljudi čiji je život tako dobro ispunjen da ni svojom smrću ne mogu da nas obeshrabre.

There are some people whose life is so well fulfilled that even their death cannot discourage us.

Toliko je bilo stvari u životu kojih smo se bojali. A nije trebelo. Trebalo je živeti.

There are so many things in life that we were afraid of. No need. We should have lived.

Život nikada ne daje ono što obećava, nego uvek više ili manje od toga.

Life never gives you what it promises, always more or less than that.

Žene, ja ne znam kome ste vi bile blaga kiša jutarnja, ali u naš život ulazite kao pljusci nošeni vihorima.

Bezbrižna ravnodušnost je veliki dar i moćno oružje mladosti.

Čudno je kako je malo potrebo da budemo srećni, a još je čudnije kako nam baš to malo nedostaje

It is weird how little we need to be happy, and even more weird how exactly that little bit is exactly what we miss.

Da je ćutanje snaga, a govorenje slabost, vidi se i po tome što starci i deca vole da pričaju.

That silence is strength and talking is weakness is obvious from the fact that elderly and kids love to talk.

Dođu tako ponekad vremena, kada pamet zaćuti, budala progovori, a fukara se obogati.

Ocassionally there come times when brains keep silent, fools start talking, and crooked get rich.

Lepša duša dublje jeca. More beautiful soul can cry deeper.

Mnogi postignu ono što su hteli, a izgube sve.

Many achieve everything they wanted, and lose everything.

Sumnja i briga vide ono što sreća i pouzdanje nikada ne mogu.

Doubt and worry see what happiness and confidence never can.

Rakija mora da progovori kad bilo, kao i nevaljala žena, sveti se onom koji hoće da u njoj uživa tajno a trajno i obilno.

Bolest je sirotinjska sudbina i bogataška kazna.

Svi pravi životi su lepi i teški.

Svi ljudski pokreti proizlaze iz potrebe za napadom ili odbranom.

Beskorisno je u starosti produžavati život. Treba produžavati mladost.

Zato što mogu, i što se usuđujuda o svačemu svašta kažu, oni misle da sve znaju.

Moglo bi se, sa malo preterivanja, kazati da svaka žena ima svoju unapred određenu dozu suza koju mora u toku svog života da isplače...

Ništa nije teže ni strašnije nego gledati svet oko sebe očima bivše lepotice.

There is nothing harder nor more terrifying than seeing the world around with the eyes of the former beauty queen.

Dobra je stvar krotka i zdrava žena. Živiš i radiš kao da ne postoji, a ipak osećaš da ti pomaže.

Niko ne može da proveri i predvidi ćudi i nastupe nemirne i puste žene.

Beznačajne reči, dugi pogledi i nesvesni osmejci povežu se u siguran most koji se sam gradi.

Ljubav, kada je iskrena i duboka, lako prašta i zaboravlja.

Love, when it is true and deep, easily forgives and forgets.

Celog veka se lečimo od nesrećnog detinjstva.

Our whole life we heal from our unhappy childhood.

Kad god mi mislimo da su nam se otvorile oči, to obično znači da smo ih za stotinu drugih stvari zatvorili.

When we think that our eyes have opened, it usually means they closed for hundred other things.

I vrline jednog čoveka mi primamo i cenimo potpuno samo ako nam se ukazuju u obliku koji odgovara našim shvatanjima i sklonostima.

Even the character virtues of another man we can appreciate only if they are shown to us in the form that suits our understandings and inclinations.

Od svog porekla i detinjstva ne može se pobeći lako.

From one’s roots and childhoot it is not easy to run away.

Svi smo mi mrtvi, samo se redom sahranjujemo...

We are all dead, we just burry ourselves in order.

Veliki praznici i svečani dani mogu da pokažu koliko su nam daleki i oni koje smatramo najbližima.

Big holidays and celebration days can show us how distant are even those who we consider most close.

Ko prijatelja tumači i analizira, taj ga ne voli.

Who interprets and analyzes his friend, doesn’t love him.

Kako korisno i dobro govore ljudi koji umeju da ćute!

How wonderfully useful and well speak those who know how to keep silent!

Kod ljudi koji čedno žive ruke su mirne, bele i večito mlade.

Dugi su i zamršeni računi između onih koji imaju i nedaju i onih koji nemaju ništa do svojih potreba.

Long and complicated are the affairs between those who have and don’t give and those who don’t have anything of their needs met.

Jovan Dučić misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

U braku žena traži sve što joj se dopada i uzme sve što može oteti.

Žena se ne služi lažju da napadne, nego da se odbrani.

