speech topics proverbs

50 English proverbs you should use in your speech

A good proverbs for students to learn, and I’m always happy to teach this topic because it’s a fun way for students to expand their vocabulary.

Learn English From Basic To Advance.

50 Most Important English Proverbs

• “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
• When someone has done something bad to you, trying to get revenge will only make things worse.
• “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
• Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want. 
• “When in Rome, do as the Romans.”
• Act the way that the people around you are acting. 
• This phrase might come in handy when you’re traveling abroad. notice that people do things differently than you’re used to.
• “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
• You can get better service if you complain about something. If you wait patiently, no one’s going to help you.
• “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” 
• Strong people don’t give up when they come across challenges. They just work harder
• “No man is an island.”
• You can’t live completely independently. Everyone needs help from other people.
• “Fortune favors the bold.”
• People who bravely go after what they want are more successful than people who try to live safely.
• “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”
• Don’t criticize other people if you’re not perfect yourself. 
• “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
• This seems pretty clear. 
• “Better late than never.”
• This one’s clear, too.

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Academic Vocabulary List

• “Birds of a feather flock together.”  
• People like to spend time with others who are similar to them.
• “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
• If you have an enemy, pretend to be friends with them instead of openly fighting with them. That way you can watch them carefully and figure out what they’re planning.
• “A picture is worth a thousand words,”  
• Pictures convey emotions and messages better than written or spoken explanations
• “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”
• Things that are offered for free always have a hidden cost. 
• “There’s no place like home.”
• Your own home is the most comfortable place to be.
• “Discretion is the greater part of valor.”
• Sometimes it’s important to know when to give up and run away, instead of always acting brave and maybe getting hurt. 
• “The early bird catches the worm.”
• You should wake up and start work early if you want to succeed. 
• “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.”  
• If someone offers you a gift, don’t question it.
• “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”
• When you try to do something great, you’ll probably make a few people annoyed or angry. Don’t worry about those people; just focus on the good results 
• “God helps those who help themselves.”
• Don’t just wait for good things to happen to you. Work hard to achieve your goals. 
• “You can’t always get what you want.”  
• Don’t whine and complain if you don’t get what you want.
• “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
• “A watched pot never boils.”  
• If something takes time to finish, don’t watch it too closely because it will seem like it’s taking forever. 
• “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
• If you’re asking for a favor from someone else, you have to take whatever they give you.
• “Actions speak louder than words.”
• Just saying that you’ll do something doesn’t mean much. Actually doing it is harder and more meaningful.

English For Beginners and Advanced

Ways to Say

Communication

• “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” 
• Don’t try to improve something that already works fairly well. You’ll probably end up causing new problems.
• “Practice makes perfect.”
• You have to practice a skill a lot to become good at it. 
• “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”  
• When there are too many people trying to lead and give their opinions, it’s confusing and leads to bad results. Jobs and projects should have one or two strong leaders.
• “Easy come, easy go.”
• When you get money quickly, like by winning it, it’s easy to spend it or lose it quickly as well
• “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
• If someone’s paying you or helping you out, you have to be careful not to make them angry or say bad things about them. 
• “All good things must come to an end.”
• You can’t keep having good luck or fun forever, eventually it will stop. 
• “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”  
• When you try to change someone’s behavior and it doesn’t work, you might have to change instead. For example, if you’re trying to get your classmates focus on studying but they want to party, maybe you should just party with them.
• “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  
• Different people have different ideas about what’s valuable. 
• “There’s no time like the present.”
• If you need to do something, don’t wait until later. Do it now. 
• “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
• Different people have different ideas about what’s beautiful.
• “Necessity is the mother of invention.”  
• When you’re really in need, you think of creative solutions to your problems
• “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
• Save your money. 
• “Familiarity breeds contempt.”
• When you’re around someone for too long, you get tired of them and annoyed by them.
• “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
• Things sometimes look different than they really are. A restaurant that looks old and small might have amazing food, for example. 
• “Good things come to those who wait.”
• Be patient.
• “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
• Have a backup plan. Don’t risk all of your money or time in one plan. 
• “Two heads are better than one.”
• When two people cooperate with each other, they come up with better ideas.
• “The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill.  
• People tend to want whatever they don’t have. 
• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
• Don’t do mean things to people.
• “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”  
• If one member of a team doesn’t perform well, the whole team will fail. 
• “Honesty is the best policy.”
• Don’t lie.
• “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  
• Sometimes it’s good to be away from your partner, because it makes you want to see each other again. 
• “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
• If you try to help someone, but they don’t take your advice or offers, give up. You can’t force someone to accept your help. 
• “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
• Your plans might not work out, so don’t start thinking about what you’ll do after you succeed. Wait until you’ve already succeeded, and then you can think about what to do next.
• “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”
• Don’t trust other people to do important things for you. You have to do things yourself to control the quality of the results.

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Most Common Using English Speech Topics on Proverbs.

Table of Contents

English is the 21st international language for many reasons. It is also the language of many professional and business communications around the world. This is one of the reasons why many people strive to do well in spoken English. If you wish to improve your English speaking skills, you can try adding proverbs in your speech.

Here is a list of proverbs you can incorporate into your speech. If you have ever wondered what a proverb is, keep reading. You will know everything.

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What is a proverb.

A proverb is a short, quick, and wise sentence or a deep sentence. These phrases usually go unnoticed and do not matter how popular they are. Each country usually has its own set of good proverbs that local people use in their own language.

However, since English is the official language, it is best to read some of these sentences that are popular with English speakers. In addition, using proverbs may also help you to practice English skills tests.

So, read this list of proverbs if you want to learn some of the best and apply them in your speech.

1. The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest .

This proverb is based on the Bible, referring to the forbidden fruit of Eden, which Adam and Eve ate despite divine instructions. However, this expression reflects the psychology of the human mind as well. People are often inclined to do things that they are not allowed to do. This is a well-known psychological phenomenon, and you can use this proverb in situations where you find people breaking the rules.

2. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs .

How to achieve your goals requires great love and patience. This is one of the best proverbs in English for students as we discuss the difficulties that come with establishing good craftsmanship. You may have to go through something painful to achieve something good, but the effort will be worth it if the end result helps you grow.

3. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones .

This proverb links the shortcomings of people with glass houses. Throwing stones is associated with identifying the weaknesses of others in this context. Therefore, it points out that people with faults themselves should not express the same to others.

4. Strike while the iron is hot .

This is one of the best proverbs for students. Hitting the metal is a common activity for blacksmiths, and it may seem as absurd as a proverb. But this, like many other well-known proverbs, has its own meaning. The iron in this proverb is associated with opportunity. You have to actively seize the good opportunities as they come your way. Don’t wait too long, or you may miss out on a great opportunity to climb the ladder of success. So, never be afraid to try something new when you get the chance.

5. Too many cooks spoil the broth .

Some may argue that this proverb is contrary to popular opinion. However, it emphasizes the importance of sharing responsibilities effectively. If one person can do a job, it is best not to include too many people in it as this can lead to unnecessary confusion.

6. You can’t have your cake and eat it too .

This is one of those proverbs that uses clever play on words to identify selfish actions. It means you can’t have two good things in conflict, so you need to choose one. For example, you can’t eat a cake and still have it. You may use this proverb a few times to correct a greedy person.

7. Many hands make light work .

This proverb emphasizes the importance of cooperation. It emphasizes the fact that many hands can often reduce the work of one person. As a result, you can perform tasks more easily and accurately. Therefore, believe in team efforts wherever necessary to meet the set goals.

8. When in Rome, do as Romans do .

Following local customs (whether religious or cultural) is respectful and may even lead to learning the information. You should be open to learning new cultures while visiting new places and following the same. This shows that you respect the people and the culture in the area. Therefore, this is considered to be one of the many good proverbs that promote broad sense.

9. Cross that bridge when one comes to it.

Because we speak openly, this proverb is easier to understand than others. It means you can’t cross the bridge until you get to it. It refers to situations where someone is very anxious before starting work. As a result, you can use this proverb in your conversation with them to convey that worrying about an issue that you have not yet dealt with does not help.

10. A rolling stone gathers no moss .

A rock that is constantly moving (perhaps rolling down a hill or falling into a flowing river) will not pick up the strings, and the standing stone will have hair everywhere. You may miss learning from those around you as you move from place to place. Of course, you will not be responsible if you travel regularly, but it can affect your growth.

11. Beggars can’t be choosers.

It is a popular proverb that highlights the lack of choice. Since beggars have no choice, they often express appreciation for whatever they receive from others. If you wish to apply this proverb in your speech, you may do so in a situation where you have a lack of options.

12. Don’t make a mountain out of an molehill .

This proverb uses the comparative size of a mountain with a molehill to convey a simple message in a figurative sense. Of all the proverbs in this list, this is the most appropriate one for formal and informal discussions. Making a mountain with a molehill means exaggerating a trivial matter.

13. The cat is out of the bag .

This proverb is from the Middle Ages when butchers in the meat market deceived consumers by putting cat instead of meat in their pockets. Today, a common proverb is to keep a secret from someone who is well-protected. You can use this proverb in informal situations when someone reveals an unintentional secret. However, you should avoid using this proverb in official discussions.

14. Rome wasn’t built in a day .

Rome is one of the oldest civilizations with its many architectural works. The monuments took several years to build, and today they are the glory of ancient Roman civilization. Like these reminders, all good things take time. This proverb emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance on the path to success. It is a popular saying that teachers often use when encouraging their students to do better. Therefore, do not give up if your efforts do not have good results. Keep working hard, and one day all your hard work will be seen.

15. The squeaky wheel gets the grease .

If you are looking for an example of wise and instructive proverbs, read this one. Although the proverb speaks of the maintenance of the wheels of a bicycle or a motorcycle, it actually associates ridicule and talk of people with problems. This means that if you do not complain about the problems you are facing, no one will solve them for you. So, talk if you need help solving the problem. Talk about your problems so people can help you get out of them.

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16. the early bird catches the worm..

This proverb is very similar to the expression “first come, first served”. It simply means that it is usually best to be early. If you arrive early — whether it is at a clothing store, a restaurant, a conference, etc. — you will have the best options available. If you come later, however, the best clothes can be sold, the restaurant can be full and have a long wait, etc.

17. Better late than never.

Although being the first bird is the best, even those who arrive late can find something to come. It would be very bad if they did not come at all. This proverb is said to end all wars. Better a poor horse than no horse at all.

18. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

If someone insults you or hurts you (“wrong”), doing the same thing to them (“two wrongs”) will not fix everything. It will likely cause endless wars back and forth. If someone does something unkind to you, do not be rude to him or her because it is wrong to do so.

19.Learn to walk before you run.

Do things right, from the simplest to the most complex. For example, do not try to read a difficult English novel when you are just starting to learn English. If you try to jump, you will probably fail — just as a child tries to run before he learns to fall. Everything will come on time, but you have to be patient and go through the right process.

20. Always put your best foot forward.

If you are just starting out on a project or a trip, it is best to start with a positive attitude and a lot of energy. The first impressions (what people think of you when they first meet you) can last a long time. That is why the proverb is also used when meeting new people or discussing work. A positive attitude— “your best foot” —is the best way to develop a positive attitude.

21. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Do everything you can to avoid bad things from you. It only takes a moment to fasten your seat belt or make sure you lock the door. But if you are not safe, the side effects can last a lifetime. So you better be careful, otherwise you will regret it.

22. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

This proverb warns against misconduct on the part of those who provide it or do you good. If you were to bite the hand that gave you food, that hand would probably never come back to feed you. What would you eat then? So you have to be kind and grateful to those who care about you.

23. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

If you eat too much food, you will not be able to chew! And you can squeeze all that extra food. It’s the same with taking on too much responsibility or too much stress — you will have a hard time. So it is better not to get involved in many projects, because you will not be able to concentrate and do it all well.

24. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.

No one likes to sleep in a bed that is not properly adjusted. If you make your bed with all the sheets tangled and the bedding looks the wrong way, you can’t change with someone else. You have to sleep in that bed. This proverb uses bedding to describe any bad situation you may find yourself in. You cannot trade real estate with anyone else. You have to live with the consequences of your actions, so make good decisions.

25. Actions speak louder than words.

The Greek philosopher Plato once called the action a character. People are not defined by what they say because talking too much means nothing. People are judged by what they do. Your actions are more important than what you say.

26. It takes two to tango.

This proverb is often said during a war in which one person blames the other, while both parties are guilty. Just as one person can master tango (Spanish dance with two people) alone, two people are responsible in some cases, so you cannot simply blame one person.

27. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

This proverb warns with great anticipation. Just because you have five eggs does not mean you will have five chickens. It is not a good idea to make plans based on what you expect (you think will happen). Expect all things to be accomplished before building your dreams. Or worse, your promises. Things may not turn out the way you thought they would, and that could put you in a predicament.

28. It’s no use crying over spilled milk.

Milk is easy to get. You may get into trouble by wasting milk, you should not cry because it is not a big deal. Also, crying will not solve anything. This proverb advises you to stay calm during such difficult situations. Do not waste time worrying about small things that cannot be changed. Clean the dirt and go buy some milk.

29. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Be careful! If you put all your belongings in one bag or all your money in one stock, you are putting yourself at great risk. It is much wiser to spread your wealth around. That way if one basket has to be broken, it is not left empty.

30. Still waters run deep.

“The water is still going down,” explained the calm and calm people. These people often have “deep,” interesting personalities. So even if the person does not talk much, he may still think a lot. A proverb uses water to describe people. If the surface of the water is strong and fast, it usually means it is shallow (shallow) and has rocks near and above, such as in a river or stream. But calm and steady water is usually very deep, as in a lake.

English has many proverbs and these are the subject of the iceberg. But you do not want to bite more than you can eat. So start with these useful English proverbs and sayings and you will soon sound like a native speaker!

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Aleena V Noushad

Aleena is a passionate Blog writer and a Postgraduate in Master of Computer Application. She also holds a diploma in Aviation and Hospitality. She has been writing for Entri over the past three years, specialising in exam preparation and skill and career development

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63 Proverbs in English with Meanings, Examples and Pronunciation

Have you ever had a day at work where people said the strangest things ?

“The cat’s out of the bag,” a co-worker says at a staff meeting. “But it’s no use crying over spilled milk. We can still make a lot of progress today.”

