Irish saying,famous or not, always has a pearl of wisdom

An Irish saying published on this page will be unique to any of the others on this site.

The other difference is that on this page they are not categorised, with the exception of the first group, as there are not enough of each type to give each a category.

The intention is that each page contains its own list. So basically, if you have read our mainpage on Irish Sayings and Proverbs or the page on Famous Irish Sayings then ideally you won't have encountered any of these pearls of wisdom here on either of the other two pages. One or two might have slipped by me, but that will be the limit of it.

Irish saying on character or trait

You'll not find a thrush in a hawk's nest

Nature will come through the claws, and the hound will follow the hare.

Cat after kind

Da mheid eolais,radhare is foghlaim.

"Do gheibheann an cobach, mac an Daoi

Briseann an duthchas tres an m-buid

Tar eis gach cursa do chur a g-crich".

"Whatever knowledge,education or learning,

The clown,son of the low bred man,acquires,

His own congenial nature still appears,

After passing through every course".

Character is better than wealth.

Irish sayings, an assortment of irish saying on different topics

A good man is a wise man.

One man's meat is another man's poison.

There is no nobility without virtue.

The mason who strikes often is better than the one who strikes too hard.

An ignorant king is a crowned ass

Sleep is the image of death

That weather is bad which is not good for some person.

The stars make no noise.

Wine to-day, water to-morrow.

The full man does not understand the wants of the hungry.

There is no one without fault

It's for her own good that the cat purrs.

Without treasure, without friends

Poor is the church without music.

A sly rogue is often in good dress.

You must empty a box before you fill it again.

Poor men take to the sea, the rich to the mountains.

The thief is no danger to the beggar.

Woe to him who abandons his lord.

You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.

Never too old to learn wisdom.

A scholars ink lasts longer than a martyrs blood.

Poverty parts good company.

The longest road out is the shortest road home.

Do not mistake a goats beard for a fine stallions tail.

A blind man can see his mouth.


A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea.

There is not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience.

A buckle is a great addition to an old shoe.

A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.

An old broom knows the dirty corners best.

Patience can conquer destiny.

A silent mouth is sweet to hear.

Praise the ripe field not the green corn.

Nodding the head does not row the boat.

Every dear article is woman's desire

Fear is a fine spur, so is rage.

The satiated forget the hungry

There is no fool who has not his own kind of sense.

Better one good thing that is than two good things that were.

He who can follow his own will is a king.

Good luck beats early rising.

The herb that can't be got is the one that heals.

The day of the storm is not the time for thatching.

The devil never grants long leases.

It is not easy to steal where the landlord is a thief.

There is pain in prohibition.

Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.

It is no time to go for the doctor when the patient is dead.

All sins cast long shadows.

The work praises the man.

It is not a secret if it is known by three people.

Beware of people who dislike cats.

Better the coldness of a friend than the sweetness of an enemy.

May your anger set with the sun and not rise again with it.

If a man fools me once, shame on him; if he fools me twice, shame on me.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May you never forget what is worth remembering, or remember what is best forgotten.

When you are right no one remembers; when you are wrong no one forgets.

You'll not find a thrush in a hawk's nest.

A wild goose never reared a tame gosling.

Firelight will not let you read fine stories, but it's warm and won't let you see the dust on the floor.

He'd offer you an egg if you promised not to break the shell.

Those who play the game do not see it as clearly as those who watch.

The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind finely.

The light heart lives long.

It is better to exist unknown to the law.

There is hope from the sea, but none from the grave.

Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children make a home.

There is no luck except where there is discipline.

A questioning man is halfway to being wise.


Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished.

Dance as if no one's watching, sing as if no one's listening, and live everyday as if it were your last.

Say but little, and say it well.

It is easy to halve the potato where there is love.

Every eye forms its own fancy.

Enough and no waste is as good as a feast.

Everyone lays a burden on the willing horse.

God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

Hardship attends idleness.

Don't be breaking your shin on a stool that's not in your way.

Death is the physician of the poor.

Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet.

Fame is more lasting than life.

Every thing is revealed by time



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