Life is like a flowing river; life moves in phases, each phase forming streams that merge into their final form – an ocean, and the ultimate one, life itself is an Ocean. And then, there comes a time when we begin to question ourselves: How will everything fall into place? Why aren’t things going as planned? But then, slowly, we start to realise that the smallest desires and efforts turn into miracles, giving us a sigh of relief. Everything really works out in the end. At the final point, the ultimate way actually reveals itself. So why do we worry? Why do we question every step, when life truly aligns in the best way at the right moment? Here in this article, let’s dive into ten timeless proverbs from different cultures around the world that guide us and remind us that life is all about celebrating, not just living.
Firstly, beginning with the Indian one – India, the land of saints and soldiers. We Indians have our sacred scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. One of its most famous shlokas, from Chapter 2 Verse 47, says:
“Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana”
This famous proverb from the Bhagavad Gita teaches the principle of Selfless Action. We should truly perform what we intend to do, without expecting the exact results. The effort should be done consistently. We must give our best, the outcome, the reward, is not in our hands. The fruit bears when we sow the seeds, ultimately, fruit does come, but what lies in our hands is only the hard work. We don’t create the fruit. Just like a gardener, we only water the plant and sow the seeds, the rest: sunlight, soil, nutrients, does the work. We simply nourish them and then enjoy the fruit.
Similarly, hard work and our actions should not be driven by fear of the outcome. Selfless action is the essence. Now or later, everything yields fruit. Every action aligns with the ultimate aim: so just keep performing.
So, Effort (Karma) > Attachment to Outcome (Phal)
Secondly; When it comes to anime, cherry blossoms, or sushi, Japan naturally comes to mind. And with this, the timeless Japanese proverb “Nanakorobi Yaoki”; which simply translates that fall seven times, stand up eight. It’s just like: fall, fall and fall; yet rise, rise, and rise again. It’s about trying one more time, with our best efforts this time.
Life, being a flowing river; as it flows with the goal of merging with the rhythm of the ocean, on its way encounters rocks, bends, and pebbles. Still, the river keeps flowing, finally reaching the vast ocean. Failure is the same: it teaches, shapes, and strengthens us. We learn, we grow, and we become better. So, climb each rung of the ladder, each branch of the tree, reach for the highest peak and Yes, Let’s flow onward until we meet the Ocean.
So, Persistence > Obstacles
The third one, China, home to the world’s largest production of gadgets, makeup accessories, toys, a nation that never stops evolving. Among its teachings is the proverb: “Bù pà màn, jiù pà zhàn”, that simply translates that: Do not fear going slowly, only fear standing still.
Movement matters the most. Being in motion is more important than being still. Moving slowly means you, being the tortoise, will win the race. The tortoise did not stop, the tortoise just kept moving. Slow and steady wins the race, that moral mirrors this proverb. Kill your laziness, step out of your comfort zone. When the mind says no, ask your heart to be wild again, be the craziest one. Don’t stand straight, be the wind, that refuses to stop. We must learn to keep going, slowly, steadily and endlessely.
Coming to the fourth one, Turkish short dramas, and the Turkish flag with its crescent moon and five-pointed star always catch the sight. The most famous proverb says: “Her işte bir hayır vardır”, which highlights, everything happens for a reason. Even when we question why, how, when, and the answers aren’t clear right now, just hold your breath, inhale and exhale. If life comes with this, okay! Let’s choose to be the best. Because no matter how hard or simple the situation is, we have to pass every single phase — so why not pass it in the best way?
Even if something doesn’t feel good now, there lies a hidden motive in each event. We can’t see it yet, but eventually we understand that the reason lies in everything. Without wondering too much in detail, let’s be crisp and bring in the moon example here, every month the moon completes its lunar cycle, going from waning to waxing. The cycle repeats, and synchronicity lies in each point. The Earth evolves with this, The Earth moves through seasons, cycles, and constant change, and we do the same.
Coming to the fifth one; The vibrant tulip fields and timeless windmills of Dutch heritage hide a quiet wisdom in one simple proverb: “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg”, which translates to Just act normal, that’s already crazy enough.