Lepa je svaka žena osim one koja misli da to nije, i one koja misli da jeste.

Every woman is beautiful except one who thinks she is not, and one who thinks she is.

Žene ne znaju da poštuju, nego da vole. Stoga one ne traže ni da vi njih poštujete, nego da ih volite.

Muškarci su hrabri pred smrću, a žene pred životom.

Muškarci su hrabri pred drugim muškarcem, a žene pred celom sudbinom.

Žena iskreno veruje da je muškarac voli samo onda kad zbog nje pati i kad u nju stalno sumnja.

Ženi nije dovoljno da dobije najviše od muškarčeve sreće, nego da što više otme od njegove slobode.

Kao glad, ni ljubav nema očiju, ali ljubomora nema pameti.

Ljubav je čak i herojstvo, jer traži žrtve.

Love is even heroism, because it demands victims.

Mladost i ljubav, to je sve što život ima.

Postoji ludilo ljubavi, ali ne i mudrost ljubavi.

There is the craziness of love, but not the wisdom of love.

Samo se u ljubavi i u snrti ljudi mogu da izjednače, i da poslednji stigne prvog.

Only love and death can equalize people, where the last one overtakes the first.

Dve su prave i najveće čovekove nesreće, nemati zdravlja i nemati prijatelja.

Two are real and largest human misfortunes: not having health and not having friends.

Ljudi koji mrze, to su najpre glupaci, a zatim i kukavice, ali nikad heroji.

People who hate, those are first fools and then cowards, never heroes.

Svi ljudi imaju iste mane, ali nemaju iste vrline.

All people have the same faults, but not the same virtues.

Prva osobina primitivnog čoveka ja da se boji svega što ne razume, a na prvom mestu se boji pameti.

The first feature of a primitive man is that he is afraid of everything he doesn’t understand, and in the first place he is afraid of intellect.

Velika je nesreća kad čovek ne zna šta hoće, a prava katastrofa kad ne zna šta može.

It is a big misfortune when a man doesn’t know what he wants, and a real catastrophy when he doesn’t know what he can.

Veliki čovek sudi čoveka po njegovim vrlinama, mali sudi po manama.

A big man judges another by his virtues, a little man judges another by his faults.

Ko smisao života nije tražio, taj nije živeo, ali ako ga je tražio, nikad nije bio dovoljno srećan.

Treba se čuvati više sebe nego svojih zlotvora.

It is prudent to protect oneself from oneself more then from one’s enemies.

Glupak se naslanja na glupaka, kao slepac na slepca.

Fool relies on another fool, like a blind man on another blind man.

Neko ostari kao zlato i mermer, a neko kao cipele.

Some people age like gold and marble, and some like shoes.

Pola sata govorite o nekom dobro, i vi postanete mirni i blaženi, čak i ponosni na lepotu svojih osećanja.

Just for ½ hr speak highly about someone, and you will become peaceful and blissful, even proud about the beauty of your feelings.

Za samoću treba biti sposoban, čak i spreman.

Aloneness requires ability, even readiness.

Retko je čovekov cilj zao, a često su zla sredstva kojima ostvaruje cilj.

It is seldom that men’s goals are evil, and very often that the means to the goal are evil.

Ima ljudi koji su hrabriji pred smrću, nego pred životom.

There are people who are more brave in front of death than in front of life.

Ako mudrac izbegava glupaka, još više glupak izbegava mudraca.

A wise man avoids the fool, but the fool avoids the wise man even more.

Što pametan uspe, to često pokvari ćud.

What a smart one succeeds to accomplish, often is spoiled by moods.

Ko veruje da je srećan, on je zaista srećan.

He who believes he is happy, is truly happy.

Nema ni jednog ostarelog kralja koji ne bi pristao da bude mlad poručnik.

There is no aged king who wouldn’t agree to become a young lutenant.

Svet podnosi starca samo ako je duhovit ili bogat.

The world tolerates old man only if he is witty or rich.

Nikad čovek prema čoveku nije pravedan, ni kad voli ni kada mrzi.

A man is never just towards another man, neither when he loves nor when he hates.

Zavist je urođena u svakom čoveku, makar to neki krili a neki u sebi suzbijali.

Jelousy is ingrained in every man, even though some hide it and some suppress.

Jedino onaj pisac koji ženu ne bi "napao" u šumi naće je "napasti" ni u knjizi.

Zlo je ko ne ne zna, a učiti se ne da.

It is evil who doesn’t know yet doesn’t want to learn.

Jedino što muškarci ne opraštaju drugom muškarcu, je kad ima lepšu ženu nego što je njihova.

The only thing a man cannot forgive another man is if he has a more beautiful wife.