Cats? Milk? What’s going on here? The answer is that your co-worker is using proverbs.

Proverbs are the  traditional (historic) sayings of a country or group of people. They are short, clever sentences that usually offer life advice. Native English speakers often use them in conversation without even realizing it.

Proverbs can teach you more about English culture than any textbook. They show what’s important to the group of people, what is considered good behavior and what is bad behavior.

Below are 63 of the top English proverbs, clearly explained just for you!

1. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

2. don’t judge a book by its cover., 3. strike while the iron is hot., 4. too many cooks spoil the broth., 5. you can’t have your cake and eat it too., 6. many hands make light work., 7. when in rome, do as the romans do., 8. don’t cross the bridge until you come to it., 9. honesty is the best policy., 10. practice makes perfect., 11. where there’s a will, there’s a way., 12. look before you leap., 13. beggars can’t be choosers., 14. don’t make a mountain out of an anthill., 15. an apple a day keeps the doctor away., 16. the early bird catches the worm., 17. better late than never., 18. the cat is out of the bag., 19. two wrongs don’t make a right., 20. always put your best foot forward., 21. rome wasn’t built in a day., 22. it’s better to be safe than sorry., 23. don’t bite the hand that feeds you., 24. the squeaky wheel gets the grease., 25. don’t bite off more than you can chew., 26. you made your bed, now you have to lie in it., 27. actions speak louder than words., 28. it takes two to tango., 29. don’t count your chickens before they hatch., 30. it’s no use crying over spilled milk., 31. don’t put all your eggs in one basket., 32. people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones., 33. a rolling stone gathers no moss., 34. first things first., 35. still waters run deep., 36. if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it., 37. curiosity killed the cat., 38. learn to walk before you run., 39. money doesn’t grow on trees., 40. my hands are tied., 41. it’s the tip of the iceberg., 42. no news is good news., 43. out of sight, out of mind., 44. if you scratch my back, i’ll scratch yours., 45. ignorance is bliss., 46. easy come, easy go., 47. the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest., 48. every cloud has a silver lining., 49. you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs., 50. close, but no cigar., 51. there’s more than one way to skin a cat., 52. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush., 53. never trouble trouble ’til trouble troubles you., 54. paddle your own canoe., 55. bitter pills may have blessed effects., 56. it’s always darkest before the dawn., 57. people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones., 58. there are plenty more fish in the sea., 59. take it with a grain of salt., 60. from little acorns mighty oaks do grow., 61. you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink., 62. good things come to those who wait., 63. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade., and one more thing....

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“The grass is always greener” is a proverb that says it’s not good to be  jealous (to want what other people have). It may seem like everyone around you has “greener grass,” meaning nicer cars, better jobs, etc.

But your neighbor probably thinks you have greener grass, too. It means that your friends and other people might think you have better looks, a happier family, etc. So, instead of thinking about what everyone else has, this proverb wants you to be thankful for what you have.

Sarah always thinks other schools are better. The grass is always greener on the other side , though.

Things are not always what they seem. This proverb teaches you not to make judgments about other people because of how they look or dress.

A book with a boring or plain cover could be amazing. The same is true with people. A person might look like an athlete or fool, but there’s probably a lot more to them than their clothes suggest.

I thought the movie would be boring, but my friend said not to judge a book by its cover .

This old expression comes from the days of  blacksmiths (people who work with metal). To shape the metal, the blacksmith would have to beat it with a hammer. Iron is easier to work with when it’s hot.

This proverb means you should take advantage of the moment. If an opportunity presents itself to you, take it! Take action because the chance may not come again.

If you want a discount, you should buy the shirt now. Strike while the iron is hot.

The more common form of this expression is “Too many cooks in the kitchen.” A lot people trying to work in a kitchen around a small table or stovetop will likely make a mess and ruin the food.

This proverb talks about the trouble of too many people trying to do the same thing at once.

I think there should only be two or three people working on this project. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

If you eat your cake, you won’t have it anymore, will you? So you can’t do both. This proverb is about having two opposite desires, and how it’s impossible to get both.

Its meaning is the opposite of the expression, “to have the best of both worlds.”

No, I’m not going to give you money when you spent what you had on games. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

If a lot of people carry a heavy object, it doesn’t feel heavy. That is the general meaning of this proverb.

If everyone works together to complete something—like cleaning, painting or group projects—then each person has less to do. More importantly, the job will be completed much more quickly.

Please help us with this project. Many hands make light work.

Sometimes, this proverb is shortened to just “when in Rome…” When you are a visitor somewhere away from home, you should act like everyone else. It’s polite to do so, and could keep you from getting into trouble.

This proverb refers to the ancient days of the Roman Empire when the capital city had visitors from all over the world. Cultures were very different between cities in those times. But while in Rome, people needed to behave like a Roman, no matter where they came from.

In Japan, bowing is polite, so when in Rome, do as the Romans do .

This proverb tells you not to worry so much! Problems will certainly come in the future. But what can be done about that now?

It’s better to think about what you’re doing right now—without worrying about the unknown—and take care of issues when they actually happen.

Don’t worry about the test next month when you still have to pass an exam tomorrow. You shouldn’t cross the bridge until you come to it .

Lying a lot can be difficult, because you might forget your lies. Soon enough, someone will find out that you’re lying. Then, you’re in trouble. And even if no one ever finds out, you’ll feel guilty for not telling the truth.

But if you’re honest and tell the truth, people will believe you and respect you. You’ll earn their trust and sleep well at night.

Even if you make a mistake, honesty is the best policy . Tell the truth.

It would be amazing if you picked up a guitar for the first time and could play it like a rock star. Or if the first time you got in a car, you could drive like a professional. Or if you could speak English perfectly after one lesson.

Everything is difficult when you’re a beginner. But if you stick with it and keep practicing, you can master anything.

You can get better at soccer by doing drills every day. Practice makes perfect.

This proverb is said to encourage people who want to give up. Sometimes, we face problems that seem impossible. But if you want it bad enough, nothing can stand in your way.

That is what this proverb means—if you have the will to meet the problems that are in front of you, there’s a way to overcome them.

Maria saved up half her earnings to go to college. She is proof that where there’s a will, there’s a way .

Don’t rush into things! Make sure you know what’s going to happen next. You wouldn’t jump off a cliff without first checking how far the ground is below or what there is to land on.

You should wait a few moments and make sure it’s a good idea to jump from that cliff. So, when making a big “jump” in life, make sure you’ve looked at the situation and really understood it before you take a big action.

When making important decisions, always look before you leap .

If someone gives you free things or offers to help you do something when you really need it, you can’t ask for a different color or choose the perfect time in your schedule.

When you receive help or goods and you don’t really have many other options, you should accept what you’re offered. You can’t be picky (a “chooser”) because you’re not paying!

It’s hard to book a good hotel during peak seasons. Beggars can’t be choosers.

People sometimes get very upset over small problems. This proverb reminds you to take a moment and see how important (or not important) the issue is.

Messing up your laundry or being late for work isn’t very important when you consider your entire life. So, it’s important to stay calm and not get angry about tiny problems.

Another version of this saying is the classic American proverb, “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill .”

It’s just a small scratch, Dave. Don’t make a mountain out of an anthill.

An apple is full of Vitamin C, which keeps you healthy. However, the “apple” in this proverb means eating healthy in general.

If you eat well and your diet includes a lot of fruits and vegetables, there will be no need to visit the doctor.

My grandma believes that an apple a day keeps the doctor away . That’s why she always has a fresh batch of apples in the fridge.

This proverb is a lot like the phrase “First come, first served.” It simply means that it’s usually best to be early.

If you arrive earlier—whether it’s to a clothing store, restaurant, conference, etc.—you’ll have the best options to choose from. If you come later, though, the best clothes could’ve sold out, the restaurant could be full and have a long waiting time, etc.

Wake up early if you want to finish your homework. The early bird catches the worm , after all.

While being the early bird is the best, even latecomers may get something for coming. It would be a lot worse if they never came at all.

This proverb is often said about ending fights with people. It’s better to apologize and make up years later than to never resolve your fight at all.

You can still join the party, Kyle. You know what they say: Better late than never !

This proverb means that a secret has been told. It comes from the Middle Ages and was common advice given in the market.

You may have thought you purchased a tasty pig, but the seller put a simple cat in the bag instead. “To let the cat out of the bag” was to reveal the seller’s trick.

We were planning a surprise, but now the cat is out of the bag .

If somebody insults you or harms you (“a wrong”), doing the same to them (“two wrongs”) will not make everything okay.

It will most likely cause a back-and-forth fight without end. If somebody is mean to you, don’t be mean to them in return because it’s not right to be so.

He hit you, but hitting back won’t help. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

When you’re starting on a project or a journey, it’s best to start with a good attitude and a lot of energy.  First impressions (what people think about you when they meet you for the first time) can last for a long time.

That’s why this proverb is also used when meeting new people or for job interviews. Having a positive attitude—your “best foot”—is the best way to make a good impression.

In the job interview, remember to smile, be confident and always put your best foot forward .

Rome is a great city. However, it took many years to be completed. The builders didn’t rush to complete their work and neither should you.

If you wish to create something wonderful and long-lasting, you’ll have to spend more than a day working on it. You’ll probably have to spend several days, weeks or even months to do a good job. Take your time and do it right!

It’s okay that you don’t draw like an expert in the beginning. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Do everything possible to keep bad things from happening to you. It only takes a second to put on a seatbelt or to check that you locked the door.

But if you’re not safe, the bad results can last a lifetime. So, it’s better for you to be careful. Otherwise, you’ll be sorry.

Wear your helmet when biking. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

This proverb warns against acting mean to those who provide for you or do nice things for you.

If you were to bite the hand that gave you food, that hand probably won’t come back to feed you again. Then what would you eat? So, you should be kind and thankful to those who care for you.

Even if you’re upset, be nice to your boss. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

If you have a problem but never talk about it, no one will help you. How could they? But if you tell someone, things will get better.

This proverb is about someone who complains a lot (the “squeaky wheel”) because they get more attention (“the grease”). For example, a child who cries a lot will get more attention from his mother than his silent brothers and sisters.

If you need help, speak up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

If you take a bite of food that’s too big, you won’t be able to chew! Plus, you could choke on all of that extra food.

It’s the same if you take on more work or responsibility than you can handle—you’ll have a difficult time. So, it’s best not to get involved in too many projects, because you won’t be able to focus and get them all done well.

Did you really just decide to write two papers in one night? I don’t think you should bite off more than you can chew .

No one likes sleeping in a poorly made bed. If you make your bed with the sheets all tangled and blankets facing the wrong way, you can’t switch with someone else. You have to sleep in that bed.

This proverb uses bed-making to describe any bad situation in which you may find yourself. You can’t trade places with anyone else. You must live with the results of your actions, so make good choices.

You didn’t study for the test, and will probably fail because of it. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.

The Greek philosopher Plato once said that action is character. People aren’t defined by what they say because a lot of talk doesn’t mean anything. People are judged by the things they do. Your actions are more important than what you say.

Instead of promising to help, just help. Actions speak louder than words.

This proverb is often said during a fight in which one person is putting all of the blame on the other person, when both people were actually responsible.

Just as one person can’t  tango (a Spanish dance with two people) alone, two people are responsible for some situations, so you can’t just blame one person.

In a relationship, it takes two to tango .

This proverb warns against being too eager. Just because you have five eggs doesn’t mean you will have five chickens. It’s not a good idea to make plans based on  expectations (what you think will happen). Things may not happen like you thought they would and that could get you in trouble.

I know you’re excited about the job interview, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch .

Milk is easy to get. You may get in trouble for spilling the milk, but you shouldn’t cry because it isn’t a big deal. Also, crying won’t solve anything.

This proverb advises you to stay calm during such small problems. Don’t waste time worrying about little things that cannot be changed. Clean up the mess and go buy some more milk.

I accidentally broke my favorite mug, but it’s no use crying over spilled milk . I’ll just buy a new one.

Be careful! If you put all your goods in one bag or all your money in one stock, you’re taking a big risk. It’s smarter to spread your wealth around. That way, if one basket should break, you’re not left with nothing.

When it comes to investing in stocks, don’t put all your eggs in one basket .

“People in glass houses” means anyone who is sensitive about their failures. People like this shouldn’t insult others (shouldn’t “throw stones”), because the other person will likely turn around and insult you back.

And like glass, which is easy to break, your  self-esteem (what you think of yourself) will easily break into pieces.

You shouldn’t criticize others for their mistakes when you have your own flaws. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones .

Only a stone that’s in the same place for a long time will have moss growing on it. On the other hand, a stone on the move will remain bare.

The same is true with people. If you remain in one place for a long time, the signs of life—friends, family, objects and your local  reputation (what people think of you)—will grow on you. But if you always move from place to place, the opposite will happen.

Sarah loves to travel and try new things, because she believes that a rolling stone gathers no moss .

This proverb advises you to do things in the right order. Don’t skip over the more difficult or less enjoyable tasks to get to the easier, more fun ones.

For example, if you have an exam to study for the same night your friend is having a party, study for the exam first. The party would be more fun, but the exam is more important, so it should be done first.

First things first : Finish your chores before you start your homework.

“Still waters run deep” describes people who are quiet and calm. These people often have “deep,” interesting personalities. So even if someone doesn’t talk a lot, they could still be very thoughtful.

The proverb uses water to describe people. When the surface of a body of water is rough and fast, it usually means that it’s  shallow (not deep) and has rocks close to the surface, like in a river or stream. But water that is calm and still is often very deep, like in a lake.

John may seem quiet, but still waters run deep .

This phrase is used when someone is trying to change or “improve” a way of doing something that works perfectly well. Why change something that works? You could ruin everything! This proverb goes nicely with the expression “leave well enough alone.”

*Note: “Ain’t” is not correct English. It’s an informal way of saying “isn’t” or “is not.” This style of speaking is popular in the Southern states of the United States and in farming regions.

Our company has a general policy along the lines of “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. “

This proverb is often used to stop someone from asking too many questions.

Curiosity (when you’re excited and eager to know something) can lead you into dangerous situations. Cats, who are naturally curious, often end up in trouble. They can get stuck up in trees or between walls.

My little sister opened the mysterious box even though she was told not to. Well, curiosity killed the cat .

