Persian proverb

One flower does not make a spring.

Mountain never meets mountain, but person always meets person again.

Every person's dignity rests in their own hands.

It is from us that it falls upon us — we brought it on ourselves.

The wall has a mouse, and the mouse has an ear — be careful what you say.

The higher the roof, the more snow it collects — greater standing brings greater burdens.

Water that has flowed away never returns to the stream.

Count the chicks only at the end of autumn — don't celebrate a success too soon.

To want is to be able — where there's a will, there's a way.

What seeps from the jug is only what was already inside it.

A reckless red tongue can send a healthy head to the wind.

If you are patient, you can turn sour unripe grapes into sweet halva.

One hand alone makes no sound — cooperation is needed.

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

A person already tested by experience need not be tested again.

Not everything round is a walnut — appearances can deceive.

The pot calls the pot black-faced — the pot calling the kettle black.

To eat someone's salt and then break their saltcellar — the ultimate betrayal of hospitality.

The fish is fresh whenever you pull it from the water — it's never too late to start over.

Even a single shoe has its match — there is someone for everyone.

The plain truth is best heard from a child.

Careful, thorough work never suffers for it.

It goes in one ear and out the other — advice most needed is the least heeded.

A sound mind dwells in a healthy body. (≈ A sound mind in a sound body)

People's wisdom is in their eyes. (≈ Seeing is believing)

Whatever you give with one hand, you get back through the same hand. (≈ What goes around comes around)

To put a watermelon under someone's arm — to flatter someone into thinking they are greater than they are.

Hasani never went to school, and when he finally did, it was on Friday, the day it was closed — doing the right thing at the wrong time.

They took a bite bigger than their mouth. (≈ Don't bite off more than you can chew)

The leek takes after its seed, Hasani takes after his father. (≈ Like father, like son)

Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.

Asking is not shameful, not knowing is. (≈ He that nothing questions, nothing learns)

As long as you are standing, give a hand to those who have fallen.

In despair there is much hope; the end of the darkest night is white. (≈ The darkest hour is just before dawn)

A drop is an ocean only when joined with the ocean; otherwise a drop is a drop and an ocean is an ocean — unity gives strength.

A good year shows itself in its spring. (≈ Well begun is half done)

One bitten by a snake fears even a black-and-white rope. (≈ Once bitten, twice shy)

Nothing is cheap without a reason — a warning against too-good-to-be-true bargains.

A liar has a poor memory — a liar should have a good memory to keep the story straight.

In the end, justice reaches the one who deserves it.

Smile, and the world will smile back at you. (≈ Laugh and the world laughs with you)

The Shahnameh is pleasant only at its end — judge a matter by how it concludes.

Having done wrong, do not feel safe from harm, for nature makes retribution inevitable. (≈ What goes around comes around)

Year after year, we long for the year before — nostalgia for what has passed.

Do good and cast it into the Tigris, for God will return it to you even in the desert. (≈ Cast your bread upon the waters)

Free stones, free sparrows — nothing to lose by trying.

If he finds a free rope, he'd even hang himself with it — mocking someone who can't resist a bargain, however reckless.

I say it's a bull, he says milk it. (≈ You cannot milk a bull — pointing out someone's stubborn refusal to see reason)

He wants God and the dates too. (≈ You can't have your cake and eat it too)

The neighbor's chicken looks like a goose. (≈ The grass is always greener on the other side)

Lazy one, don't go to the shade — the shade will come to you. (≈ A lazy sheep thinks its wool heavy)

Oh peach, slide right down the throat — said of something effortlessly easy. (≈ Piece of cake)

Don't look at how small the pepper is, break it open and see how sharp it is. (≈ A little body often harbors a great soul; don't judge by size)

Don't fear the one who makes noise; fear the one who quietly broods over you.

The flower and the thorn are always together. (≈ No rose without a thorn)

The faithless believe everyone shares their own faith — a guilty person suspects everyone else of the same fault.

A madman delights in meeting another madman. (≈ Birds of a feather flock together)

The mouse couldn't fit in the hole, so it tied a broom to its tail — making a bad situation needlessly worse.

Grand show, empty pocket. (≈ Great boast, small roast)

The monkey can't dance, so it blames the crooked floor — an excuse for one's own shortcomings.