Ono što u ljudima postoji zversko ne može se ukrotiti nikakvim poklonom, koliko se to može ukrotiti lepom rečju.

That which is animal in humans cannot be tamed with any gifts like it can be tamed with kind words.

Kad bi mladost imala filozofiju starca, ne bi bilo na svetu ni ijednog sunčanog dana.

If youth had philosophy of an old man, there would be no single sunny day.

Makar nesreće bile stare koliko i sreće, ipak se svetu čini kao da neko zlo nije ni postojalo.

Even if misfortunes were as old as good fortunes, still the world perceives it as if some misfortune never happened.

Za svaku našu nesreću kriva je ili naša lakoumnost, ili naša gordost, ili naša glupost, ili naš porok.

Each of our misfortunes is to be blamed on our comformity, or pride, or foolishness, or vice.

Matija Bećković misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

Danas medicina od čovjeka može napraviti sve osim čovjeka.

Nigdje čovjek nije mali kao pred šalterom i nigdje mali ljudi nisu veći nego iza njega.

Mene ne zanima istina.Ja znam ko je u pravu.

Glupost je starija od pameti.Da prvi čovek nije bio glup,drugi se nebi ni stvorio.

Budala ima mnogo.Konkurencija je ogromna.

There are many fools. Competition is huge.

Bruka nikad ne ide na životinje ,nego na čovjeka.

Demokratija o koju se može ogrešiti - nije demokratija.

Krasti malo je glupo.Zato male lopove i kažnjavaju.Ne zbog kradje već zbog gluposti,naivnost,prostakluka.

Stealing little is stupid. That’s why small thieves are punished. Not because of theft but because of foolishness, naivete, rudeness.

Kad bi se spalio u ime gladnih,prvo bi ti gladni rekli da si idiot: zašto si se spaljivao kad si bio sit?

Nase Sveto pismo je Gorski vijenac.Delo koje ne stari i čije reči ne trule.Znati ga napamet i znati svako slovo, jedini je način da ne izgubimo sebe.

Izgleda da smo na Balkan došli iduci za stokom.More nas je spriječilo da odemo u Afriku u koju smo se bili zaputili.

Meša Selimović misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

Prijateljstvo se na bira, ono biva, ko zna zbog čega, kao ljubav.

Čovek, sa godinama, sve manje voli ono što je blizu.

Nema ni jedne religije koja nije bezbožno rušila.

There is no single religion which didn’t unfaithfully destroy.

Snivam katkad da sam nezavisan. Ala su to lepi snovi! Ala je to rajsko uživanje.

Neki su gluvi na tuđe reči, oni su nesreća i sebi i drugima. Ali uvek treba pokušati. Pitaćeš: zašto? Nizašto. Da bude manje gluvo i pusto.

Mladost nalazi snage i vremena za sve: mlad čovek ne vidi kraja ni svojoj snazi ni svom vremenu.

Ljudska ličnost, najveća svetinja. Human ego, the biggest idol.

Razuman se hrani da živi, a lud živi samo da se hrani i goji.

Wise one eats to live, and a fool to eat and get fat.

Živi ništa ne znaju. Poučite me mrtvi kako se može umreti bez straha, ili bar bez užasa. Jer, smrt je besmisao, kao i život.

Od pamtiveka sinovi su nerazumniji od očeva, ali srećom, sinovi postaju razumniji čim postanu očevi.

Kad bi Bog kažnjavao za svako učinjeno zlo, ne bi na zemlji ostalo ni jedno živo biće.

If God punished for every single wrongdoing, there wouldn’t be a single live being left on the planet.

Vladeta Jerotić misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti:

Moć vladanja nad drugim neodoljiva je slast tamne strane čovekovog bića.

Što je naučio Jovica, ne ispravi više Jovan.

What Johhny learns, John cannot rectify anymore.

Velika je veština znati razgovarati sa čovekom.

It is a great skill to know how to talk with someone.

Voleti drugog čoveka znači i razumeti ga, a svakako i opraštati mu. Nije, doduše, lako voleti čoveka onakav kakav jeste, ali samo ako budemo u stanju da ga ne samo prihvatimo već da ga i zavolimo upravo onakav kakav jeste, podstaći ćemo ga da postane upravo onakav kakav može da bude.

U samoći čoveku se otvara put u sopstvenu dubinu, i ako on uspe da siđe u nju bez straha i zaziranja, vratiće se obogaćen na površinu, i tek tada, kada je otkrio svoje Ja, imace otvoren i pravi put prema bližnjem, prema Ti.

