Although Arab culture has historically influenced the Western world, the truth is that many times it is not known to what extent. However, when we read ancient teachings, such as proverbs and popular sayings from Arab culture, we realize that Western thought is more similar to the Arab tradition than we imagine.
We bring you 81 Arabic proverbs with meaning, many of them similar to the teachings we have received throughout our lives and others different from what we know. In general, all of them are great lessons that will change your life, your way of seeing the world. Arab proverbs teach things about a multitude of aspects, such as human relationships or the way we take things. Do you want to know them all? Keep reading!
The best known Arabic proverbs and their teachings
1It’s better to turn on a light than to curse the dark
It is wise to always see the positive side of things and not dwell on the negative.
2Advise the ignorant and he will take you for his enemy.
A wise advice to take into account before deciding to give advice to someone. First ask yourself, do you think he has the capacity to accept your advice?
3The treasure that is not spent is used little
Because things and money are to be enjoyed, not to be saved as misers.
4Punish those who are envious by doing them good
The best way to deal with envy according to this wise Arabic proverb is to do something nice for that person. They will realize that it is not worth envying you.
5Things are not worth the time they last, but the traces they leave
Not only things, but also people.
6He who is healthy has hope, and he who is hopeful owns everything.
Health is crucial, that is why it is essential to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually.
7The best visits are the shortest
As this Arab proverb says, it is good to visit our friends, but always for a reasonable time, respecting their space.
8The conjecture of the wise is more solid than the certainty of the ignorant
Because wise people ask things before assuring them without having been informed and questioned before all the edges of the situation.
9The man who does not know how to smile should not open a store
In other words, our attitude is decisive to achieve success in what we set out to do.
10Praise only God, criticize only yourself
According to Arabic wisdom, the only person you should criticize is yourself, but you shouldn’t praise anyone but God either.
11 be a friend to yourself and you will be to others
A wonderful proverb about self-esteem that is good to always keep in mind on a day-to-day basis.
12Whoever wants to do something finds a way; whoever doesn’t want to do something finds an excuse.
Well yes, a truth like a temple, so the next time you are making excuses about something, remember this Arabic proverb.
13From the tree of silence hangs the fruit of security
Sometimes, having self-confidence means keeping quiet so as not to say something nonsense.
14Wisdom is not transferred, it is learned
Exact! We cannot pretend to be wise people if we do not have a constant learning attitude.
15 calm heart is better than a bag full of gold
The peace of the soul is much more valuable than money and material wealth.
16A gentleman cannot hit a woman even with a flower.
Of course, neither a gentleman nor anyone! As can be deduced from this Arab proverb, violence against women should not be tolerated, neither before nor now.
17Don’t say everything you know, don’t do everything you can, don’t believe everything you hear, don’t spend everything you have, because the one who says everything he knows, the one who does everything he can, the one who believes everything who hears, the one who spends everything he has… many times he says what is not convenient, does what he should not, judges what he does not see and spends what he does not have
In life, you have to be prudent, leave certain things to yourself and not always reveal everything.
18Even the smallest root finds its lumberjack
Remember this Arabic proverb when you are a bit lost or lost and you know very well which path to choose in life.
19Stop loving the one who loves, and let him love what he loves; it is the only way that I do not stop loving you
Detachment is essential for love to be free and unconditional.
20 to strengthen the heart, there is no better exercise than bending over to lift up those who are down
Helping others is not only good for those people, but for the peace of the soul.
21 if you get applause, never brag until you know who was applauding
Because in the face of what may seem like a compliment, there may be an overwhelming truth behind your action that you may not want to see.
22One hand cannot clap
One no, but two yes, that’s why team spirit is so important,
23never advise in public
You can make the other person feel embarrassed or even slighted, and your advice will become more of a criticism than anything else.
24Only stones are thrown at the tree laden with fruit
Because only when you have achieved something in life, they can try to take it away from you.
25Sit at your door and you will see the corpse of your enemy pass by
This Arabic proverb is about hate and revenge. It is not necessary to live with them; life will put people who hurt others in their place.