Do things in the right order—from the simplest to the most complicated.

For example, don’t try to read a difficult English novel when you’re just starting to learn English . If you try to jump ahead, you’ll most likely fail—just like a child who tries to run before learning to walk will fall.

All things will come in time, but you must be patient and go through the proper process.

Before you study calculus, you’ll want to master algebra first. Learn to walk before you run .

This proverb is often said to people who waste their money on silly purchases.

Things that grow on trees, such as fruit or leaves, are considered  plentiful (enough, plenty) because they’ll grow back. If you eat an apple from a tree, more apples will continue to grow.

But money must be earned through hard work, and doesn’t “grow back” after you spend it. Once you spend money, it’s gone.

We can’t buy everything we want. Money doesn’t grow on trees , you know.

This phrase shouldn’t be taken literally. You say this proverb when you can’t do what you would like to do, especially when someone asks you to do something.

For example, let’s say you are in charge of an office and everyone (including you) wants to celebrate someone’s birthday. But your boss tells you it’s against the rules. You could tell your coworkers, “Sorry, my hands are tied.” You would like to have a birthday celebration with them, but you can’t.

I would love to help, but my hands are tied . I have too many assignments to complete.

Only a small amount of an iceberg can be seen above the surface of the water. Most of it lies below.

This proverb uses the iceberg to describe a situation where you are only beginning to understand the problem. The little signs that you can see are in fact part of a much larger problem.

The argument was just the tip of the iceberg . There are deeper issues that need to be addressed.

No information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened. This phrase is said by families waiting nervously for news of a father or son who has gone to war.

To receive news would mean hearing that your loved one has been killed, captured or hurt. Even though it’s difficult to know nothing about what’s happening, it’s still better than hearing bad news.

I haven’t heard from the job interview yet, but no news is good news , right?

If you can see something every day, your mind will think about it. This proverb is about the habit of forgetting things that are not nearby.

For example, if you want to stop eating chips and junk food, you could move them from the countertop and hide them in a cupboard. If you don’t see them, you won’t think to eat them. Out of sight, out of mind.

Since I moved to a new city, my old friends are out of sight, out of mind .

This proverb simply means that if you help me, I’ll help you, too. Usually, when you do a favor for someone, they do something for you in return. This can be  beneficial (helpful) to both people.

If you help me with my project, I’ll help you with yours. It’s a “scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” situation.

Ignorance is when you don’t know or are unaware of something.  Bliss is pure joy and happiness. So, sometimes it feels better and you’re more comfortable when you don’t know about certain things—for example, events on the news.

Sometimes, not knowing the harsh reality can be better—as they say, ignorance is bliss .

Money, fame, love or anything that happens easily can be lost just as quickly. If you get a lot of money or suddenly become famous, you could lose that money or fame very quickly—since you didn’t work hard to earn it.

I found 20 dollars on the street, but I lost it later in the day. Well, easy come, easy go .

Forbidden  means it’s not allowed, so this phrase means that if something isn’t allowed, you often want it the most (it will “taste” the sweetest).

For example, let’s say you’re a kid whose parents don’t let you drink soda. You go to a friend’s house, and her parents ask if you want a soda. You say yes and really enjoy that soda because you never get to drink it at home.

Even though she was told not to eat the cookies, the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest , and she couldn’t resist.

People say this when things are going badly or when someone is sad. Clouds stand for bad situations. Every bad situation has some good parts to it—you just have to look for them.

This proverb is meant to help people feel better and keep going. It’s also where the name of the movie “Silver Linings Playbook” came from.

Even though I lost my job, I found a new opportunity. Every cloud has a silver lining .

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An omelet is a tasty dish and worth the effort to make. However, you must break some eggs to make it.

Sometimes, to get things done, you have to be pushy or break a few rules. You may even have to insult some people. So if you want to get a worthwhile project done or make changes, you can’t please everyone. Someone might be offended or hurt, so you have to decide if the price is worth it.

Don’t be discouraged by setbacks. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

In the old days, fairgrounds would give cigars as prizes for games. The phrase “close, but no cigar” means that you were close to succeeding in the game, but you didn’t win the cigar.

As a proverb, it means that even though you did your best or almost had it right, you weren’t able to meet your goal.

I was close to winning the race, but I came in second place. Close, but no cigar .

This proverb is saying that there’s more than one way to do or accomplish something.

For example, during your English learning journey, you’ve probably been told “this is the best way” or “this is the best resource,” but “the best” is really whatever personally works for you. You have to figure out the best way to skin the cat—figuratively, of course!

If your initial plan doesn’t work out, don’t worry. There’s more than one way to skin a cat .

Sometimes, we take for granted what we have, and also don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. This proverb claims that the most valuable thing you have is what you already have!

For example, let’s say you have $100. You could just put this $100 into your savings account, or you could take it to Las Vegas to try to turn it into $1000. But it’s likely that you’ll lose it. So, stick with the bird (that $100) in your hand.

I was considering a job offer from another city, but my current job is stable. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

This is saying that you don’t go looking for problems and making things more difficult for yourself.

You’ve probably noticed that the word “trouble” is repeated four times in this proverb—twice as verbs and twice as nouns.

In English, many words can be used as different parts of speech .

Don’t worry about things you can’t control. Never trouble trouble ’til trouble troubles you.

This verb is saying that you should be independent and not rely on others so much. It’s possible to have more than one person paddle a canoe, but if you want to succeed in life, you need to learn to do it on your own.

Take charge of your own life and decisions; in other words, paddle your own canoe .

This proverb says that the  remedy or solution to a problem might not be pleasant, but the end result can be wonderful.

For example, exercise may not be fun while you’re doing it, but if you stick with it, you’ll be healthier.

The criticism was tough to hear, but it made me improve. Bitter pills may have blessed effects .

This proverb is a good reminder that darkness is always followed by light.

At some point during your English learning journey, you’ll likely encounter a phase (hopefully, a very short one) where you feel like you’ve hit a wall, you’re frustrated, you don’t feel like you’re progressing or you feel like you just want to give up.

This is the darkest moment!

But if you stick with it and keep practicing and putting in the effort, the dawn (i.e., you being fluent in English) will eventually come!

I know you feel terrible right now, but it’s always darkest before the dawn .

This proverb advises against being a hypocrite (someone whose words don’t match what they do, or vice versa).

For example, this proverb would apply to a classmate who’s being mean to someone because they didn’t know what a certain word meant in English, even though this classmate often makes a lot of mistakes in English.

Jenny criticized her friend’s cooking, but she forgot she burned dinner last week. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

This proverb is mainly used to offer  condolences (sympathy) to someone who has just broken up with their significant other. This proverb suggests that the heartbroken person shouldn’t worry too much because there are plenty of other potential partners out there.

This proverb might be incorporated into a conversation like this:

Your friend: Shelly just broke up with me. I’m going to be alone forever!

You: I’m so sorry she broke up with you. But you shouldn’t worry too much. There are plenty more fish in the sea .

Meaning: Don’t take something someone says or does too seriously.

This proverb can be used when someone is telling you something that probably isn’t entirely true. In this case, you’d take what they say with a grain of salt.

We all know someone who always exaggerates or doesn’t tell the entire truth. These are the types of people whose words should be taken with a grain of salt.

When listening to gossip, it’s wise to take it with a grain of salt . Not everything may be true.

This American proverb reminds us that great people and accomplishments often come from  modest (simple) beginnings. This proverb can certainly be applied to your English language learning journey!

You might have started with little to no understanding of the English language. But from these humble beginnings, you can grow into a strong English speaker!

The fact that his multimillion dollar corporation started as a tiny store is proof that from little acorns mighty oaks do grow .

This strange proverb actually has nothing to do with horses.

It means that you can give someone something that they need (like water in this case), but there’s no way you can force them to use that something (or drink the water) until they’re ready to do it.

In other words, you can’t force someone to do something, even if it’s good for them.

For example, your parents can give you money to attend university, but they can’t make you actually go to class. That decision is totally up to you.

Don’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink .

Patience is valued in American culture, so this proverb tells you that waiting—although boring—can lead to great outcomes.

For example, let’s say you want to buy a new car. Well, it may take a while because you have to work and save your money. But after a year, you finally have the money and the model you wanted to buy is way better than last year’s model. So, the wait was worth it!

If you’re working hard and not seeing results right now, know that good things come to those who wait .

In American culture, “lemons” are often bad things. They’re sour and pretty much useless on their own. You’d much rather have a fresh strawberry or an orange.

So, when life gives you lemons (hardship), just squeeze those lemons into a glass, add a little sugar or water and have a delicious and refreshing drink. You’ve turned something bad into something great!

When life gives Kate lemons, she makes lemonade . For example, after losing her job, she decided to start her own business that’s now earning a lot of money.

English has many proverbs, and these are just the tip of the iceberg.

But you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew. Start with these useful English proverbs and sayings, and you’ll be using them yourself in no time!

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15 best proverbs to use in your speech every day

Do you want to improve your english speaking skills if yes, then check out these 15 proverbs that you can use to enhance your spoken english. keep scrolling, table of contents, importance of the english language.

• 1. The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.
• 2. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
• 3. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
• 4. Strike while the iron is hot.
• 5. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
• 6. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
• 7. Many hands make light work.
• 8. When in Rome, do as Romans do.

9. Cross that bridge when one comes to it.

• 10. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

11. Beggars can’t be choosers.

• 12. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
• 13. The cat is out of the bag.
• 14. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
• 15. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Key takeaways

English is a universal language in the 21st century for many reasons. It is also the language for most professional and business communications around the world. This is one of the reasons why so many people strive to achieve excellence in spoken English. Today, written and spoken English is a very important component of study abroad exams, interviews, speeches, debates, etc. In order to crack these tests and enhance your English-speaking skills, you must learn the basics of the English language and try including some proverbs in your speech. 

Here is a list of proverbs that you can include in your speech. If you are wondering what a proverb is, read on to find out.

What is a Proverb?

A proverb is a short, crisp, and witty phrase or even sentence with deep significance. These phrases are usually not arbitrary and have a story behind how they became popular. Each country usually has its own set of good proverbs that the locals use in their language. 

However, since English is a universal language, it is best to learn some of these phrases that are popular with English speakers. Moreover, using proverbs might also help you ace the English proficiency tests and get you into your dream university . 

So, read this list of proverbs if you want to learn some of the best ones and use them in your speech. 

1. The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest .

This proverb has Biblical roots as it refers to the forbidden fruit of Eden that Adam and Eve ate despite the instructions from God. However, this saying reflects on the psychology of the human mind as well. People always tend to be inclined to do things they are prohibited from doing. This is a well-known psychological paradox, and you can use this proverb in situations where you find people breaking rules.

2. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs .

The road to achieving your goals requires a lot of passion and endurance. This is one of the best proverbs in English for students since it discusses the difficulties that come with establishing a good profession. It may be necessary to go through something painful in order to attain something beautiful, but the effort will be worthwhile if the end result helps you grow.

3. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones .

This proverb connects people’s shortcomings to glasshouses. Throwing stones is associated with pointing out the weaknesses of others in this context. It, therefore, points out that people who have flaws themselves should not point out the same in others. 

4. Strike while the iron is hot .

This is one of the best proverbs for students. Striking the iron is a mundane task for blacksmiths, and it could seem meaningless as a proverb. But this one, like most other famous proverbs, has an implied meaning. The iron in this proverb is associated with opportunities. You should actively grab good opportunities as they come your way. Do not wait much, or you might lose a great opportunity to step up the ladder of success. So, never be afraid to try something new if you get a chance. 

5. Too many cooks spoil the broth .

Some would argue that this proverb goes against the common notion of teamwork. But, it emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks efficiently. If one person can do a task, then you are better off not involving more people in it as it could lead to unnecessary confusion. 

6. You can’t have your cake and eat it too .

This is one of those proverbs that use witty wordplay to point out inappropriately greedy actions. It means you cannot have two good things that are conflicting, so you need to choose one. For example, you cannot eat a cake and still possess it. You can use this proverb on several occasions to politely reprimand someone who is acting out of greed.

7. Many hands make light work .

This proverb highlights the importance of teamwork. It emphasizes the fact that many hands can often reduce the workload of one person. As a result, you can accomplish tasks with ease and accuracy. Therefore, believe in group effort wherever needed to meet the set targets. 

8. When in Rome, do as Romans do .

Following the norms (whether religious or cultural) of a place is polite and can even lead to learning experiences. You should be open to learning about new cultures while visiting new places and following the same. This shows that you respect the people and culture of that place. Therefore, this is considered one of the many good proverbs to encourage a broad mindset.

Because it speaks the obvious, this proverb is easier to comprehend than the rest. It means you can’t cross a bridge until you’ve arrived at it. It refers to instances in which someone is too concerned before starting a task. As a result, you might use this proverb in your conversation with them to convey that fretting about an issue we haven’t yet met is pointless.

10. A rolling stone gathers no moss .

A stone that is always moving (perhaps rolling down a hill or tumbling down a draining river) will not collect moss, whereas a stone that is stationary will develop moss all over it. You may miss out on learning from those around you if you keep moving from place to place. Sure, you won’t have any responsibilities if you’re constantly on the move, but it could stifle your development.

It is a popular proverb that highlights the lack of choices. Since beggars have nothing to choose from, they are usually grateful for whatever they get from others. If you wish to use this proverb in your speech , then you can do so in a situation where you have a dearth of choices. 

12. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill .

This proverb uses the comparative sizes of a mountain and a molehill to convey a simple message in an illustrative manner. Out of all the proverbs on this list, this one is the most appropriate for formal and informal conversations. Making a mountain out of a molehill means exaggerating an issue that is quite trivial. 

13. The cat is out of the bag .

This proverb has its roots in the Middle Ages when sellers in the meat market used to trick buyers by putting a cat instead of meat inside their bags. Today, this commonly used proverb means to let out someone’s well-guarded secret. You can use this proverb in informal situations when someone lets out a secret unintentionally.  However, you should avoid using this proverb in formal conversations.   

14. Rome wasn’t built in a day .

Rome is one of the oldest civilizations with a plethora of iconic architectural feats. These monuments took several years to construct, and today they are the glory of the ancient Roman civilization. Just like these monuments, all good things take time. This proverb conveys the importance of patience and perseverance on the road to success. It is a popular proverb that is often used by teachers while motivate their students to perform better. Therefore, do not get discouraged if your efforts aren’t leading to positive outcomes. Keep working hard, and one day all your hard work will be recognized. 