Sva dostignuća moderne tehnike, kao i moderne medicine, učinila su život, a sigurno i smrt, težijim i mučnijim. Samo -Volja za smisao- može da nas učini odgovornim i tada tek spremnim da pomognemeo i sebi i društvu.

Vladika Nikolaj Velimirović misli, izreke, poslovice, mudrosti: 

Ljudi koji ne mogu vladati svojim srcem, još manje mogu vladati svojim jezikom.

People who cannot govern their heart, can even less govern their tongue.

Ljudi koji ne mogu videti svet u sebi, još manje mogu videti sebe u svetu.

 

Bezbožnik se boji skoropostižne smrti, lopov se boji obijača, ubica se boji mača, gordljivac se boji sramote, klevetnik se boji suda istine.

Veliko bogatstvo otkriva siromaštinu.

Telesni brak je samo simbol duhovnog braka. U telesnom braku prvo pristupaju radosti pa onda gorčine, dok u duhovnom prvo gorčine pa radosti.

Civil marriage is only a symbol for soul marriage. In the civil marriage first are joys then bitterness, and in the soul one, first bitterness then joys.

Vlast je veliko iskušenje i malo je onih koji mogu tom iskušenju odoleti.

Rulership is a great temptation and very few can resist it.

Od pamtiveka vuci kolju jaganjce,  a nikada nijedno jagnje nije zaklalao vuka. Pa ipak je u svetu vise jaganjaca nego vukova.

From time immemorial, wolves kill lambs and no lamb ever killed a wolf. Yet there are more lambs than wolves in the world.

Često jednog dana kad učiniš jedan greh, učinićeš i drugi, i kad pokažeš jednu vrlinu pokazaćeš i drugu.

Ko ima veliko ima i malo. Who has big, has the little too.

Gospodar duše, gospodar je i tela.

Kao što se sveća od sveće pali, tako i dobro delo od dobrog dela.

Učini dobro i zakopaj pod kamen, ono će od kamena načiniti sebi jezik i objaviti se.

Ko daleko ode sa đavolom u šetnju, teško se vraća na pravi put.

Who goes far for a walk with the devil, finds it hard to get back on the right path.

Što više slasti to je manje slatko, što više gorčine to je manje gorko.

The more sweetness makes it less sweet, the more bitterness makes it less bitter.

Vladanje zastrašivanjem je očajno i poslednje sredstvo u rukama nemoćnih upravitelja jedne zemlje.

Ruling by fear is a desperate and last resort in the hands of incapable rulers of any country.

Neprolazne vrednosti su dragocenije od prolaznih kao što je večnost dragocenija od vremena. A neprolazne vrednosti ulaze u okvir zdravlja duševnog.

Istina ne zavisi od vremena i nije ni nova ni stara, nego upravo Istina, juče, danas, sutra.

Ako se knjige budu množile današnjom brzinom, biće više učitelja nego učenika i razbiće se pamet od knjige čoveku kao ogledalo kad se razbije na stotinu parčeta.

If books keep on multiplying at the speed they are currently multiplying, there will be more teachers than students and men’s brain will break from the books like a mirror breaks into hundred pieces.

Biranje kraljica lepote moderni je običaj starih latinskih naroda. U stvari, to je samo jedna vešto prikrivena trgovina belim robljem.

Choosing the beauty queen is a modern custom of ancient latin people. Actually, it is just a skillfully covered up trade of white slaves.

Kad čovek misli da je na vrhuncu svog uspeha, tada, u stvari, stoji na granici svoje propasti.

When a man thinks that he is a the summit of his success, he is actually on the border or his fall.

Lenjost je jedan od smrtnih grehova jer umrtvljuje dušu u čoveku. Lenjo telo je gnezdo poroka, lenja duša naseobina đavola.

Laziness is one of the cardinal sins because it deadens the soul in man. Lazy body is a nest for vices, and lazy soul a host for the devil.

Kad radiš, ne gledaj samo korist, i dobit, i uspeh.

When you work, don’t just take into account gain, profit, and success.

Lepota i naslada koju jedan stolar oseća pri tesanju, struganju, glačanju i sklapanju drveta ne da se ničim isplatiti.

Beauty and satisfaction that a carpenter feels when cutting, shaving, polishing and nailing wood cannot be paid by anything.

Moralna lepota, lepota duše, srca i karaktera svetli i kroz najružnije lice čovečije.

Moral beauty, beauty of soul, heart and character schines even through the ugliest human face.

Kakvu ljubav prema prijateljima nudi takve će i prijatelje naći.

Whatever love you offer to your friends, that’s the kind of friends you will find.

Ljudi koji ne mogu videti svet u sebi još manje mogu videti sebe u svetu.

