Japanese Proverbs
Growing rice gives you more than poetry will.
Advertising is the mother of trade.
A bath refreshes the body, tea refreshes the mind.
Better to wash an old kimono than borrow a new one.
Character can be built on daily routine.
The character of a man lies not in his body but in his soul.
Flattery is the best persuader of people.
The lotus flower blooms in the mud.
The most beautiful flowers flourish in the shade.
Unhappiness can be a bridge to happiness.
Never rely on the glory of the morning or the smiles of your mother-in-law.
One joy can drive away a hundred sorrows.
One moment of intense happiness prolongs life by a thousand years.
Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods.
The prettiest of shoes makes a sorry hat.
A pig used to dirt turns its nose up at rice.
Too much politeness is impertinent.
To the starving man the beauty of Fujiyama has no meaning.
Truthful words are seldom pleasant.
Unspoken words are the flowers of silence.
You have to bow a few times before you can stand upright.
You should climb Mount Fujiyama once in your life. Climb it twice and you’re a fool.