15. The squeaky wheel gets the grease .

If you want an example of proverbs that is both witty and enlightening, then read this one. Although this proverb talks about the maintenance of the wheels of a bicycle or motorbike, it, in fact, associates the squeaking with humans talking about problems. This means that if you do not complain about the issues you are facing, then nobody will solve them for you. Therefore, speak up if you need help with resolving an issue. Talk about your problems so that people can help you get out of them.   

• Armed with thoughtful and witty proverbs like these, you can now speak English with more elegance and fluency.
• Proverbs help you communicate a great deal without saying too much.
• Using such phrases in your daily speech can also portray a certain level of mastery over the English language.
• There are so many more proverbs you can discover and read about to make your language more creative and fluent.

Please reach out to us for more information on popular proverbs and other English language assistance for your upcoming study abroad exam. All the best and happy learning! 

Liked this blog? Read next: 10 books that every literature student should read!

Q1.  Which is the best proverb from this list?

Answer- Each of these proverbs has different meanings and greatly depends on your personal choice. However, if you wish to use the best proverb on a daily basis, then you can try using “the forbidden fruit is the sweetest” since this proverb can be applied anywhere.

Q2.  Are there any non-English proverbs I could use on a daily basis?

Answer- Yes, there are several other non-English proverbs. In fact, each country has its own set of such phrases that are used quite often.

Q3.  Which of these is the most commonly used proverb on this list?

Answer- “Strike while the iron is still hot” is one of the most commonly used proverbs. However, there are several more popular phrases in the English language that you might want to look into.

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200+ Common Proverbs in English [with Meaning and Example]

• Figurative Language
• Updated on Nov 12, 2023

•   shares

Proverbs and sayings are popular nuggets of wisdom, often in circulation for centuries and even millenniums. This post covers more than 200 common proverbs, each of which is followed by meaning and use in an example sentence.

If you’re looking for more proverbs and sayings, you can find plenty of them in the resource below. It contains proverbs on topics such as life, family, friends, love, health, happiness, money, hard work, time, time management, teamwork, leadership, business, education & learning, and more.

1. A bad workman always blames his tools.

This proverb is used when someone blames the quality of their equipment or other external factors when they perform a task poorly.

Example : X: The food isn’t cooked well because the oven is not functioning well. Y: Well, it’s the case of a bad workman blaming his tools.

2. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Certainty of having something in hand is better than mere probability of having even more things.

Example : X: Why did you turn down that job offer when you don’t have anything concrete in hand at the moment? Y: Well, I’m confident I’ll land one of the two jobs I interviewed for last week. And they’re better than this one. X: In my opinion, you should’ve taken it. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

3. Absence makes heart grow fonder.

When we’re away from loved ones, we long for their company more than in normal times.

Example : When I was with him, he always fought with me, but now he cries for me on phone. I think distance made his heart grow fonder.

4. A cat has nine lives.

Cat can survive seemingly fatal events.

Example : I haven’t seen him in months, but I wouldn’t really worry about him. Everyone knows a cat has nine lives.

5. Action speaks louder than words.

Action is a better reflection of one’s character than words because it’s easy to say things, but difficult to act on them and follow through.

Example : The interviewee had an impressive resume, but he struggled to perform the task given during the interview. Actions speak louder than words, don’t they?

6. A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect.

A rare, precious opportunity that comes with some problems is better than a regular opportunity that seems to be perfect.

Example : I would advise you to work in a market that is growing fast than in a mature market. The former has its own problems, but that’s where you grow fast in your career. A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect.

7. A drowning man will clutch a straw.

When someone is in a difficult situation, s/he will take any available opportunity to come out of it.

Example : After trying all reliable medicines, he is now visiting quacks to get a cure for his baldness. A drowning man will clutch a straw.

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8. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Fools lose money because of their foolish conduct.

Example : He shared his credit card details on a phishing call and lost more than $10,000. A fool and his money are indeed parted sooner or later.

9. After victory, tighten your helmet chord.

There is no room for complacency. Get down to work after a victory. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, calls it Day 0 mentality.

Example : Our Company has won a major deal worth $600 M, but we can’t relax as many more deals are up for grabs, with the competition gnawing at our heels. After the victory, it’s time to tighten our helmet chord.

10. A good listener is a silent flatterer.

Human beings have an innate desire to be listened, but only few are good listeners. So, if you listen to someone attentively, you’ll flatter them.

Example : One of the reasons I could build such a network of friends is my ability to listen (more than speak) to people. A good listener is a silent flatterer, after all.

11. A goose quill is more dangerous than a lion’s claw.

Foul, inconsiderate words can cause more pain than a physical attack.

Example : Even when you’re angry, convey your point politely because a goose quill is more dangerous than a lion’s claw.

12. A happy heart is better than a full purse.

What’s the use of money if you’re unhappy despite loads of it? Happiness is better than plenty. A 2010 study at Princeton University points that happiness increases with money but only till basic needs are met. After that, money matters much less.

Example : My cousin is a multi-millionaire, but he is super-busy and stressed, with little time to spend time with his family. I guess a happy heart is better than a full purse.

13. A jack of all trades is master of none.

A person with some knowledge of several fields (jack of all trades) can’t be a master in any of them.

Example : You’ve hopped from marketing to sales to business development in your organization. That’s too many. A Jack of all trades is master of none.

14. A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.

Howsoever big a task is, it starts with a small step.

Example : I’m feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of completing 4,000-word paper by next week, but I guess I’ll start by writing 500 words every day. After all, a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.

15. A lean agreement is better than a fat lawsuit.

In disputes, it’s better to compromise and get only part of the potential outcome than to contest an expensive lawsuit for years, with no guarantee on the outcome.

Example : We often see two parties, especially companies, arrive at a compromise than contest the case in courts. They clearly understand that a lean agreement is better than a fat lawsuit.

16. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.

People can’t change their innate character, especially bad.

Example : X: Do you think he’ll stop copying after being caught and penalized? Y: I don’t think so. A leopard can’t change its spots.

17. All is fair in love and war.

One can break the rules of fair play under extenuating circumstances.

Example : In the face of cutthroat competition, some companies adopt unfair practices. To them, it seems all is fair in love and war.

18. All is well that ends well.

As long as the outcome is good, problems on the way don’t matter.

Example : I’m glad you finally got here, even though your car had a flat tire on the way. All’s well that ends well.

19. All lay loads on a willing horse.

A person who says ‘yes’, even if hesitatingly, to any work given to him will soon find himself overloaded with work.

Example : When I joined the company two years back, I was too polite to say ‘no’ to work people asked me to do, and soon I was buried under work. All lay loads on a willing horse.

20. All that glitters is not gold.

Things that look good outwardly may not be as valuable or good.

Example : X: I want to be a movie star when I grow up. Y: Film industry looks good from outside, but it has its own problems. Remember, all that glitters is not gold.

21. Among the blind, one-eyed man is king.

An incapable person can gain powerful position if others in the fray are even more incapable.

Example : Despite his obvious lack of exposure and skills, he became head of the department because he is one-eyed among the blind.

22. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Eating an apple a day will keep you healthy.

Example : Switch from chips to apples for your snack because an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

23. An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.

This proverb exemplifies importance of leadership. A strong army (lions) led by a weak leader (sheep) can lose to a weak army (sheep) led by a strong leader (lion).

Example : The next CEO hasn’t held any leadership position in a large organization. I hope the board doesn’t regret its decision because an army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.

24. An empty vessel makes much noise.

Fools and persons with shallow knowledge often talk a lot.

Example : He has only superficial understanding of the subject but talked the most in the meeting, without adding any value. Empty vessel makes much noise.

25. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.

People are generally more productive in the morning: first, they’re fresh after night’s sleep; second, there are fewer distractions in the morning.

Example : I get up at 6:00 AM and get so much work done by the time I leave for office. I’m a living example of the dictum that an hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.

26. An idle brain is devil’s workshop.

If you’ve nothing to do, you’ll likely think of mischief.

Example : The kids should be kept busy during the summer break. Otherwise, you know an idle brain is devil’s workshop.

27. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.

A little precaution before a crisis is better than lot of firefighting afterwards.

Example : Get the vaccination on priority. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.

28. A picture is worth a thousand words.

It is easier to explain something through a picture than through words.

Example : It is easier to learn biology through pictures than through reams of text. A picture is worth a thousand words.

29. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

A person who is constantly changing his job and relationships won’t have depth in any of them and would be unfulfilled.

Example : You’re now in your third industry in the last eight years, which doesn’t make you an expert in any of them. Remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

30. A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what a ship is for.

Get out of your comfort zone to grow and fulfill your potential.

Example : I think your fears are unfounded. You should travel to Italy for the Model UN. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot. Remember, a ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.

31. Ask no questions and hear no lies.

Don’t ask questions which people can’t or don’t want to answer. If you ask such questions, you’ll hear only lies.

Example : When I asked my neighbour why he comes early from office on some days, he, in a wishy-washy tone, said that on such occasions he finishes his work early. Before asking this question, I should have remembered: Ask no questions and hear no lies.

32. A stitch in time saves nine.

It’s better to deal with problems immediately than wait, by when they worsen and become much bigger.

Example : Because we anticipated and responded to the possible change in Facebook algorithm, the referral traffic to our website dropped much less than what happened to some of our competitors. A stitch in time saves nine.

33. As you sow, so you shall reap.

Your actions – good or bad – determine what you get.

Example : You’re entangled in few cases of fraud because of your illegal get-rich-quick methods. You should have known as you sow, so you shall reap.

34. A thing begun is half done.

A good beginning makes it easier to accomplish rest of the project.

Example : He has already taken the first set in the match, and he should win the match from here. Well begun is half done, after all.

35. A tree is known by its fruit.

Like a tree is known by the fruit it bears, people are known by their character and actions (and not by their appearance).

Example : I see that you avoid him just because he isn’t good looking. Remember, a tree is known by its fruit.

36. Barking dogs seldom bite.

People who appear threatening rarely do harm.

Example : X: I’m really scared to report delay in the project to my temperamental boss. Y: I don’t think you should worry too much about it. Barking dogs seldom bite.

37. Beauty is in the eye of beholder.

What may seem beautiful to one person may not seem to another.

Example : You may not like the curves of my new car, but then beauty is in the eye of beholder.

38. Beauty is only skin deep.

A person’s character, intellect, and other inner qualities are more important than his/her physical appearance.

Example : The actress behaved so rudely with the driver – beauty is skin deep, after all.

39. Beggars can’t be choosers.

People who depend on the generosity of others can’t pick & choose things as per their liking. They’ve to accept what is given to them.

Example : X: I borrowed this jacket from my friend, but it’s not one of his nice ones. Y: Well, beggars can’t be choosers.

40. Begin to weave and God will give the thread.

When taking up a task that has no playbook to follow, we plan a lot and think a lot but don’t act. In such pursuits, you can’t foresee everything in advance and lot of assumptions will come to naught. What’s required is action. Plan, but act. Often, new paths open as you move forward.

Example : The path to develop human colony on Mars is challenging, but people have already started work on it. Hopefully, things will move forward. If you begin to weave, God will give the thread.

41. Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.

Choose things or people after diligence, but once you choose, stick for long.

Example : Don’t be hasty in picking friends, but once you make friends with someone, don’t change him/her fast. You should be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.

42. Best things in life are free.

Most valuable things are often free.

Example : I feel so rejuvenated in clean air, sparkling water, and beautiful nature of the mountains. Often times, best things in life are free.

43. Better late than never.

It is better to get something (you desire) late than get it never.

Example : I’m attending graduate school at 35, but I guess it’s better late than never.

44. Better to be poor and healthy than rich and sick.

Health is more important than money.

Example : The pharma tycoon has been in and out of hospital for the past two months because of kidney ailment. It’s better to be poor and healthy than rich and sick.

45. Birds of a feather flock together.

People with similar nature seek out each other’s company.

Example : You usually hang out with people with background similar to yours. Birds of a feather flock together, after all.

46. Blood is thicker than water.

Relationships with family is stronger than other relationships.

Example : My friends invited me for the picnic on Sunday, but I have to go to my cousin’s birthday instead. Blood is thicker than water, isn’t it?

47. Clothes do not make a man.

A person’s character can’t be judged by his/her clothing and outward appearance.

Example : X: I can’t believe he has been charged for insider trading. He always seemed so professional and impeccable. Y: Well, clothes don’t make a man.

48. Cowards die many times before their death.

Cowards suffer the feared effects of death many times in their lives.

Example : X: He is constantly worried about losing his job, and I don’t think he’ll pursue his true interests. Y: He exemplifies the saying ‘cowards die many times before their deaths’.

49. Cross the stream where it is shallowest.

Do things in the easiest possible way.

Example : Let’s cross the stream at its shallowest and start promoting our product on YouTube, where we already have some following.

50. Curiosity killed the cat.

Enquiring into others’ work can be dangerous. One should mind own business.

Example : I know curiosity killed the cat, but I can’t stop investigating until I know where the donations are actually going.

51. Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.

The consequence of wrongdoings always catches up with the wrongdoer.

Example : Politicians can fool some people some of the time, but in the end, chickens come home to roost when votes are counted.

52. Different strokes for different folks.

Different people have different needs and wants, and we should be respectful to them.

Example : Because people differ in their tastes and habits, I try to provide different strokes for different folks when I invite my friends to my place.

53. Discretion is the better part of valor.

It is wise to be careful and not show unnecessary bravery.

Example : Son: Can I go for this mountaineering expedition? Father: No. Son: But my friends will say I’m a chicken if I don’t go! Father: Discretion is the better part of valor, and I’d rather have them call you chicken than risk your life.

54. Do as you would be done by.

Treat others like the way you would like to be treated. Some people, for example, ingratiate themselves with the powerful but treat less powerful with contempt. Don’t be like them.

Example : You shouldn’t have been rude to him. How would you feel if someone behaves the same way to you? You should do as you would be done by.

55. Doctors make the worst patients.

It’s difficult to advice a person on a matter in which he is an expert. This is because he thinks that he already knows the best about what to do.

