There seems to be a proverb for everything, from old sayings like “no pain, no gain” to sports sayings like “the best offense is a good defense.” There’s a good reason for this: proverbs cover nearly all aspects of life, giving access to universal truths that defy particular individuals or historical contexts.
Proverbs can be used by speakers to make an argument, provide knowledge, calm interpersonal tensions, educate or reinforce morality, make a point, or inspire or comfort listeners.
Here are the top ten proverbs of Cambodia.
“If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will spare yourself one hundred days of tears.”
“If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.”
“Don’t let an angry man wash dishes; don’t let a hungry man guard rice.”
“For news of the heart ask the face.”
“You don’t have to cut a tree down to get at the fruit”
“Don’t reject the crooked road and don’t take the straight one, instead take the one traveled by the ancestors.”
“If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will spare yourself one hundred days of tears.”
“Negotiate a river by following its bends, enter a country by following its customs.”
“You can’t claim heaven as your own if you are just going to sit under it.”
“People give, but don’t be in a hurry to take.”
Axioms, old saws, sayings, and adages are some of the other names for proverbs. Although it’s difficult to define a proverb, most people think they recognize it when they see it. The majority of the time, a proverb is an old phrase with no clear author.
2 comments
Hi thebettercambodia.com administrator, Thanks for the well-written and informative post!
Dear thebettercambodia.com administrator, Thanks for the great post!