People who cannot see the world in themselves cannot even phantom themselves in the world.

Ljudi koji ne mogu učestvovati u tuđem bolu, još manje mogu učestvovati u tuđoj radosti.

People who cannot participate in someone else’s pain can even less participate in someone else’s joy.

Zalud je bure od najskupljeg drveta kad s u njemu drži ukislo vino.

Wasted is the barrel made of the most precious wood when it keeps the soured wine.

O tri stvari ne žuri dok govoriš: O Bogu, dok ne utvrdiš veru u njega. O tuđem grehu dok se ne setiš svoga i o sutrašnjem danu, dok ne svane.

Don’t rush to talk about 3 things: about God, until you confirm Faith in Him; about someone else’s wrongdoings, until you remember you own; and about tomorrow, until it arrives.

Ne prljaj onoga koji se počeo prati nego mu pomozi da se opere.

Don’t dirty the one who started washing himself, but help him wash himself.

Ko nije stradao od požara u sebi, taj će zajaukati kad mu prst oprže.

Whoever didn’t suffer from burning inside himself, will cry when his finger gets burned.

Voda se može upotrebiti za električnu vodenicu, ali i za potop sveta.

Water can be used for the mills, but also to flood the world.

Kao što suze teku od velike žalosti, ali i od velike radosti, tako strah obuzima čoveka od velikog zločina, ali i od velike žrtve.

Ako sam pozvan da se branim ja ću ćutati, ako sam pozvan da branim istinu ja ću govoriti.

FROM CULTURES OTHER THAN SERBIAN:

God, make my words sweet, because one day I might have to eat them. – Indonesian proverb

Some people drum about their accomplishments with both hands; some people are quiet and work with both hands; and some are smart and work with one hand and drum with another. – Pakistani proverb

Everything worth doing is worth doing well.

If you want to see the world, you must leave the shade of family tree. – Osage proverb

The land has eyes, the land has teeth, the land watches, the land knows the truth. – Rotuman proverb (small islands in the Pacific, near Fiji) from movie “The land has eyes”

The pot leaks whatever is in it.

When a pickpocket meets a saint, he sees only the pockets.

When cow went to Bagdad, she saw only the hay on the streets.

Fall seven times, stand up eight. – Japanese proverb

Pray like everything depends on God, and work like everything depends on you. – Paramahansa Yogananda

Pray to Alah to protect your property, but tie your camels. – Bedhuin proverb

For those who are awake, life is roses, roses. For those who are asleep, life is roses, roses. For those trying to wake up, life is thorns, thorns. – Gurdjieff

REFERENCES FOR SERBIAN PROVERBSThe main guy who collected most of this is Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic, who lived in 1800s and was the main person who worked on the literacy amongst Serbs. He also collected all folk songs, epics, sayings, etc.

He was a learned man so when Serbia was under Otoman Turks, he had to live abroad. When Serbia achieved independence, he came back and by order of the ruler worked on literacy issues. He took the letters from old church Slavic language (spoken only in church) and simplified it, and made the language spoken amongst the people the “official” language. He published his collected folk stories, proverbs, etc. back then and that was the start of Serbia entering the world of “civilized” literate Europe. Until then, most people were illiterate. After than, most people became literate.

He designed the cyrilic alphabet that you see in the proverbs, with 30 letters representing 30 sounds. It was a brand new bold idea, to have ONE LETTER STAND FOR ONE SOUND, no matter what. So, every A is pronounced like A in ”baobab”, every O is pronounced like O in “orange”, every E is pronounced like E in “Emily”, etc. No tricks! Well, there is a little bit, some of those sounds are longer or shorter, but it’s subtle and very small. Very easy to become literate and read and write Serbian. You can read it or write it in literally 1 minute. To understand what you are reading is more demanding, since Serbian has 7 cases, and nouns are genderized. That makes understanding Serbian rather complicated but any speaker of any latin or Slavic language should be ok. The stressing when pronouncing is often at the end of the word, which makes it a completely different melody than English. What makes it more difficult is the tendency of Serbian speakers to joke, use slang, use double meaning, use puns, refer to history, etc. so speaking Serbian fluently requires quite a bit of learning and a certain attitude of allowing for play of words.

SO, to cut it short: if you want to see a huge collections of Serbian folk proverbs, with EXPLANATIONS as to what the saying means, check out Vuk’s books (these are two different books):

http://www.archive.org/stream/srpskenarodnepo01karagoog only sayings

http://www.archive.org/stream/srpskenarodnepr00karagoog this one has stories and riddles too

http://ia341213.us.archive.org/1/items/srpskenarodnepr00karagoog/srpskenarodnepr00karagoog.pdf