Example : When I tried to advice my friend on how to increase revenue from his gas station, he argued why my suggestions wouldn’t work. He was clearly jumping the gun and not open to ideas. Doctors make the worst patients.

56. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Don’t act badly toward the person who has helped you or from whom you derive some benefits, for you may lose those benefits in future.

Example : Don’t bite the hand that feeds you by talking ill of your mentor for such a small thing. If he distances from you or talk bad about you, it can hurt you bad.

57. Don’t carry coals to Newcastle.

In the past, Newcastle was known for its coal mines. Coal was mined here and taken to other parts of England. So, if you carry coal to Newcastle, you’re doing unnecessary work.

Example : When asked in the interview how you can make difference in your role, stay clear of the topic of SEO. They’re already industry leader in it, and you shouldn’t carry coals to Newcastle.

58. Don’t cast pearls before swine.

Don’t offer something valuable to someone who doesn’t value it.

Example : To serve them French cuisine is like casting pearls before swine.

59. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Don’t make plans based on future events that may not happen.

Example : You’re preparing for election campaign when you have not yet been nominated. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

60. Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it.

Deal with a situation when it happens and not unnecessarily worry about it in advance.

Example : I know you’re worried about the mortgage payment due in January, but don’t cross the bridge till you come to it.

61. Don’t empty the water jar until the rain falls.

Don’t quit something, say a job, before securing its replacement.

Example : After getting an average review in his annual performance appraisal, my friend left the organization without landing another job, and then he struggled to get another for several months. Don’t empty the water jar until the rain falls.

62. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Just like you can’t form an opinion of a book just by looking at its cover, you can’t form an opinion about someone (or something) from their outward appearance.

Example : He seems a bit jerk to me, but, hey, you never know. He may be good. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

63. Don’t kill the goose that lays golden eggs.

If you kill a goose that lays golden eggs, you destroy something that makes lot of money for you.

Example : Tourists come to this city mainly to see this monument. By opening it to commercial use, the city council may kill the goose that lays golden eggs.

64. Don’t open a shop unless you know how to smile.

It’s difficult to attract customers without a pleasant persona.

Example : Since my friend has a neutral, if not cold, demeanour, I advised him not to open a shop unless he learns how to smile.

65. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Don’t put all your effort into a single course of action, venture, investment, goal, or the like, because if it doesn’t work, you lose everything.

Example : Almost entire revenue of the company comes from Facebook. If Facebook tweaks its policies in future, the company may sink. They shouldn’t put all their eggs in the same basket.

66. Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.

Everything calm and peaceful doesn’t mean there are no dangers around.

Example : Even though the industry looks stable with predictable market share and revenue, there are always obscure start-ups which may threaten your company in future. Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.

67. Don’t throw the baby with the bathwater.

Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.

Example : Let’s not throw the baby with the bathwater by scrapping the project for a subpart not planned well.

68. Eagles don’t catch flies.

Eagles catch bigger prey than flies, don’t they? Don’t take trivial matters to senior leaders in your organization. You have to resolve them, not they.

Example : You shouldn’t call the AVP for such small disruption in the supply chain. Resolve it yourself. Eagles, after all, don’t catch flies.

69. Early bird catches the worm.

One who starts early on the work has higher chance of success.

Example : I’ve come early for the season-ending sale so that I can choose from a wider selection and get a better piece. Early bird catches the worm, after all.

70. Empty bags can’t stand upright.

A poor or hungry person cannot discharge his duties well.

Example : You can’t expect poor people to fight for climate change, because empty bags can’t stand upright. They need to first fulfill their basic needs.

71. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Bad times will eventually give way to better times. (The presence of silver lining means that the sun is behind the cloud and will eventually emerge.)

Example : I know your business has suffered few setbacks this season. But remember, every cloud has a silver lining.

72. Every dog has his day.

Even the unluckiest or the most unfortunate will taste success at some point.

Example : Are you surprised that John, the laggard, has got 92 percent marks in math? Well, every dog has his day.

73. Every horse thinks its own pack is heaviest.

We think that we work the hardest. This is also called responsibility bias: People tend to overvalue their own contributions and undervalue contributions of others.

Example : X: You’re questioning my contribution! I’m the one who has worked the hardest on this project. I haven’t taken a day’s leave in six months. Y: Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.

74. Every tub must stand on its own bottom.

We can’t hide incompetency behind teamwork. Everyone has to justify their expense.

Example : The manager has singled out my team member for unsatisfactory work in the current project. Message was clear: Every tub must stand on its own bottom.

75. Fall seven times; stand up eight.

Be resilient and try despite failures. That’s how you succeed.

Example : Abraham Lincoln lost so many elections, but he kept trying. Eventually he became the President of United States. It’s rightly said: Fall seven times; stand up eight.

76. Familiarity breeds contempt.

If you know a situation, person, or thing well, you start taking them for granted and stop respecting them.

Example : The reason for many breakups and disasters can be traced to contempt bred by familiarity.

77. Faults are thick where love is thin.

If the love is shallow, people will find faults in each other.

Example : We occasionally overhear accusations and counter-accusations coming from the neighboring family. Faults are thick where love is thin.

78. Fine feathers make fine birds.

Like birds with colorful feathers look attractive, people in fine clothes look appealing. However, don’t get swayed by external appearance when making friends.

Example : X: The person I’ve just been introduced to, no doubt, looks attractive.

Y: Why wouldn’t he? Fine feathers make fine birds, after all. But you shouldn’t go by attractiveness when making friends.

79. Flattery, like perfume, should be smelled but not swallowed.

Enjoy the flattery you receive, but don’t believe it because people often flatter to meet their own selfish interests.

Example : I know he was all praise for your business acumen, but don’t take his words literally as this guy needs business from us. Flattery, like perfume, should be smelled but not swallowed.

80. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Fools or inexperienced persons get involved in situations or pursue goals without much thought. In contrast, wise think through such situations or goals.

Example : He sent an angry email without going into the background of the matter – fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

81. Fortune favors the brave.

If you carry out your plans boldly, luck is more likely to favor you.

Example : I know you’re hesitant to accept the overseas position in your company because ground realities there are different from what you’ve faced so far, but remember fortune favors the brave.

82. For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost.

An insignificant nail resulted in the loss of the rider. Small things can have huge implications. So, don’t ignore nuances and minute details. They’re the ones that stand people out.

Example : Because of malfunction in a tiny component, the entire batch of 120,000 air conditioners had to be recalled. For want of a nail the shoe is lost… the rider is lost.

83. Get out while the going (getting) is good.

Get out of a situation while it’s still easy to leave on good terms.

Example : With the stock market at an all-time high and further upside looking difficult, we decided to sell our shares and get out while the going was good.

84. God helps those who help themselves.

God helps those who make sincere effort.

Example : You’ve to take the bull by horns and try getting a new job. God helps those who help themselves.

85. Good bargains empty the purse.

Good bargains can be tempting and entice people into buying more than required, most of which can even go unused.

Example : I bought three trousers and four shirts for 30 percent discount, even though I don’t need them. Good bargains indeed empty the purse.

86. Good swimmers are often drowned.

Overconfidence can doom even the competent.

Example : Kodak overlooked the prospect of digital photographs replacing its camera films. As a result, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after more than 120 years in existence. Good swimmers are often drowned.

87. Good things come to those who wait.

Patience is often rewarded.

Example : The best investors in the world have made their fortunes by investing for the long term. Good things come to those who wait.

88. Good wine needs no bush.

A good product doesn’t need promotion; it spreads through word of mouth.

Example : Stripe, a financial services firm, grew mainly through word of mouth. Good wine needs no bush.

89. Grief divided is made lighter.

If you share your grief, it’ll get easier to bear.

Example : You shouldn’t hold back the news of financial loss you’ve incurred in your business. Grief divided is made lighter.

90. Half a loaf is better than none.

We should thank for what we get even though it’s less than what we had hoped for.

Example : I applied to six colleges and got admission in my second choice. Not ideal but it could have been worse. Half a loaf is better than no bread.

91. Home is where the heart is.

Don’t you feel relieved on reaching home after you’ve been away for few days? No matter where you visit, you’ll long to return to your home and family.

Example : I’ve been out of the town on work for only three days now, and I’m already longing to get back home. I guess, home is where the heart is.

92. Honesty is the best policy.

It’s always better to be truthful and honest, even if the opposite may get you short-term benefits.

Example : I think you should just explain what happened, rather than trying to cover your tracks. Honesty is the best policy, after all.

93. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Be optimistic, but be prepared for a scenario where things can go wrong.

Example : We’re hoping to raise capital from investors, but it may not come so soon. Therefore, it’s imperative to look for alternatives as well. Let’s hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

94. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

If things were to happen by just wishing them, even the poorest will have everything they want.

Example : X: I want to be in a job that would pay me a million dollars a year. Y: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Stop fooling yourself and work hard towards your goal.

95. If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape hundred days of sorrow.

Actions and decisions taken in moments of anger aren’t the best. They can bring great misery. Wait for your anger to pass and then act or decide.

Example : The customer representative was upset at the illegitimate demand of the customer, but he remained calm and patient because he knew that if you are patient… sorrow.

96. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.

Something cheap will be of suspect quality and will trouble you later in the form of higher maintenance and/or poor performance.

Example : I bought the air conditioner at quite an attractive price, but it’s running a high electricity bill because it’s not very efficient. Moreover, it requires more maintenance. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.

97. If you can’t beat them, join them.

If you can’t beat your opponent, then work alongside them for mutual benefit.

Example : ABC Pvt. Ltd. has struck partnership with its competitor after it failed to gain market share. If you can’t beat them, join them.

98. If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.

If you do something dangerous or adventurous, you may get harmed.

Example : Enacting the stunts of movie superheroes in real life is playing with fire. You may get burned.

99. If you want peace, prepare for war.

If you utilize the peace time to get better at war, your adversaries will hesitate in waging a war on you, and hence the time of peace will stretch.

Example : We’re in a competitive industry. Therefore, we should use this time of high growth and less competition (time of peace, in other words) to shore up capital, diversify, invest in revenue streams of future, and hire good talent. If you want peace, prepare for war.

100. If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Working with others may be somewhat slow compared to solo work, but you’ll need to collaborate if you want long-term success because you can’t do everything yourself.

Example : If you want to grow your business and sustain it over the long term, build a team. If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

101. Ignorance is bliss.

If you don’t know about something, you don’t need to bother about it. In other words, if you’re unaware of something, it won’t cause you stress. This proverb, however, is often used in the opposite way – ignorance is not bliss.

Example : I didn’t know that the neighbor next door was involved in criminal activities. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

102. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Words of flattery may not be sincere. But action (imitation) is sincere. Who wouldn’t be flattered if someone imitates them in some way?

Example : In the conference, the Twitter influencer with more than a million followers was told by a follower that he has amassed more than 20,000 followers by following influencer’s advice. The influencer was extremely happy to hear that. Imitation, after all, is the sincerest form of flattery.

103. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s better to be cautious than regret later.

Example : One shouldn’t complain about the inconvenience of security check each time you enter the building. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

104. It’s better to lose the battle and win the war.

It’s fine to lose small things if it helps you win the big pie.

Example : I climbed down from my position before the friendly argument could heat up, and we all parted amicably. It’s better to lose the battle and win the war.

105. It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general.

Leaders are not easy to find. Retain them at whatever price it takes if you’ve them.

Example : The Vice President was all set to leave Google and lead Twitter, but Google somehow convinced him not to leave as it knew that it’s easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general.

106. It’s never too late to mend.

It’s never too late to change course or make amends for a past mistake. Don’t let your ego come in between.

Example : I think it was your fault, and you should be the one to say sorry and make up with your estranged brother. It’s never too late to mend.

107. It is part of a good shepherd to shear his flock, not to skin it.

People shouldn’t be subjected to discomfort beyond tolerance.

Example : The government raised taxes last year and shouldn’t raise them again. It is part of a good shepherd to shear his flock, not to skin it.

108. It takes a village to raise a child.

It takes an entire community to raise children in safe and nourishing environment.

Example : Lionesses in a pride take care of cubs of other lionesses. Doesn’t it take a village to raise a child?

109. It takes two to make a quarrel.

Without involvement of at least two persons, a quarrel won’t happen. So, if one of the two persons decide, a quarrel won’t happen.

Example : X: Why are you so quarrelsome? Y: I’m not the only person involved. It takes two to make a quarrel.

110. It takes two to tango.

Where two parties are involved in a situation, fault usually lies with both if things go wrong. Rarely can one party be blamed entirely.

Example : This deal won’t go through unless you too are willing to compromise. It takes two to tango, after all.

111. Justice delayed is justice denied.

In many countries, wheels of justice move so slow that sometimes it takes decades to pronounce a judgment. This causes suffering in terms of time and money wasted and the long wait for justice.

Example : Verdict in the landgrab case has come after twelve long years. To contest the case, the victim had to sell off his land. Justice delayed is justice denied.

112. Kind words will unlock an iron door.

If you talk politely, people are more amenable to your suggestions and ask.

Example : The government officer was quite cold to my father but did the job when I made a polite request. Kind words can unlock an iron door.

113. Kings have long arms.

Governments have far-reaching powers.

Example : After committing the fraud, the tycoon fled to another country, but the government pulled all levers to get him extradited. Kings indeed have long arms.

114. Laughter is the best medicine.

Laughter reduces stress and improves immunity, leading to better health.

Example : I think the best thing for you right now would be to spend some time with people you can joke around with. Laughter is the best medicine, after all.

115. Learn to walk before you run.

Learn basic skills first before venturing into complex things.

Example : X: I want to submit my first article to Fortune magazine for publication. Y: I think you should aim for smaller publications to start with. You should learn to walk before you run.

116. Least said, soonest mended.

When you fall out with someone, restrain yourself from using foul, upsetting language. Words can leave a lasting impression and make it difficult to reconcile.

Example : When the argument heated up with my friend, I deescalated the matter, excused myself, and walked away. Least said, soonest mended.

117. Lend your money and lose your friend.

Lending money to a friend can lead to souring of friendship. If you ask to repay, he may feel offended, and if he fails to repay, you’ll be offended.

Example : I don’t like calling up Tom any longer for regular chitchats after he failed to return the money I lent three months back. Lend your money and lose your friend, I guess.

118. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Don’t talk about a bad situation people have forgotten and that could unnecessarily create problem in the present.

Example : X: Should I ask the professor if he is upset about my late submission of the assignment? Y: If he hasn’t said anything, then don’t bring forth the topic – let sleeping dogs lie.

119. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

Misfortune does not occur twice in the same way to the same person.

Example : X: I don’t want to take this route, because I was robbed the last time I travelled on this route. Y: Don’t worry, lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

120. Like people, like priest.

Quality of people is a good indicator of the quality of their leader. We expect our bureaucracy, politicians, and other leaders to be impeccable. But they don’t descend from heavens. They come from the very people they represent, and hence their quality will be reflective of the quality of people.

Example : As a society, we’re becoming more and more insensitive, self-centered, and apathetic on matters of public importance. Little wonder, our leaders too aren’t first rate. Like people, like priest.

121. Long absent, soon forgotten.

If you haven’t met or spoken to a friend or relative in long time, he’ll be forgotten. Such friendships eventually wither away or may just remain a distant acquaintance.

Example : I haven’t spoken to my college friend in years, and now I don’t even like to make the call. I guess I’ve moved on. Long absent, soon forgotten.

122. Look before you leap.

Consider all consequences before taking an action, especially when you can’t retract.

Example : X: I’m planning to pursue an MBA. Y: It’s an expensive degree and, moreover, you’ll be out of work for two years. I would say look before you leap.

123. Love me, love my dog.

If you love someone, then you should love them as they come with their qualities, shortcomings, friends, family, and so on.

Example : If you love her, then you should love her family and friends as well. Love me, love my dog. Isn’t it?

124. Make hay while the sun shines.

Make the most of favorable conditions till they last.

Example : I got plenty of referral traffic to my website from Facebook in its initial years. I made hay while the sun shone. Later on, they changed their algorithm, after which the referral traffic dried.

125. Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you.

If you’re a yes-man and often talk sweet language to please others, people won’t respect you.

Example : X: This guy tries to keep everyone in good humor and will change his stand just for that. Y: True. That’s why people treat him with contempt. Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you.

126. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

Spend money carefully because it’s limited. You can’t grow it on trees and replenish.

Example : I’m surprised that you spent your entire month’s salary on a frivolous gadget. Well, money doesn’t grow on trees.

127. Money talks.

Money gives one power and influence.

Example : I don’t have access to many people like he has, after all he is a scion of a rich family. Money talks, you know.

128. More die of food than famine.

More people die because of excess indulgence in food and eating unhealthy than because of shortage of food.

Example : You shouldn’t eat unhealthy snacks so regularly. Remember, more die of food than famine.

129. Murder will out.

Secrets rarely remain secret. They’ll eventually come out and be known to all.

Example : I tried my best to not let my organization know that I’m searching for another job, but, to my embarrassment, one of my teammates has come to know. It’s rightly said murder will out.

130. Necessity is the mother of invention.

A need or problem forces people to come up with innovative solutions.

Example : In some parts of the world, farmers use washing machine to clean potatoes. Necessity, after all, is the mother of invention.

131. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Don’t delay doing something if you can do it immediately.

Example : X: I’m done with most of my assignment, but I’ll pick the remaining part on Monday. Y: Why don’t you complete it now? You’ll be more relieved and in a better state of mind. You shouldn’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

132. Never test the depth of water with both feet.

If you’re testing the depth of water with both feet down, you risk being drowned if the water turns out to be deep. But if you test with one foot, you can pull away. The proverb means that before going whole hog into something unknown, assess the risk well.

Example : Before investing such large sum in crypto and taking a hit, I should’ve first invested a small amount or talked to experts. One should never test the depth of water with both feet.

133. Night brings counsel.

If you have a difficult problem to solve or an important decision to make, a good night’s sleep will work wonders.

Example : Thinking over and over again about the problem isn’t leading to a solution. Why don’t you just sleep over the problem? Sometimes, night brings counsel.

134. No gain without pain.

To succeed in one’s pursuits, it is necessary to work hard and sacrifice pleasures.

Example : You’ve to drastically reduce the time you spend on video games and TV if you want to get admission in a good college. No gain without pain.

135. No news is good news.

If you don’t receive any news about someone or something, it means that everything is fine and going normally.

Example : My daughter has been working in Australia for nearly five years now. At first, I used to get worried when I didn’t hear from her, but now I know that no news is good news.

136. Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm.

Those who are flexible and relatively insignificant can survive a crisis that brings down powerful who are unable or unwilling to adapt.

Example : In mass extinction events such as the one in which dinosaurs became extinct, large animals, which need plenty of food, go extinct first. Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm.

137. Once bitten twice shy.

A person won’t do something a second time because he/she had bad experience the first time.

Example : I won’t try this drink, because last time I had a burning sensation in my throat. Once bitten twice shy, I guess.

138. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

What may seem to be junk to one person maybe valuable to another.

Example : I sold my 6-year-old laptop for little amount, but I’m sure the buyer will make hefty profit on it by refurbishing and selling it to someone else. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, after all.

139. Pen is mightier than sword.

Thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than use of force.

Example : After the mass killings at the newspaper office, there is a protest which is happening in the city declaring support to the paper, proving that pen is mightier than sword.

140. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones at others.

People who have some shortcomings shouldn’t criticize others for having the same shortcomings.

Example : The main political party in the opposition has blamed the ruling party for giving tickets to people with dubious background in the upcoming elections. But the big question is that are they themselves clean on this count? People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones at others.

141. Persuasion is better than force.

You can achieve better results through persuasion than through coercion.

Example : After many futile attempts by the government, farmers finally agreed to acquisition of their land on the promise of economic development of the area. That’s why it is said persuasion is better than force.

142. Politeness costs little but yields much.

Speaking politely costs no more than speaking rudely, but it can yield much more by making friends.

Example : All things equal, few deals went my way – and not my competitor’s – because of my polite and pleasant demeanour. Politeness costs little but yields much.

143. Practice makes perfect.

Doing something over and over makes one better at it.

Example : You can’t expect to master guitar in two months. You’ve to keep at it for several months, as practice makes perfect.

144. Practice what you preach.

Behave the way you encourage others to behave.

Example : You keep telling us to go for a jog in the morning, but I wish you practice what you preach.

145. Rich man’s joke is always funny.

People agree with and flatter rich people to be in good books with them.

Example : The rich kid in my college was always surrounded by classmates who were overzealous to flatter him and keep him in good humor. A rich man’s joke is always funny.

146. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Important work takes time to complete.

Example : You can’t expect her to finish such a complex project in a week. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

147. Shrouds have no pockets.

We arrived in this world without anything, and we’ll leave without anything.

Example : What will you do with all the money you’re accumulating at the cost of a peaceful, happy life? As far as I know, shrouds have no pockets.

148. Silence is half consent.

If you don’t object to what someone says or does, you may be assumed to agree to some extent.

Example : He didn’t say anything to my proposal of going for a picnic on the weekend. I believe he is not saying ‘no’. Silence is half consent.

149. Slow and steady wins the race.

Slow and consistent work leads to better chance of success than quick work in spurts.

Example : X: I’ve built a strong vocabulary by learning a word a day for the last three years. Y: Mine has been much less, even though I’ve had days when I polished off ten words. I guess slow and steady wins the race.

150. Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

If you work only on regular projects, you won’t be challenged and hence not become better at what you do. So, volunteer into few challenging projects as well.

Example : In my new project, I’m leading the team that will launch a new product, an experience, I believe, will provide a steep learning curve. After all, smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

151. Still water runs deep.

If a person doesn’t speak much, it doesn’t mean they lack depth or are uninteresting.

Example : She may not talk much, but she is one of the smartest persons in the organization. Still water runs deep.

152. Strike while the iron is hot.

Take advantage of an opportunity before it extinguishes.

Example : I thought over the job offer way too long. Now it has been offered to someone else. I should have struck while the iron was hot.

153. The course of true love never did run smooth.

True love goes through ups and downs.

Example : Romeo and Juliet went through lot of trials and tribulations in their love. The course of true love, it seems, never did run smooth.

154. The family that (eats) prays together stays together.

The family that gets together regularly to pray or eat is more close-knit than the family that doesn’t.

Example : Our grandfather ensured that all family members come together, howsoever busy they may be, at least once a week for dinner, which likely was the reason why our family was so close-knit. The family that (eats) prays together stays together.

155. The grass is greener on the other side of fence.

People are never satisfied with their own situation; they always think others have it better.

Example : X: When I see him post all those travel pictures on Instagram, I feel he has the perfect life. Y: It’s usually not like that in real life. I’m sure he too has his share of problems. I see your thought as grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

156. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

The harder you work, the more ideas and chances you may make for yourself.

Example : Many think he got lucky in getting that fat contract, but few know he had been pursuing dozens of such contracts for several weeks – the harder you work, the luckier you get.

157. The higher the monkey climbs the more he shows his tail.

The higher an incompetent person rises in an organization, the more his incompetence is exposed.

Example : After the recent promotion, the official, who somehow rose in ranks despite lack of merit, now headed a much larger department. As a result, his incompetence was now exposed to far more people. The higher the monkey climbs the more he shows his tail.

158. The highest branch is not the safest roost.

Those in the highest positions can be vulnerable as many aspire to replace them. Second, if the person is replaced, it’s not easy to find a similar position because of paucity of roles at the top.

Example : In earlier times, kings used to be on their guard all the time, suspicious of plots to overthrow them. The highest branch is not the safest roost, after all.

159. The longest way around is the shortest way home.

If you want to achieve the desired quality, work diligently and carefully and not cut corners.

Example : The earlier software contractor wrote a bloated, shoddy code that now needs to be rewritten. It should have been done more thoughtfully. The longest way around is the shortest way home.

160. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

If you deviate from the norm, you’ll face resistance, even hostile reaction in extreme case.

Example : In government, where rule-based work is norm, the nail that sticks out usually gets hammered down.

161. The only free cheese is in the mousetrap.

There rarely are completely free offers; they come attached with hooks. So, beware of such offers.

Example : The film actor got a 4-day stay at heavy discount at a premium hotel in Maldives, but later they used her pictures to promote the hotel. The only free cheese is in the mousetrap.

162. The proof of pudding is in eating.

You can only judge the quality of something after you have tried, used, or experienced it.

Example : X: Marketers have claimed that this weight loss diet produces strong results in just two months. Y: Well, I’ll reserve my opinion till I’ve tried it myself. After all, proof of pudding is in the eating.

163. There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.

We all want peace and happiness in life, and there are multiple ways of achieving this goal. However, many get so tunnel-focused that they fail to see paths other than their current job, which may ironically be hurting their pursuit of happiness. So, once in a while, take a step back and reflect.

Example : You’re overworked and stressed in your current job. I would suggest you explore other options, for there are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.

164. There are more ways than one to skin a cat.

There is more than one way to reach the same goal.

Example : We can get around that by renting instead of buying the delivery van – there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

165. There is no time like the present.

The best time to do something is right now. So, act now.

Example : Don’t wait until New Year to change your bad habits. There’s no time like the present.

166. There is truth in wine.

People when drunk speak truth, often unwittingly.

Example : I got to know quite a few secrets last night from my friend Tom after he got drunk. There certainly is truth in wine.

167. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Good intention doesn’t not matter if a person’s actions lead to bad outcomes.

Example : X: Well, I was only trying to be helpful by mixing those two acids. Y: But it exploded! Well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

168. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

People who complain the most are the ones who get attention or what they want.

Example : If you’re not satisfied with the service at the hotel, then you should call up the manager there. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, after all.

169. The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet tall.

We should avoid foul, inconsiderate language because it can leave lasting scars and dent relationships forever.

Example : The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high. It did in my case as I lost my friend forever when, in a fit of anger, I used quite harsh language with him, even dragging his friends and family.

170. Time and tide wait for no man.

You’ve no control over passage of time; it’ll keep slipping. So don’t procrastinate, don’t delay things.

Example : We need to decide fast about buying the property at this price. Time and tide wait for no man.

171. To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

Many take up a job or project they later hate, wasting precious years. This can be avoided if you ask few who’ve undertaken the same job or project about their experience.

Example : I could’ve made a more informed career choice if I had asked few senior software engineers the nuts & bolts of the job at various stages of the career. To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

172. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many people work together on a project, the result is inferior.

Example : This proposal has received feedback from too many parliamentary committees, and that’s probably the reason why it lacks clear action items. I’ve no doubt that too many cooks spoil the broth.

173. Two heads are better than one.

Two persons have a better chance to solve a problem than one.

Example : More startups have two cofounders than one. That’s because they very well understand that two heads are better than one.

174. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

You shouldn’t harm a person who has harmed you, even if you think that person deserves it.

Example : Just because he insulted you doesn’t mean it’s OK for you to start a rumor about him – two wrongs don’t make a right.

175. What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?

What can you expect from a bad character but foul and rough language?

Example : X: My neighbour quarreled with me and used abusive language over such a small issue. Y: What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?

176. When a twig grows hard, it is difficult to twist it.

A person can be moulded when young but not when he has grown up. So, one should inculcate good values in children while they’re still young.

Example : Your son doesn’t take responsibility when he fails at something. You must take corrective action now, for when a twig grows hard, it is difficult to twist it.

177. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of local people.

Example : I don’t love cotton candy, but we are at a carnival. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

178. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

When conditions become difficult, strong people take action.

Example : I know you’re not used to climbing at such heights, but come on when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

179. Where there’s will, there’s way.

If you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is difficult.

Example : He had little resources to start his business, but he eventually did through a small opening – blog. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

180. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

If there are rumors or signs that something is true, there must be some truth in it.

Example : X: Do you believe those rumors about the mayor? Y: Well, you know what they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

181. While the cat is away, the mice will play.

Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules.

Example : As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over – when the cat’s away, you know.

182. Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?

Why take the trouble of investing in a cow and then maintaining it when you can simply buy milk far cheaply? You should avoid buying unnecessary assets when you can do with far cheaper options.

Example : Why buy a vehicle when we can get one on rent? Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?

183. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

Sometimes, you have employees for specific job, but someone else ends up doing that job. That’s a waste.

Example : The company has hired a designer to bring uniformity and quality in design, but some of the divisions are still designing their own stuff. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

184. Words must be weighed, not counted.

Word count doesn’t matter. What matters is how effective they’re.