26Cruelty is the strength of cowards
Only cowards are cruel, the brave choose other, more noble paths to face life.
27The giving hand is above the receiving hand
A proverb similar to the biblical saying ‘it is better to give than to receive’. Generosity is the best option.
28If a man tells you that you look like a camel, don’t listen to him. If two tell you, look at a mirror
It is important to know how to choose when to listen to others, but also to be humble and check yourself in the face of criticism, because there may be some reason in what others observe of you.
29Who insists on hitting the moon with a stone will not succeed, but will end up knowing how to handle the sling
Even if we do not achieve our goals, by making an effort we take many lessons that will always be with us.
30Only mules deny their family
An Arab proverb that alludes to the family union and the need to reconcile with it.
31After you have released the word, it dominates you
But as long as you haven’t released her, you are her dominator. Take good care of what you say, because later there will be no turning back.
32Mankind is divided into three classes: the immovable, the mobile, and the moving.
A wise Arab proverb where they exist and that makes us reflect on what position we take in life.
33There are four things that do not come back: the arrow shot, the word already said, the wasted opportunity and the past life.
Think before you act, do not harm the other, take advantage of the opportunities that life offers you and live in the moment.
34Man cannot jump out of his shadow
As this Arabic saying says, you cannot pretend to be who you are not; the best thing is to be genuine and authentic, to be yourself.
35Man is the enemy of what he ignores: teach a language and you will avoid a war. Expand a culture and you will approach a people to another
Culture is the key to understanding between peoples. It is a valuable teaching that humanity needs to know.
36Patience is the key to the solution
What a great truth. You have to be patient in life, before always despairing, patience!
37The first time you cheat on me, it will be your fault; the second will be my fault
This drastic Arabic proverb is partly right, why let ourselves be fooled by a person more than once?
38A book is like a garden that you carry in your pocket.
TRUE! A garden full of beautiful flowers, with surprising shapes, colors and smells.
39Life points out the virtues of the envied and the defects of the envious
In the end life is responsible for putting everyone in their place.
40The truth that hurts is better than the lie that makes you happy
Wise and realistic Arabic proverb, since in the end the important thing is to know the truth. Living deceived can make you suffer much more in the long term.
41There is no substitute for experience
No matter how much you think you know something, until you experience it for yourself you cannot fully know it, because experience is the best learning.
42A clear loss is many times better than a distant and problematic gain
Because sometimes it is worth letting go and losing than suffering with what you gain, both materially and emotionally.
43 The past has fled, what you expect is absent, but the present is yours
Live in the present, without looking back and without depending on the future. Perhaps in this proverb is the key to happiness, what do you think?
44Ears are of no use to a deaf brain
You won’t be able to learn anything if you don’t really intend to, if your brain is deaf there will be nothing to do.
45 Advice is given and received out of conviction
The next time you are going to give advice, remember this Arabic proverb and only do it if you really believe in what you advise.
46A friend does more damage than an enemy.
When an enemy betrays you, it annoys you, but when a friend does, it breaks your heart.
47If it has a solution, why are you worried? And if you don’t have it, why bother?
This Arabic proverb is perfect for those people who live life worried.
48If you stop every time a dog barks you will never get to the end of your path.
When you pursue your dreams you may encounter obstacles, many of them related to people who do not support you, but that cannot become a barrier. Remember it.
49Who does not understand a look will not understand a long explanation either
You have to know how to read people, know how to really look and listen with respect to others.
50 don’t try to straighten the shadow of a crooked cane
Helping others is laudable, but when the other does not want to be helped, all your efforts will be useless.
51Do not open your lips if you are not sure that what you are going to say is more beautiful than silence
Arab culture highly values silence and prudence before speaking.
52Books, roads and days give man wisdom
Wise Arabic saying that provides the keys to knowledge and personal wisdom.
53If God created us with two ears, two eyes and only one mouth, it is because we have to listen and see twice before speaking.
As we have already pointed out, the Arab culture highly values the prudence of knowing when to speak and the intelligence of saying the right words.
