83 Yiddish Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM)

Updated onDecember 1, 2023

Top 10 Most Famous Yiddish Proverbs (BEST)

Better an honest slap in the face than an insincere kiss. — Better an honest slap in the face than an insincere kiss.

You do not fall because you are weak; you fall because you think you are strong.

You buy yourself an enemy when you lend a man money. — You buy yourself an enemy when you lend a man money.

Women can keep only one secret — their own.

From success to failure is one step; from failure to success is a long road. — From success to failure is one step; from failure to success is a long road.

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. — What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

The rabbi drinks the wine and asks the others to be happy. — The rabbi drinks the wine and asks the others to be happy.

The heart of a man may be compared to a sausage; no one can tell exactly what’s inside.

Someone who can hold on to his money is worth more than the one who earns it. — Someone who can hold on to his money is worth more than the one who earns it.

Not all nice things are dear, but those that are dear are nice.

19 Wise Yiddish Proverbs Worth Remembering (WISDOM)

One old friend is better than two new ones.

Make new friends, but don’t forget the old ones.

Beware of still water, a still dog, and a still enemy.

Before you start up a ladder, count the rungs.

Words should be weighed, not counted.

Better ask ten times than go astray once.

In life, each of us must sometimes play the fool.

The wolf is not afraid of the dog, but he doesn’t like the sound of his barking.

Walk straight and you will not fall.

What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t invent with your mouth.

If it must always be better, it can never be good enough.

The pen wounds deeper than an arrow.

He who is aware of his folly is wise.

Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it’s harvest time.

Nothing tastes bitterer than the truth. — Nothing tastes bitterer than the truth.

The best horse needs a whip, intelligent men need advice, and devout women need a man.

Provide for the worst; the best can take care of itself.

Hope for miracles, but don’t rely on one. — Hope for miracles, but don’t rely on one.

A wise man hears one word and understands two.

5 Yiddish Proverbs and Sayings About Health

The cold strengthens you more than hunger.

If you're healthy, you're wealthy. — If you’re healthy, you’re wealthy.

Time is the best doctor. — Time is the best doctor.

Better ten times ill than one time dead.

Weeping makes the heart grow lighter.

11 Inspirational Yiddish Proverbs to Encourage You

If we cannot do what we will, we must will what we can.

When luck joins in the game, cleverness scores double. — When luck joins in the game, cleverness scores double.

Confidence is half of victory. — Confidence is half of victory.

Better to die upright than to live on your knees.

Better to hear curses than to be pitied.

Let it be worse, so long as it’s a change. — Let it be worse, so long as it’s a change.

You can make the dream bigger than the night. — You can make the dream bigger than the night.

With time even a bear can learn to dance. — With time even a bear can learn to dance.

The longer the blind live, the more they see.

If things are not as you wish, wish them as they are.

Don’t be scared when you have no other choice.

14 Yiddish Proverbs About Money and Wealth

Better a steady dime than a rare dollar.

Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold. — Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold.

With money in your pocket, you are wise, handsome and you sing well too. — With money in your pocket, you are wise, handsome and you sing well too.

To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps.

Men would not be richer for being miserly; generosity does not make a man poorer. — Men would not be richer for being miserly; generosity does not make a man poorer.

What can you do with a good cow that gives a lot of milk and then kicks the bucket over — What can you do with a good cow that gives a lot of milk and then kicks the bucket over?

When Dame Fortune calls, offer her a chair. — When Dame Fortune calls, offer her a chair.

Lost years are worse than lost dollars.

The heaviest burden is an empty pocket.

If you want to know what God thinks of money, look at the people he gives it to. — If you want to know what God thinks of money, look at the people he gives it to.

The truly rich are those who enjoy what they have.

Money buys everything but good sense. — Money buys everything but good sense.

The doctor has a remedy for everything but poverty.

The rich man who is stingy is the worst pauper.

12 Yiddish Proverbs That Will Make You Ponder About Life

When the time comes for you to live, there aren’t enough years. — When the time comes for you to live, there aren’t enough years.

You can’t measure the whole world with your own yardstick.

Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains.

You can wash your body but not your soul.

What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.

Better the best of the worst than the worst of the best.

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven.

Experience is what we call the accumulation of our mistakes. — Experience is what we call the accumulation of our mistakes.

Better a thief for a neighbor than an overzealous rabbi.

Too humble is half proud.

To every answer you can find a new question.

The soldiers fight, and the kings are heroes.

5 Yiddish Proverbs on God and Prayer

God created a world full of little worlds.

When God wants to punish an idiot, He teaches them a few words of Hebrew.

The nearer to the synagogue, the farther from God.

Prayers go up and blessings come down. — Prayers go up and blessings come down.

Give me, Lord, my daily bread, I will get my own brandy.

7 Funny Yiddish Proverbs and Sayings

Some people are electrifying; they light up a room when they leave.

Small children won’t let you sleep, bigger children won’t let you live. — Small children won’t let you sleep, bigger children won’t let you live.

It’s good to hope, it’s the waiting that spoils it. — It’s good to hope, it’s the waiting that spoils it.

She who wants to marry her stepfather regrets it in bed.

Mothers-in-law are fine so long as they are deaf and blind.

Once it was the parents who taught their children to talk; now the children teach their parents to keep quiet. — Once it was the parents who taught their children to talk; now the children teach their parents to keep quiet.

When one comes to comfort a young widow, he does not mean to perform a good deed.

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Jeremiah Say

Overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts, Jeremiah Say found solace in quotes. After filling countless pages with resonating words, he moved his collection online to save trees and inspire others. Thus, GraciousQuotes.com was born. Jeremiah firmly believes in the power of quotes to swiftly spark inspiration during hard times. His blog is dedicated to uplifting others through these shared wisdoms. Discover more about Gracious Quotes or get in touch with Jeremiah.