Proverbs: those expressions filled with little nuggets of truth and wisdom that pepper our conversations, add flavor to our thoughts, and make us sound wise and witty… You are bound to come across some of them in your French learning, as there is a proverb for just about every occasion. How about exploring some of them in this lesson? 

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But first, what is un proverbe? A tricky question that Piggeldy asks his brother Frédéric in this episode of the animated series Piggeldy et Frédéric:

Frédéric, qu'est-ce que c'est un proverbe ?

Frédéric, what is a proverb?

Caption 3, Piggeldy et Frédéric Les proverbes

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Big brother Frédéric prefers to avoid a lengthy explanation and answers the question by giving him examples of proverbs, which confuses poor Piggeldy even more. Here is one example:

« Peine partagée est à moitié oubliée », dit encore Frédéric.

"Sorrow shared is half forgotten [A trouble shared is a trouble halved]," Frédéric said again.

Caption 39, Piggeldy et Frédéric Les proverbes

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Our trusty guide Daniel Benchimol also has a few proverbs of his own to show us on his walk around the Buttes Chaumont in Paris. He takes us on a kind of proverb treasure hunt, where proverbs are tucked away in the most unlikely places. If you look up, you will find one written on a basket hanging off a tree:

Par exemple: « Un fou ne voit pas le même arbre qu'un sage ».

For example: "A fool does not see the same tree as a wise man."

Caption 27, Voyage dans Paris Le Parc des Buttes Chaumont

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Or you might find a few near a phone booth:

« Tous les chemins de l'excès mènent au palais de la sagesse ».

"All the roads of excess lead to the palace of wisdom."

Caption 30, Voyage dans Paris Le Parc des Buttes Chaumont

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« La diligente abeille n'a pas de temps pour la tristesse. »

"The diligent bee has no time for sadness."

Caption 31, Voyage dans Paris Le Parc des Buttes Chaumont

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Not all proverbs are found in such unusual places. You may come across a few in literary works, classic fables even. Here is one derived from famous fabulist Jean de la Fontaine’s Le lièvre et la tortue (The Tortoise and the Hare), La Fontaine’s version of one of Aesop’s fables. Some verses have filtered into popular culture and become proverbs:

Donc moralité : rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point.

So the moral of the story: there's no use running, you have to start on time [slow and steady wins the race].

Captions 66-67, France 3 Minitel : l'Internet avant l'heure - Part 2

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Indeed, not all proverbs originate from literature. Some are rooted in popular wisdom instead. Here is one about the sacrifices it takes to achieve beauty:

Je savais qu'il fallait souffrir pour être belle.

I knew you had to suffer to be beautiful.

Caption 84, Mère & Fille Tout en couleur

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Speaking of sacrifice, hard work is the road to success. In other words, “practice makes perfect." The French equivalent of this proverb has to do with musical scales:

Il suffit de faire ses gammes.

You just need to practice your scales [practice makes perfect].

Caption 50, Le saviez-vous? Les expressions inspirées de la musique - Part 4

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There is another, better-known equivalent of “practice makes perfect," inspired by an old trade, blacksmithing, and the long hours of practice it takes to become a good blacksmith:

C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.

It’s through forging that one becomes a blacksmith.

Here is another blacksmithing metaphor that also works in English:

Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Not only does it take effort, practice, and good timing to succeed, but it also takes patience! As we all know, Rome wasn't built in a day: 

Rome ne s’est pas fait en un jour.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

That’s it for today’s lesson. If these proverbs are a little hard to remember, take heart! Just remember that Rome ne s’est pas fait en un jour and c’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron. Practice makes perfect!