30 Inspirational and Enlightening Proverbs to Reflect on

It is always helpful to seek advice when facing challenges. Our circumstances in life are not always smooth sailing. Even our relationships with others can be confusing. When presented with difficulties, it can be hard to gain insight without external forces at play. They can be your friends or loved ones giving you sensible advice. Other times, they just come in the form of words or ideas, like proverbs.

Proverbs speak of simple truth we can all reflect on. They may just be words but they can help us acknowledge, accept, and understand certain matters in life. They can also inspire, embolden, and even give us hope. That’s why we have collected these 30 inspirational proverbs for you to read, whether for guidance, inspiration or simply for wisdom.

Inspirational and Enlightening Proverbs to Reflect On

Inspiring & Famous Proverbs

Proverbs are wisdom of the experienced passed down from generation to generation. – Catherine Pulsifer

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

A slip of the foot may soon be recovered; but that of the tongue perhaps never. – Danish Proverb

inspirational tongue proverbs

A good neighbor is better than a brother far off. – Danish Proverb

When you have given nothing, ask for nothing. – Albanian Proverb

inspirational ask proverbs

There are three uncertainties: woman, wind, and wealth – Indian Proverb

Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. – Scottish Proverb

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. – Japanese Proverb

inspirational vision proverbs

When in Rome, do as the Romans. – English Proverb

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. – English Proverb

A small leak will sink a great ship. – Russian Proverb

inspirational ship proverbs

Grasp no more than thy hand will hold. – English Proverb

Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak. – Turkish Proverbs

If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.

inspirational rich proverbs

If the sun claims that it has power over the moon, let it shine in the night – Central African Proverb

A wise man remembers his friends at all times; a fool, only when he has need of them. – Turkish Proverbs

Wise men learn by other men’s mistakes, fools by their own. – Italian Proverb

inspirational fools proverbs

A man may live after losing his life but not after losing his honour.

Give a man a fish and you can feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime – Chinese Proverb

If you don’t have time to do it right you must have time to do it over. – Russian Proverb

inspirational time proverbs

Those who get lost on the way to school will never find their way through life – German Proverb

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

A fool says what he knows, and a wise man knows what he says. – Yiddish Proverb

inspirational wise proverbs

If you want to be respected, you must respect yourself. – Spanish Proverbs

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. – Natives Americans Proverb

Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume. – French Proverb

If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time. – Chinese Proverb

The person who has many faults is usually the first to criticize others. –  Korean Proverb

inspirational fault proverbs

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion. – Chinese Proverb

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. – Chinese Proverb

inspirational forever proverbs

Share these 30 inspirational proverbs with your loved ones for wisdom and encouragement.