What is the hardest-hitting line someone has ever said to you? For me, it’s an African proverb: “The axe forgets; the tree remembers.” It means that the person who hurt someone else moves on quickly, but the person who was hurt carries that pain with them forever.

I’ve always been interested in proverbs like this. How do people come up with such smart ideas? They use the same words we all do every day, but they put them together in ways that show deep truths about the world and our lives.

That’s why I couldn’t stop reading an Instagram post I saw recently that shared famous proverbs from around the world. Not only were they smart, but they were also funny quotes, brutally honest, and even savage at times. Each one hit me in a different way, making me realise things I didn’t know I needed to. I knew I had to tell you about them by the end.

So, here we are. Let’s get started.

1. Never approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, and a fool from any side ~ Jewish Proverb

Foolishness is a unique trait that is present in everyone, but some are able to hide it, control it, while some flaunt it as their own. This proverb warns you about the latter ones. Never approach a goat from the front… unless you enjoy being headbutted like a football by a goat who thinks it’s Ronaldo. Likewise, approaching a horse from the back is as bad an idea as juggling knives blindfolded.
Researchers in their report called Negative Social Interaction found out that having a negative social interaction can, over time, lower your cognitive abilities, depending on your age, sex, and education.

2. Take Your Pants Off to Fart ~ Mandarin Idiom

Imagine taking your car to your gym that is a kilometre away from your home, or taking the elevator to go to the first floor. Did you get the ick? That is exactly what this idiom describes. It explains an action that is completely pointless, over the top. 

This is what I find interesting about the world: every culture has its own way to tell lessons or situations with only a few words. 

3. If you want to keep something concealed from your enemy, don’t disclose it to your friend ~ Solomon ibn Gabirol

Solomon Ibn Gabirol was a 11th-century legendary poet and philosopher who lived in medieval Spain. Although there’s no source that claims the exact year of his birth or death, his words have outlived him and left a legacy for us to learn, even almost a 1000-years later. 

In his ethical saying called Mivhar ha-Penīnīm (Choice of Pearls), his pen poured this masterpiece that still advises us on secrecy and trust. The meaning of this proverb is simple: trust no one with your secret if you truly want it hidden; even your friends can become unwitting informants. 

4. In the Whale’s Ass ~ Italian Idiom

In the whale’s ass is a typical idiom people use to wish luck. The English equivalent to this idiom is “break a leg.” Although this might sound a bit vulgar, that’s the legacy behind it that poop and butt were never off topic. 

In reply to this phrase, the respondent has to say “hope it doesn’t shit,” for obvious reasons, because if it did, that would be bad luck. Well, what other phrase can you think of that will serve the purpose? If you can’t think of any, you can start using this one.

5. We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen more and speak less ~ Zeno

There’s a popular story about this quote. Zeno, often known as the founder of Stoicism, was teaching in Athens. He often gave his teaching in public settings. So one time, a young man or a student was trying to dominate the conversation by speaking a lot, likely by offering opinions or arguments. So, Zeno came up with this savage reply. This anecdote comes from Diogenes Laërtius, a 3rd-century biographer who recorded life of Greek philosophers. 

Ever since I read this quote, I have implemented it into my life, and it’s actually fun. When I listen more to my friends, they think I’m a therapist to them, and by speaking less, I actually keep myself away from getting into worthless arguments that aren’t worth my time. You should try it too. 

6. Don’t let your daughter-in-law eat fall eggplants ~ Japanese Idiom

Apparently, in a traditional Japanese family, the daughter-in-law came quite low in the hierarchy, hence, was given less priority. Whereas the eggplants from the fall season were considered a delicacy at that time.

So, now the meaning of this idiom becomes pretty clear. Never let someone take advantage of you. Although this idiom is surely offensive in today’s world, the message stays relevant.

7. When an actor is bad, applause only makes him worse ~ Jules Renard

Jules Renard was a French writer who lived between 1864 and 1910. In his journal, he wrote this line that reflects heavily on fake praises. The meaning of this quote is as clear as glass: if someone is bad at something, just give them constructive criticism; praising them would bring worse results next time. This is one of those interesting quotes that challenge our modern culture of endless positivity.

8. The mother of idiots is always pregnant ~ Italian Proverb

This is an Italian folk wisdom that humorously tells us the reality that there will be no shortage of fools on this planet. This proverb is equivalent to the English phrase, “There’s one born every minute.”
While there is no record of its author, this proverb still explains the reality with peak humour. There will be no shortage of oversmart fools in this world; it is better that we invest our time and emotions in ourselves and in the people around us, whom we love. Among all the humorous quotes and sayings from around the world, this one perfectly captures the timeless reality of human nature.

9. The truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth ~ Todd Wagner

This quote is from Todd Wagner, a popular American speaker. Be it a political opinion or a personal suggestion, some people just hate reality checks. 
Todd used this quote in a 2018 sermon on speaking truth in love. His context was Christian ministry, commenting on how critics often call truth “hate speech.” But what’s there for us to learn is that the reception of a message depends on the listener’s attitude. If they don’t like the reality, they will call you a hater.

10. A handful of shit is better than a handful of fart ~ Thai Idiom

And here’s another poop mention. The meaning of this quote is simple: something is better than nothing. There are many versions of this idiom, like “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” “better safe than sorry”, or “better a thin cake than no bread,” and so on.

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These were some interesting quotes and proverbs that I wanted to share with you. But readers, you need to think beyond words. These famous proverbs from around the world have survived centuries because they capture truths and lessons about human nature that will stay relevant for eternity. They remind us that wisdom isn’t about complicated words, it’s about seeing life clearly.

The next time someone shares a harsh truth or an old saying makes you uncomfortable, pause. Ask yourself: am I rejecting the message, or using it as a mirror?