India Proverbs, Old Sayings and Customary Wisdom

Inspiring Quotes and Proverbial Wisdom from India about Fortune, Pride and Dignity, Time and Mortality

We can't change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails. -- Indian Proverb

They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.-- Indian Proverb

If you want to know what a tiger is like, look at a cat. -- Indian Proverb



The Three great mysteries: air to a bird, water to a fish, mankind to himself. -- India Proverb


There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. -- India Proverb



Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist. -- Hindu Proverb



When an elephant is in trouble even a frog will kick him. -- Hindu Proverb




Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist. -- Hindu Proverb



To control the mind is like trying to control a drunken monkey that has been bitten by a scorpion. -- Hindu Proverb


Great minds discuss ideas, medium minds discuss events, and little minds discuss people. -- Hindu Proverb


A hundred divine epochs would not suffice to describe all the marvels of the Himalaya. -- India Proverb


They who give, have all things; they who withhold, have nothing. -- Indian Proverb

War is to men, childbirth is to women. -- India Proverb

A thief thinks everybody steals.-- India proverb

Under the mountains is silver and gold, But under the night sky, hunger and cold. -- Indian proverb

Drops join to make a stream; ears combine to make a crop. -- Indian proverb

I have lanced many boils, but none pained like my own. -- India proverb

Walking slowly, even the donkey will reach Lhasa. -- Indian proverb

You may look up for inspiration or look down in desperation but do not look sideways for information. -- Indian proverb

Clouds that thunder seldom rain.-- Indian proverb

If you live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile. -- Indian proverb

A fly, a harlot, a beggar, a rat, and gusty wind; the village-boss and the tax collector - these seven are always annoying to others. -- Indian proverb

Speak like a parrot; meditate like a swan; chew like a goat; and bathe like an elephant. -- Indian proverb

The weakest go to the wall. -- Indian proverb

A bandicoot is lovely to his parents; a mule is pretty to its mate. -- Indian proverb



It is better to sit down than to stand, it is better to lie down than to sit, but death is the best of all. -- Indian proverb

A person who misses a chance and the monkey who misses its branch can't be saved. -- Indian proverb


Those who hunt deer sometimes raise tigers. -- India proverb



What was hard to bear is sweet to remember. -- India proverb



Garlic is as good as ten mothers. -- India proverb



Don't bargain for fish which are still in the water. -- India proverb



The nose didn't smell the rotting head. -- India proverb



You can often find in rivers what you cannot find in oceans. -- Indian proverb 

Keep five yards from a carriage, ten yards from a horse, and a hundred yards from an elephant; but the distance one should keep from a wicked man cannot be measured. -- Indian proverb



In my homeland I possess one hundred horses, yet if I go, I go on foot. -- Indian proverb



Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your faults. -- India proverb



If they don't exchange a few words, father and son will never know one another. -- Indian proverb



Justice is better than admiration. -- Indian proverb



Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun. -- Indian proverb



Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank him for not having given it wings. -- Indian proverb



An old patient is better than a new doctor. -- Indian proverb



Eat fire and your mouth burn ; live on credit and your pride will burn. -- Indian proverb  

To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great. -- Indian proverb



Even a cat is a lion in her own lair. -- Indian proverb



It is better to be blind than to see things from only one point of view. -- Indian proverb

If you feel you have worthwhile information you would like to contribute we would love to hear from you. We collect proverbs and old sayings from folks all over the globe and appreciate your participation. When submitting please, if possible, site the source and provide English translation. Email to historyofpainter@gmail.com