Example : Your report is quite voluminous, and it contains lot of superfluous stuff. Kindly revise it. Words must be weighed, not counted.

185. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

It’s easier to win people to your side by persuasion and politeness than by confrontation and threats.

Example : X: The courier service has taken more time to deliver than they had promised. I want to take the issue up with them and get a refund. Y: I would suggest you deal with them politely. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

186. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

You can show people the way to do things, but you can’t force them to act.

Example : X: He has received all the resources one needs to start a business, but even after six months I don’t see anything happening. Y: Well, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

187. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

If you have your cake and eat it too, you get two things that are normally impossible to get simultaneously.

Example : If you want more local services, you can’t expect to pay less tax. Well, you can’t have your cake and eat it.

188. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.

It is hard to achieve something important without causing unpleasant effects.

Example : If I don’t slash salaries, the company is going to go bankrupt. It’\’s unfortunate, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.

189. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

People who have long been used to doing things in a particular way will not abandon their habits to learn something new.

Example : I bet you can’t get him to wake at 5 AM and go out for a walk. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

190. You do not fatten a pig by weighing it.

This proverb is quoted by opponents of too much testing. Weighing a pig won’t fatten it. Altering its diet would. Similarly, testing kids in school multiple times won’t improve their performance in a particular subject. What’s required is an elaborate system to work on students’ weak areas.

Example : Most private coaching centres for entrance exams hold not only regular tests but also elaborate doubt-clearing sessions. They clearly understand that you can’t fatten a pig by only weighing it.

191. You show me the man, and I’ll show you the rule.

Rules change depending on how powerful the person likely to be affected by the rules is.

Example : X: He has been treated leniently by the police. Y: That’s why they say – you show me the man and I’ll show you the rule.

192. Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

Like hunger forces the wolf out of the wood to seek food elsewhere, necessity forces poor to take up unpleasant tasks, sometimes in violation of law.

Example : With growing income disparities in the society, government must strengthen its skilling program for the unemployed and improve welfare programs for the poor. Otherwise, hunger will drive the wolf out of the wood.

193. A house divided cannot stand.

Prosperity and success come when a country, society, institution, or family stand united on issues and work together.

Example : Opposition parties are opposing the government even on the issue of national security, where we must stand united. A house divided cannot stand.

194. Until the lions produce their own historian, the story of the hunt will glorify only the hunter.

History is written by the victors, and they, naturally, glorify themselves.

Example : Tom: Some of the portrayals in history are overly rosy and superhuman, and some are downright villainous.

Jerry: Until the lions produce their own historian, the story of the hunt will glorify only the hunter.

195. The fish always stinks from the head downwards.

A dead fish starts rotting from head downwards. Similarly, in any organization or country, the rot sets in from the top. If the leadership is defunct, corrupt, and self-centred, implications will soon spread to the entire organization.

Example : Who can forget scandals at Enron and Satyam Computers where misdemeanours of their leaders sank the companies? The fish always stinks from the head downwards.

196. If every man would sweep his own doorsteps, the city would soon be clean.

For community work, everyone should take responsibility and contribute whatever little they can. Small contributions by many can accomplish mammoth tasks such as cleaning an entire city.

Example : The people came together to raise funds for the community centre. If every man would sweep his own doorsteps, the city would soon be clean.

197. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Teaching fishing, a skill, is far more important than merely handing doles (fish, here) to people. It serves an important reminder to our educational institutions, especially higher education, where majority of graduates are churned out without marketable skills. Most animals, in contrast, teach only the most essential skills – finding food and escaping predators – to their young ones. Nothing superfluous there.

Example : Skilling is better than giving subsidies to poor. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

198. Corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned.

Protesting against a government or a large organization is unlike protesting against individuals. An organization can use its deep pockets and power to take you on for decades together, and it wouldn’t bother anyone in that organization because individuals there don’t suffer financially or otherwise. In contrast, the protesters suffer individually. That’s why it’s not easy for individuals to slug it out against organizations and governments.

Example : Some countries impose economic sanctions not just against dictatorial regimes and rogue organizations but also against individuals there, which pinches the key orchestrators. The sanctioning countries know very well that corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned.

199. When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money.

A Native American proverb. It’s paramount to save the environment. We’re already seeing the adverse effect, which seem to intensify every year, of untold exploitation of nature.

Example : Government has approved another power project in an ecologically sensitive region. When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money.

200. One law for the rich and another for the poor.

The law is same for both, but the rich, through their abundant resources, can get favourable decisions by influencing decision makers, hiring the best lawyers, and delaying the case if it suits them, among several measures at their command.

Example : The hotelier’s son went scot-free in the highly publicized hit-and-run case. After all, there is one law for the rich and another for the poor.

201. New lords, new laws.

New governments have their own agendas.

Example : The new government has raised taxes on the rich. New lords, new laws.

Anil is the person behind content on this website, which is visited by 3,000,000+ learners every year. He writes on most aspects of English Language Skills. More about him here:

27 Comments

I love this. Some I agree with, some I don’t, but proverbs are something that have been around through ages. I liked easy-flowing descriptions of the proverbs.

Hi, I could be wrong here, but I thought blood is thicker than water was originally derived from ‘the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb’, meaning friendship is stronger than family bonds. Thanks.

I really enjoyed reading and learning these proverbs. I appreciate your hard work to make this page. Thank you, Emilly, UK

Does anyone know any proverb/quote around the idea of making two trips (to the car) instead of one? The idea is not to try and save time by carrying too much at once? My GGMa had a saying and I cannot recall it. Any help appreciated.

This was very helpful, but I still need the meanings of the following proverbs: 1. Speech is silver, silence is golden 2. A miss is as good as a mile

The bow street runners used to ride. It took a mile to load a rifle so, a miss is as good as a mile!

It’s my best learning experience ever; honestly it’s my favourite. I wish I could have it in a pdf. I would really be so grateful. I appreciate it.

Great help for my father who has dementia.

Wow! Am a teacher and have found the proverbs so usefel and helpful in consideration that most books don’t address them quite fully.. Thanks for the Madeline examples

This is awesome! I’d like to share one my grandmother would say. “You don’t have to eat the whole hog to know you’re eating pork.”

Hi what’s the meaning and example of 1. The owl thinks her own young fairest 2. If fools went not to market, bad wares would 3. The peacock has fair feathers, but foul feet

Nice proverbs. I have our local proverb from South Sudan: A man is man no man can make man a man.

Great but most of them are not proverbs that kids can understand, like my daughter (5-year-old) said that if she and her friend were having a race did she just have to walk. She thought that slow really wins the race.

Does anyone Know what “queer as a bottle of chips ” means or comes from?

As an aspiring English writer whose mother language is not English, definitions of proverbs are sometimes hard to understand. This post really helped me a lot!

Also missing: You can’t make a silk purse from a pigs ear.

I learnt few proverbs that I can use in my essays. A big thank you to Lemon Grad. I hope you will be covering more things on English.

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians. The squeaky wheel get the grease. What’s that have to do with the price of eggs in China. No good deed goes unpunished

Thank you for your 150 proverbs and their meanings. It helped my daughter to complete her english project. Thanks a lot ??????

Thank you for helping me score high in my national examination!!!

Thanks so much ?..I’ve just finished writing my term paper and the proverbs have been of great help.

If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm you will never enjoy the sunshine.

Enjoy the current moments even if they are small rather than waiting for big events to take place in your life.

please email me meanings of proverbs down below

1- It never rains but pours

2- Still waters run deep

3- To carry water in a sieve

Hello, I think these could be the meaning you have asking for. I hope it helps you It never rains but pours. This means that misfortune never comes alone. Still waters run deep: Appearences are deceptive

Sorry, I’ve forgot the 3rd one To carry water in a sieve means work for nothing, doing a useless job

I was looking for an English version of a Danish proverb stating that “when the manger is empty, the horses bite one another”. Do you have a good match?

Admiring the hard work you put into your blog and in depth information you offer. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material.

Fantastic read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

Comments are closed.

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

50 Essential Proverbs In English

Do you use proverbs in your language?

I’m sure you do. 

If you’re wondering what a proverb is, well, it's a well-known expression that gives advice or says something that is generally true. 

Every language has its own proverbs and it may be possible that a proverb in your language is identical to a proverb in English.

In this post, you’ll learn 50 proverbs in English so you can not only understand English speakers when they use them but also use them yourself to express your ideas with more variety, impact and precision.

Ready? Here we go.

1. Honey Catches More Flies Than Vinegar

Meaning: It’s easier to persuade or attract others if you’re kind and gentle than being harsh or confrontational.

Example: I think your kids would visit you more if you were nicer to them. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar!

2. Haste Makes Waste

Meaning:  Rushing through a task often creates problems or extra work.

Example: 

Team member: “We need to finish this project quickly. Let's skip the planning stage and start right away.”

Team leader: “Remember, haste makes waste. If we skip the planning phase, we’ll be more likely to make mistakes later on and end up having to spend time fixing them. We shouldn’t rush things, especially at the beginning.” 

3. Hope For The Best And Prepare For The Worse

Meaning: It’s absolutely fine to be positive, but you should be prepared in case things to go wrong.

Example: We hoped for the best and prepared for the worst when we learned that the hurricane was coming.

4. The Straw That Breaks/Broke The Camel's Back

Meaning: When an event is the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back, it means it’s the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc.

Example:  It had been a difficult year, so when he lost his job, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

5. A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing

Meaning: Only having a little understanding of a subject can be more dangerous than having no knowledge at all. 

You may be wondering why. 

Well, this is because when someone knows little about a topic, they may mistakenly believe they know enough about it to make decisions. But this could lead to negative consequences!

Example:  

Speaker A: “I read one article about becoming vegan. I’m ready to quit eating meat”

Speaker B: “No! Be careful, remember that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Learn more about how you can replace meat and animal products first and then do it”

6. Love Makes The World Go Round

Meaning: What makes life worth living is love, affection, and kindness to others.

Example: Love makes the world go round, not money or power, so do your best to create beautiful relationships.

7. Misery Loves Company

Meaning: People who are unhappy and miserable like to share their problems with others.

Example: We had both just broken up with our girlfriends, so we decided to go out for pizza together – misery loves company. 

8. Nothing Is Certain But Death And Taxes 

Meaning: You can only be sure about two things in life: 1. one day you’re going to die; 2. you must pay your taxes. 

Speaker A: “I’ve just made a big investment in the stock market”

Speaker B: “You’ll get rich!”

Speaker A: “Well, we’ll see. Nothing is certain but death and taxes!”

9. A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed

Meaning: A friend who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.

Speaker A: When I was in hospital, Jon would phone me every day to check I was doing OK. He then helped me with my rehabilitation too. 

Speaker B: A friend in need is a friend indeed!

10. If You Want A Thing Done Well/Right, Do It Yourself

Meaning: It’s better to do something by yourself than to depend on others to do it well.

Speaker A: “I'm so upset with the way this project is going. I’ll just take over and do it myself.”

Speaker B: “Yeah! Sometimes if you want a thing done right, it's better to do it yourself.” 

11. Opportunity Seldom Knocks Twice

Meaning: You only get great opportunities rarely. So grab them immediately, otherwise you might lose them forever!

Speaker A: “They’ve offered me a well-paid job at Apple but I’m not sure what to do.”

Speaker B: “What??? Take it! Opportunity seldom knocks twice!”

12. When In Rome Do As The Romans Do

Meaning: When you’re traveling and you find yourself in a place with different customs and traditions, it’s a good thing to do adapt yourself to the customs of the local people and behave like they do.

Example:  “I know you normally love pineapple on pizza but you’re in Naples now. So don’t ask for that here. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!”

13. If You Run After Two Hares, You Will Catch Neither

Meaning: Don’t try to do two things at once. You won’t do either of them well.

Speaker A: “I want to become a world-famous YouTuber and be the most popular writer in my country.”

Speaker B: “If I were you, I’d focus on one thing only. If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.”

14. Speech Is Silver But Silence Is Golden

Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to remain silent rather than speak.

Example:  “He’ll try to involve you in the debate. Try to resist and remember that speech is silver but silence is golden.”

15. Stretch Your Arm No Further Than Your Sleeve (Will Reach)

Meaning: Don’t spend more money than you have. 

Speaker A: “I’d like to buy a new smartphone but the one I want costs 1000 euros. I would have to ask my parents for that money.”  

Speaker B:  “Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve and buy one you can afford!”

16. Strike While The Iron Is Hot

Meaning: This is similar to “Opportunity seldom knocks twice”. It means you should take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it exists, in case the opportunity goes away and doesn’t return. 

Example:  “They don’t often offer such discounts so I'd strike while the iron is hot if I were you.”

17. Ask No Questions And Hear No Lies

Meaning: If you say this to someone, you’re basically telling them not to ask you about a topic because you’ll probably lie. 

Example: “I'm not going to tell you what we're planning for your graduation ceremony, so ask no questions and hear no lies.”

18. What The Eye Doesn't See, The Heart Doesn't Grieve Over

Meaning: If you remain ignorant or uninformed about something you’ll not get upset, angry, worried, or sad about it. 

Speaker A: “I really don’t want to know what my teenage son is doing on holiday with his nine male friends.” 

Speaker B: “I don’t blame you. What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.”

19. Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You

Meaning:  Treat other people the way you would like other people to treat you. 

Example: A vegan activist once said, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Animals qualify as others.”

20. Appetite Comes With Eating

Meaning:  Starting an activity increases your desire to continue it.

Speaker A: “I don’t know whether I should start reading this book or not. It’s a big one. What if I don't enjoy it?”

Speaker B: “Give it a try.  After all, appetite comes with eating.”

21. Those Who Live In Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones

Meaning:  Don’t criticize other people for the bad qualities that you yourself have. Do that and such criticism will likely come back.

Speaker A: “She just spends her time complaining about other people. It's so shallow and annoying!” 

Speaker B: “Hear hear! Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!”

22. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

Meaning:  You can say this to emphasize that you cannot make great accomplishments in a short period of time, so you have to be patient.

Speaker A: “I started learning English last year and I’m still not fluent!” 

Speaker B: “Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

23. No Man Is An Island

Meaning: We all need human connection to be happy.

Example: “Don’t think you don’t need your friends. No man is an island.”

