1998
World Wisdom
June 1998


“World Wisdom,” Friend, June 1998, 43

World Wisdom

One word is missing from each of the following proverbs from twelve different countries. Can you fill in the blanks from the given list of words?

  1. A __________ can drink no more than its fill from a river (China).

  2. Many little __________ make a great river (Denmark).

  3. Wake not a sleeping __________ (The Netherlands).

  4. He that never __________, never fell (England).

  5. The cottage is a __________ to the poor (France).

  6. The __________ praises the workman (Germany).

  7. The wheel that turns gathers no __________ (Greece).

  8. Many a shabby __________ makes a fine horse (Ireland).

  9. Two __________ cannot be held under one arm (Turkey).

  10. It is always good to have two strings in your __________ (Italy).

  11. The __________ may hurt the dog, but not so much as [it hurts] the hand that threw it (Japan).

  12. Truth and __________ always come to the surface (Spain).

Bow

Oil

Rust

Colt

Palace

Stone

Dog

Rivulets

Watermelons

Mouse

Rode

Work

Answers:

  • (1) mouse, (2) rivulets, (3) dog, (4) rode, (5) palace, (6) work, (7) rust, (8) colt, (9) watermelons, (10) bow, (11) stone, (12) oil.