Proverbs

71 Swedish Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM)

YouTube video

Top 10 Most Famous Swedish Proverbs and Sayings (BEST)

Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.
Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.
To write well and to speak well is mere vanity if one does not live well.
To write well and to speak well is mere vanity if one does not live well.
A stern creditor is [often] a poor payer.
A stern creditor is [often] a poor payer.
The closer to the source, the clearer the water.
The closer to the source, the clearer the water.
One cannot both eat one’s cookie and keep it.
One cannot both eat one’s cookie and keep it.
We notice faults of others and easily forget our own.
We notice faults of others and easily forget our own.
Being away from home is nice but home is best.
Being away from home is nice but home is best. 
Those who wish to sing always find a song.
Those who wish to sing always find a song.
Better to be silent than speak ill.
Better to be silent than speak ill.
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself.
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself.

7 Swedish Proverbs on Love and Friendship

Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
It is more blissful to give than to receive.
It is more blissful to give than to receive.
Small wounds and poor friends should not be despised.
Small wounds and poor friends should not be despised.
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
Where poverty comes in, love goes out.
Where poverty comes in, love goes out.
Gold blinds many, love blinds all.
Gold blinds many, love blinds all.
A friend’s slap has honest intentions, your enemies’ kisses are meant to deceive.
A friend’s slap has honest intentions, your enemies’ kisses are meant to deceive.

19 Wise Swedish Proverbs to Live By (WISDOM)

“Do not judge all you see, do not believe all you hear, do not do all you can, do not say all you know, do not eat all you have, let no one know what you have in your heart or in your wallet.”

Swedish Proverb
Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.
Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.
Better listen to a broken string than never having bent a bow.
Better listen to a broken string than never having bent a bow.
Shortcuts often turn into very time-consuming routes.
Shortcuts often turn into very time-consuming routes.
Let the other party be heard too (before you judge).
Let the other party be heard too (before you judge).
Rather an honest ‘no’ than an insincere ‘yes’.
Rather an honest ‘no’ than an insincere ‘yes’.
To speak is silver, to keep silent is gold.
To speak is silver, to keep silent is gold.
Better back off (flee) than fight badly.
Better back off (flee) than fight badly.
Best to learn from other people’s injury.
Best to learn from other people’s injury.
It is well to learn from the errors of others, since there is not time enough to make all of them by yourself.
It is well to learn from the errors of others, since there is not time enough to make all of them by yourself.
The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
Sweep first before your own door, before you sweep the doorsteps of your neighbors.
Sweep first before your own door, before you sweep the doorsteps of your neighbors.
Don’t cry over spilled milk.
Don’t cry over spilled milk.
A piece of bread in your pocket is better than a feather in your hat.
A piece of bread in your pocket is better than a feather in your hat.
Don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.
Don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.
Better to be a poor woman than the slave of the rich.
Better to be a poor woman than the slave of the rich.
Better one bird in your hand than ten in the woods.
Better one bird in your hand than ten in the woods.
Not all who fold their hands, are praying.
Not all who fold their hands, are praying.
Who cannot pray to God, let him go to sea (where he will learn soon enough to fear and pray in anguish or distress).
Who cannot pray to God, let him go to sea (where he will learn soon enough to fear and pray in anguish or distress).

18 Swedish Proverbs About Life

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
To dare is to lose your foothold for a moment, to not dare is to lose yourself.
To dare is to lose your foothold for a moment, to not dare is to lose yourself.
When a blind man carries the lame man, both go forward.
When a blind man carries the lame man, both go forward.
When the sea is calm, every ship has a good captain.
When the sea is calm, every ship has a good captain.
The most important thing is not to win, but to fight well.
The most important thing is not to win, but to fight well.
A word that’s been said and a stone that’s been thrown cannot be taken back.
A word that’s been said and a stone that’s been thrown cannot be taken back.
Attack is the best defense.
Attack is the best defense.
A hardworking man is better than a crowd of loafers.
A hardworking man is better than a crowd of loafers.
Who does not want to work in the heat, will have to starve in the cold.
Who does not want to work in the heat, will have to starve in the cold.
If you play the game you accept the rules.
If you play the game you accept the rules.
Those who want to share the gains, shall also share the losses.
Those who want to share the gains, shall also share the losses.
Where there is modesty, there is virtue.
Where there is modesty, there is virtue.
What breaks in a moment may take years to mend.
What breaks in a moment may take years to mend.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
From children, drunkards and madmen you get to hear the truth.
From children, drunkards and madmen you get to hear the truth.
Children do as you do, not as you say.
Children do as you do, not as you say.
The strongest among the disabled is the one who never forgets his disability.
The strongest among the disabled is the one who never forgets his disability.
Hope is the last thing to leave a human being.
Hope is the last thing to leave a human being.

17 Swedish Proverbs that will Make You Think

In a good book the best is between the lines.
In a good book the best is between the lines.
Joy and sorrow are next door neighbors.
Joy and sorrow are next door neighbors.
Praise makes the good man better, blame makes the bad one worse.
Praise makes the good man better, blame makes the bad one worse.
Morning hour has gold in its mouth.
Morning hour has gold in its mouth.
All that glitters is not gold.
All that glitters is not gold.
Everyone wants to be lords, but no one wants to carry the sack.
Everyone wants to be lords, but no one wants to carry the sack.
Give a servant a proper meal and the cow will give more milk and the cat will drink less.
Give a servant a proper meal and the cow will give more milk and the cat will drink less.
It is better to free someone guilty than to convict someone innocent.
It is better to free someone guilty than to convict someone innocent.
It is not one person’s fault if two people quarrel.
It is not one person’s fault if two people quarrel.
Own praise has a bad smell.
Own praise has a bad smell.
Eyes that do not cry, do not see.
Eyes that do not cry, do not see.
The drunken man’s words is the sober man’s thoughts.
The drunken man’s words is the sober man’s thoughts.
Even a small star shines in the darkness.
Even a small star shines in the darkness.
A successful writer has a good memory and hopes that others do not have it.
A successful writer has a good memory and hopes that others do not have it.
The later in the evening, the more beautiful the people.
The later in the evening, the more beautiful the people.
An hour lost is often a year lost.
An hour lost is often a year lost.
Lawyers and soldiers are the Devil's playmates.
Lawyers and soldiers are the Devil’s playmates.

(MUST READ) Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life

Also read:

Swedish Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM) - Gracious Quotes