It reminds us that in life, even when many good things happen, we often get overly excited, overwhelmed, or tempt to show off. Instead of being grateful, we sometimes try to display our success to those who may have less. It’s like being able to pronounce the longest English word but not knowing its spelling. Why don’t we just act normal?
When joy comes, we exaggerate it. When sadness comes, we collapse into it, letting the flower-like essence of life wither. But life isn’t meant to be lived at extremes. It’s like a balanced business ledger, no wild cash inflows, no drastic cash outflows, just a steady state of calm presence. If something good happens, I’m good. If it doesn’t happen, I’m still good. That’s the quiet power of the Dutch proverb, to stay grounded and humble.
The sixth one, The Portuguese have gifted the world remarkable contributions to maritime exploration and several important inventions, and also the gentle proverb “Quem espera, sempre alcança”, that says; Good things come to those who wait.
Patience and perseverance are powerful teachers. The world is vast, and life doesn’t always give us what we want immediately, but time really shows a way of turning things in our favour when we remain steady. Holding patience is not weakness, it is wisdom. It’s not about asking; Why not now? but trusting that when the moment is right, life will reveal its beauty, just like a peacock that opens its feathers only at the perfect time.
I know someone who reflects this truth deeply, a doctor, by profession. He is an example of how perseverance shapes greatness. He manages his duties with discipline, maintains his relationship with care, works toward his goals with determination, and takes care of his fitness with consistency. Nothing about his journey came overnight. His success as a respected doctor, his long-term relationship, his responsibilities, his physical strength, all of it is the result of patience, commitment, and sincere effort.
The seventh one, Italian charm, architecture, pasta – ciao! And here’s that beautiful Italian proverb about love: “L’amore trova la sua strada” which signifies, love finds its way.
True love is an unconditional feeling. Yes, it may face challenges, distance, and moments when it seems like everything is falling apart. Yet the heart still longs, still waits. If love is meant to be, it will find its path. If it’s not meant, you won’t meet even if you’re standing in the closest corner. But if it is meant, you might cross paths even in the middle of a huge, crowded gathering. Real love finds its way.
The eight one, French feels like a zig-zag language to me, so many similar pronunciations for different words, and it can be quite puzzling. But one French proverb captures something very meaningful “savoir vivre” that simply means knowing how to live, having social grace, etiquette, grooming, and the art of living well.
We live in a home, in a society, in a nation, in a world full of people. And wherever we are, we need to carry ourselves with grace. I believe that whoever notices me should be able to learn something good from me. People do notice, it’s human nature. We can’t change that. But if they notice, let them notice the best in you.
When someone sees how you behave in a situation, at a dinner table as a polite guest, in a theatre eating popcorn considerately, or sitting quietly under moonlight, let your behaviour quietly teach them something beautiful. We must carry our grace.
Ninth, the Finnish when it comes to Finnish, the northern lights of Finland captures the sights, there lies original home of Santa Claus: in Finnish Lapland, Yes and the Finnish proverb, “Työ tekijäänsä kiittää” which says The work thanks its maker.
We have seen people really working hard, a coffee shop owner, who wakes up daily before sunrise and going to open his shop, the day one, the day two and the next days the shop gets filled with customers, it’s not because the shop gives coffee, it’s just that the shop opens and persuade the customers to enjoy coffee after long night shifts to have coffee and walk and go to home, because the shop opens, the work really thanks its maker. When we work, we must not feel burdened. We must give our best with full honesty. In corporate, we work for clients, so we must value our customer base, their hard-earned money, and provide the best service we can. Even if we don’t get the right compensation today, one day the work itself will thank us for being the perfect makers of our work.
And the last, but not least, when it comes to natural beauty, our minds open wide, just like Luxembourg itself. The Luxembourgish proverb “Ech si wéi ech sinn” that says, I am as I am, speaks deeply to us. No matter how the world translates it, to us it simply means, we are who we are. We all have our own personality, our own identity. We all carry our own identity card in life, and we must respect one another. We learn from each other every day. We must accept the truth that every being, in their own uniqueness, deserves genuine respect.
So, these proverbs sound simple, but they carry deep meaning within themselves. We must learn to resonate the deep lessons within us learn to celebrate life, not just living it. Let us be grateful, let us be humble, and let us honour who we truly are.
By: Sneha Chhabra
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