20 Fun And Wise Nepali Proverbs

Everyone is naked underneath their clothes.

Photo by Kasia Palitava from Pexels

Earlier this month, I compiled a list of 30 Nepali Proverbs:

https://fradesh.medium.com/30-fun-and-wise-nepali-proverbs-5b4106f3e728

It was a fun ride. So, I have decided to go on it again. I have manually translated these from the Nepali language. So, it is like the handcrafted version of literary work. Enjoy!

1. Everyone sees a burnt forest, none see a burnt heart — External problems are easily visible so they gather attention. Internal problems are known only to the sufferer and there are few who understand them.
2. One who eats ember excretes ember — Your output depends on your input. If you listen to a dictator, you will praise the dictator!
3. Without carrion, a vulture doesn’t roam — An Opportunist isn’t there where there is no opportunity.
4. I will fake a hit, you fake a cry — Let’s act together to deceive the world.
5. A roaring tiger never eats — One who is intimidated, doesn’t hurt.
6. Poor have no money, the rich have no heart.
7. A sleeper loses, waker gains — If you are not alert enough, you will lose a lot of things. It will be taken by the one who is alert.
8. Where there’s lake, there’s water — Lake is a body of water.
9. Give your ears not your words — Listen freely, do not commit easily .
10. A single moon is better than a thousand stars — A single person of who seriously reads your works is better than many worthless followers.
11. Only a snake sees a snake’s feet — To know the weakness of others, you have to be like them.
12. Small mouth, big talk! — To talk of things beyond your ability.
13. Washing an ass with soap won’t turn it into a cow — External change doesn’t mean change in substance.
14. A barking dog never bites — Threatening things rarely hurt.
15. It’s dark under a lamp — We focus far and wide and miss what’s beside.
16. Never ask for directions to places you won’t go — Don’t concern yourself with things that are not important to you.
17. Everyone is naked underneath their clothes — We all are!
18. Suffering never comes alone — A single source of suffering hardly exists.
19. The bigger the pile the bigger the strife — The more you amass your wealth, the more problems for you.
20. You can hide contentment but not suffering — It is easier to be humble than be calm.