54If a business overwhelms you at the beginning, start it at the end
A good piece of advice, if you are going to start something and you don’t know where, maybe starting at the end will help you see everything with more perspective.
55If you have a friend, visit him frequently because weeds and thorns invade the path where no one passes.
It is always important to take care of our friends and not leave them behind, no matter how many things we have to do.
56The eye denies itself when it loves, and the ear believes in others when it hates.
The look is fundamental in Arab culture, so when you look you can disappoint yourself but when you only listen you may be wrong believing in someone you hate.
57Nothing scratches your skin better than your own fingernail.
That is to say, that the important things are better done by yourself to know that they are well done.
58Be attentive when your enemy smiles at you: the beast shows its teeth before attacking
Good Arabic proverbs that can help you identify some toxic people.
59He who does not know that he does not know is a fool; get away from him. He who knows that he does not know, he is simple; instruct him. He who does not know that he knows, he is asleep; wake him up He who knows that he knows, he is wise; follow him
Like life itself, a good Arab advice to know how to react to some people.
60Tongue wounds are more dangerous than saber wounds
Hurtful words can cause damage that is difficult to repair. Therefore, before saying them, think carefully about what they will mean for the other.
61He who lives on illusions dies on reality
It is not that we can have illusions in life, but neither can we live only from them because in the end we will come across the harsh reality.
62Smile is the language of intelligent people
Well yes, because they know that with a good attitude you can achieve many more things.
63He who seeks a friend without defects is left without friends
Because no one is perfect and you have to learn to love people as they are.
64Have a good memory if you are a liar
Good advice for those trying to live a life of lies, either you have a good memory or you will get caught. The latter, by the way, is most likely.
65Acting is more eloquent than talking
Many proverbs like this are found in all cultures, and it is that the action and decisions we make are more important than spending our lives criticizing or saying that we will do something without moving at all.
66I used to complain because I couldn’t buy shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
Appreciating what we have is a vital life lesson.
67Accidents in the world are more numerous than the plants on earth
This Arabic saying is often used when you want to tell someone to be more careful.
68Wisdom is not transferred, it is learned
We cannot claim to be wise overnight. It requires patience, will and dedication.
69Great is he who does not need to turn off the light of others to shine
Indeed, this Arab proverb is absolutely right. Plus it’s a fancy way of telling someone not to be a climber.
70The silent wolf impacts more than the barking dog
Another saying about the importance of silence, which for Arab wisdom is synonymous with intelligence.
71The dog that has money is called Mr. Dog.
Unfortunately the status works like this.
72Patience is a tree with bitter roots but very sweet fruits.
Being patient is often difficult and frustrating, but in the end it pays off.
73The sigh of a young woman is heard from further away than the roar of a lion
Sometimes the feelings of the other can become overwhelming.
74If you like someone because of their physique… it’s not love, it’s desire. If you like him for his intelligence… it’s not love, it’s admiration. If you like it for its wealth… it’s not love, it’s interest. But if you don’t know why you like it… then, that’s love
Nice Arabic proverb about love and its meaning, right?
75Man can pass for wise when he seeks wisdom; but if he thinks he’s found her he’s a fool
Well yes, because the truly wise person knows that they will never be able to know everything, since knowledge is infinite.
76In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty
As this Arab proverb reflects, you have to have a certain mischief in life and know how to take advantage of everything you have.
77The first moon after marriage is honey, and those that follow are bitter.
Surely not everyone agrees with this proverb, although there will also be those who second it. What group are you in?
78You are not what you achieve. You are what you overcome
What a beautiful Arabic proverb! It is ideal as self-motivation or to motivate others.
79Try that the child you were is never ashamed of the adult you are
A beautiful saying of the Arab culture that makes you reflect and fight for what you dream of in life.
80Those who truly seek God, within the sanctuaries drown
Because to develop our spirituality we must be willing to search the ends of the Earth.
81When another suffers, it is wood that suffers
When others suffer it doesn’t have to be our own suffering, we can always help by staying oblivious to pain.