24. What Goes Up Must Come Down

Meaning: If something is increasing or rising, it will eventually fall or decline. 

Speaker A: “My mortgage rates keep increasing. I’m worried!”

Speaker B: “No need to worry. What goes up must come down. Try saving as much money as you can for now.”

25. Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Meaning:  Beauty is subjective. What’s beautiful for me might not be beautiful for you. 

Example: “You may not like my new jeans, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

26. Long Absent, Soon Forgotten

Meaning:  The longer a person is not present, the easier they are to forget about.

Example: “You can’t expect to grow your social media channel if you post once a year. People want to hear from you. Long absent, soon forgotten!”

27. One Rotten Apple Spoils The (Whole) Barrel

Meaning: It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc.

Speaker A: “Why are they kicking out Jon from the team?”

Speaker B: “Apparently he’s been bringing everyone down by complaining about the management. And more people seem to have become more critical of the boss now. You know what they say: one rotten apple spoils the barrel.” 

28. Well Begun Is Half Done

Meaning: If you start a task or project in the best way possible, it will take you – or seem to take you – less effort to complete it.

Speaker A: “I’m so happy with the way I started my professional photography course. I can already take much better photos than a week ago!” 

Speaker B: “Well begun is half done!”

29. Don’t Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth

Meaning: If you receive a gift, accept it without criticism.

Speaker A: “She bought me a new shirt for Christmas but I don’t like it. It looks like one of those old shirts my grandpa used to wear.”

Speaker B: “Hey! Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!”

30. Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth

Meaning: When there are too many people trying to control, influence, or work on something, the final product will be worse as a result.

Speaker A: “I was trying a new recipe for a Thai dish but then my mom got involved, then my grandmother and my sister too. It was a disaster!”

Speaker B: “Well, didn’t you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?!

31. Never Speak Ill Of The Dead

Meaning: You shouldn’t say bad things about those who passed away.

Speaker A: “He was just a stingy, old, arrogant man.” 

Speaker B: “George! Never speak ill of the dead!”

32. Eat To Live, Not Live To Eat

Meaning: Eating shouldn’t be your main source of pleasure. 

You should eat to get all the necessary nutrients and be healthy. 

Example: “He used to overeat to feel happier and mentally better, but now he eats to live, he doesn't live to eat.”

33. Better Late Than Never

Meaning: You can say this when you think that it’s better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive or to happen.

Speaker A: “After 2 years, I finally got a reply from them!”

Speaker B: “Well, better late than never!”

34. Better Safe Than Sorry

Meaning: You can say this when you think that it’s better to be careful than and not take risks than be careless and then regret it later.

Speaker A: “Set three alarms for tomorrow morning.” 

Speaker B: “Three??? Isn’t one enough?!” 

Speaker A: “I’m worried that I will oversleep. Better safe than sorry, you know?”

35. When The Cat's Away (The Mice Will Play)

Meaning: When someone in authority is not present, others might do things they wouldn’t normally do.

Example: “The boss was away all day today and everyone took longer and more frequent coffee breaks. When the cat is away, the mice will play!”

36. The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side

Meaning: People tend to always want what other people have and not be happy with what they have.

Speaker A: “I’m jealous of all the money he’s got.”

Speaker B: “OK, but he might be jealous of all the free time you have. The grass is always greener on the other side.”

37. You Can Lead A Horse To Water, But You Can’t Make Him Drink It

Meaning: You can give someone helpful advice, but you can't make them accept it or act on it.

Speaker A: “I’ve given him a lot of tips on how to stop smoking but he’s still buying cigarettes!”

Speaker B: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it.”

38. The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease

Meaning: People who complain or protest the loudest or most frequently are the ones who will get what they want.

Speaker A: “I don’t understand how he was able to get his parents to buy him a car.”

B: “He’s been complaining a lot about not having one for one month! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!”

39. Knowledge Is Power

Meaning: The more knowledge you have the more powerful you can be.

Speaker A: “I want to read and learn about history as much as I can. Knowledge is power!”

40. Keep Your Friends Close, And Your Enemies Closer

Meaning: Be very vigilant of your enemies' behavior and actions so you can avoid their malicious intents.

Speaker A: “Why were you talking with her in the office the other day? I thought you couldn’t stand her.” 

Speaker B: “I was just being nice to her as we now work for the same client. As the proverb goes, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”, right?”

41. A Barking Dog Never Bites

Meaning: Someone who often makes angry or threatening statements rarely takes action on them.

Example: “My teacher used to yell at us saying she was going to give us more homework as a punishment. She never did it though. A barking dog never bites.” 

42. A Lie Has Short Legs

Meaning: You cannot get away with a lie because the truth will always come out.

Example: “You can keep telling your parents lies but they’ll eventually find out about what you did. A lie has short legs!”

43. All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Meaning: You may think something is valuable or worthwhile by the way it appears, but it might not actually be so.

Speaker A: “You work from home and never have to drive to the office. You have the best job in the world!” 

Speaker B: “All that glitters is not gold. I actually feel lonely and I need real human interaction!” 

44. A Problem Shared Is A Problem Halved

Meaning: Sharing a problem with someone can help you deal with it and solve it.

Example: “Come on, tell me what’s wrong. A problem shared is a problem halved.”

45. A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step

Meaning: Something that seems hard to accomplish can be started by doing a very simple thing.

Example: “You may think speaking a language fluently is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life. But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so start by reading a short story in English for 5 minutes a day.” 

46. An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Meaning: Eating healthy foods will help you avoid illness.

Example: “Eat fruit and veggies. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

47. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Meaning: Sometimes a single picture can convey more meaning than any amount of words could.

Speaker A: “You don’t need to write anything for this part of your presentation about the environment. Just show your audience a photo of a polluted city. A picture is worth a thousand words.”

48. A Smooth Sea Never Made A Skilled Sailor

Meaning: Challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone is what helps you grow and develop.

Example: “If you want to learn to speak a second language, you have to go out there and speak it. It might be uncomfortable but remember: a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

49. When One Door Closes, Another Opens

Meaning: You can use this to say that when an opportunity is lost, another one will soon come to you.

Example: “Don’t worry if you didn’t get that job, my friend. When one door closes, another opens.”

50. Better An Egg Today Than A Hen Tomorrow

Meaning: It's smarter to have something less valuable now than to chase after something more valuable that you might not get in the future.

Speaker B: “I think I'll keep my small winnings rather than betting again on the next dog race and try to win more!”

Speaker B: “Yes! Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow!”

Proverbs In English

All right! Congratulations on making it to the end of this list of proverbs in English! 

Did you see any proverbs in English that are similar to the ones you have in your language? I wouldn’t be surprised if you did.

Now you may think: What’s the best way to learn English proverbs? 

Well, reading and listening to stories is a great way to do it and that's exactly what the StoryLearning method is all about. 

Sure, lists may help, but there’s not much context in a list. So read books in English and listen as much as you can and see if you can spot proverbs in English here and there.

Whatever you do when learning, remember to have fun and….carpe diem! (This is another proverb that means you should enjoy the present and not worry too much about the future – proverb #51!)

By the way, if you've enjoyed this post and want to keep building your vocabulary, check out these posts about English idioms , slang words in English and phrasal verbs in English.

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English proverbs: common sayings to know in english.

• By Jake Pool

English proverbs or common sayings are used to impart truthful principles or give valid advice. Each proverb is usually based on an experience or a bit of common sense mixed with metaphorical language.

Obviously, these common English sayings are understood by most native speakers. But for everybody else, they can be puzzling or confusing, especially if you don’t hear them often. Learning the origins of English proverbs can help you better understand the different layers of meaning within them.

In this article, we will define and dissect some common English sayings (also known as English proverbs ) and provide both origin and examples for context.

Actions speak louder than words.

Meaning : Though the proverb is metaphorical, this is one of the most straightforward sayings we use in English. It means the things you do have more meaning than the words you speak.

Use : You’ll hear this proverb when there is a lot of talk around a subject, but no one seems to do anything. Politicians and athletes often use the phrase to taunt an opponent. It’s one of the great moral proverbs for students of all ages.

Candidate One: If I’m elected, I plan to work to balance our budget and stop needless spending.

Candidate Two: Well, actions speak louder than words. My opponent seems to forget that when he was a representative, he went over his budget for three consecutive years.

Origin: There are some earlier versions of the proverb that use similar language, but U.S. President Abraham Lincoln made the most well-known use when, in 1856, he wrote: ‘Actions speak louder than words’ is the maxim.’

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Meaning : This proverb makes an obvious statement to imply that the weakest element of a group will weaken the entire group. If you have a chain with a weak link, it will detach or break.

Use : People use this often when referring to a team of individuals. You could hear this in the business world (especially in sales) when managers speak about team building. Coaches of team sports also use this saying.

Sales manager to team: Okay everyone, we need to support each other this quarter to maximize our sales goals. Remember, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If you see someone who needs help, try to help them out.

Origin : The quote appeared in Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man by Thomas Reid ; published in 1786.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Meaning : The proverb implies that foolish people are not smart with their finances. They’ll spend on things that have no value when they have money and will soon have nothing.

Use : Growing up in America, I heard this saying a lot as a child when elders spoke to me about finances. It was a way of teaching young people to be smart with financial matters. You may also hear this as an afterthought when people talk about someone who becomes bankrupt.

Karen : Did you hear about that guy in Texas who won the lottery, but was broke again within a year?

Alice: Well, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Origin : The essence of the proverb came from the Book of Proverbs in the King James version of The Bible . Chapter 21, Verse 20 states, “ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. ”

However, the original use in its exact wording came from Dr. John Bridge ’s book The Defence of the Government of the Church of England ; published in 1587.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Meaning : No matter how big a task is, it will always begin with one simple action.

Use : People say this often to others who face or are intimidated by a big job or task. They mean it as a statement of encouragement. It’s one of the most useful proverbs for students. When you started your journey to learn English, someone probably could have said this English proverb to you (maybe they did!).

Joey: Oh wow. I don’t know how I will get all this homework done. It will take forever.

Joey’s Dad: Well, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Just start on the first problem and go from there.

Origin : This is a proverb of Chinese origin that English speakers borrowed for their own usage. It comes from Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu .

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Meaning : When someone or people you love are away, you’ll love them even more. Or, missing someone will make you desire them even more.

Use : People say this to individuals when their spouse or significant other has to go away for a while. Family members of individuals associated with the military hear this proverb a lot when their loved one is deployed far away. Also, it can be used regarding a loved one who has died. The proverb is meant to be comforting.

Joan: He’s been gone for 6 months, and I just miss him so much.

Jan: Just remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder. He’ll be back soon, and you’ll be overjoyed.

Origin : Though the saying has origins in ancient Roman poetry, the exact wording of the proverb comes from The Pocket Magazine of Classic and Polite Literature by an author known as Miss Strickland . It was published in 1832.

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Meaning : It means you shouldn’t do something morally wrong to someone who has wronged you in some way. It implies that, ultimately, the action will only make the situation worse, and you won’t feel better. Also, it doesn’t erase or correct the original act of wrongdoing.

Use : Often, individuals use this to persuade someone to not take revenge on another person. It’s meant to make someone stop and think about things before they take action. This is one of the more common proverbs for children.

Parent to a child: Just because he/she took your ball doesn’t mean you should take his/her ball. Two wrongs don’t make a right .

Origin : The exact origin of the saying is unknown, but it’s ancient. The first notable American use dates back to a letter written in 1783 by Benjamin Rush. He was a civic leader and signer of The Declaration of Independence.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

Meaning : Individuals who are relying on the charity of others can’t choose only things they prefer or like. They have to take what they are given.

Use : Parents like to say this a lot to children asking for a little too much. Though, you may hear it regarding lower income individuals who are asking for more benefits. Be sure you fully understand the context before saying this proverb as it could be taken with offense in the wrong situation.

Child : But Mom, I want a teddy bear AND a truck.

Mom: Tommy, beggars can’t be choosers. You have to choose either a teddy bear or a truck.

Origin : The proverb dates back to 1562 and was published in John Heywood ’s A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue . However, it was probably a well-known proverb before it was published.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Meaning : Words are often more powerful than violence when accomplishing a goal.

Use : People use this proverb when they want to say that talking or writing is more powerful than physical acts when someone is trying to accomplish a political goal. It can also be used when referring to a free press within a country as a strong means of conveying a message.

Joe : I really think that we should just send some troops over there to take care of things.

John: Well, don’t forget, the pen is mightier than the sword. Perhaps we should send more letters and speak to them before we escalate things to violence.

Origin : There are many versions of the proverb throughout history that date all the way back to Ancient Greece and Assyria. However, modern usage is traced back to English playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play Richelieu .

We hope these eight English proverbs are enough to get started in your study of common English sayings! Do you know any more or know one from your native language? Leave them in the comments below with their meaning!

There are a lot of resources for English proverbs out there, and we even have our own list of funny English idioms as well!

If you’re looking for to learn more about English proverbs or get personalized 1-1 tutoring on this topic, visit our appointments page to schedule an introductory lesson today!

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Home › Life › 34 Powerful Proverbs On Our Words–to Inspire You To Consider Carefully Your Speech.

34 Powerful Proverbs On Our Words–to Inspire You To Consider Carefully Your Speech.

By Peter Pilt on March 20, 2014 • ( 1 )

Often as part of the Discipleship pathway that I put people in Nowra City Church on, I get them to read through Proverbs and highlight all the verse on words.  I think the words we speak have more power than we realise. To save you time, I have assembled the relevant passages.

First though a couple of other biblical verses to inspire you on the power of our words and the importance that we are godly with our speech.

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Eph 4:29-31

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

Psalm 141:3

Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips.

Here are the verse from Proverbs:-

Proverbs 4:24

Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.

Proverbs 6:17

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 8:8

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:30-31

The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 11:9

The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:13

A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Proverbs 12:13-14

The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble. 14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

Proverbs 12:18-19

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. 19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 13:2-3

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

Proverbs 17:5

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 17:7

Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.

Proverbs 17:9

He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Proverbs 17:20

He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

Proverbs 17:27

He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Proverbs 18:6-8

A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, [ a ] And they go down into the inmost body.

Proverbs 18:20-21

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:23

The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.

Proverbs 19:1

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

Proverbs 19:9

A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.

Proverbs 19:28

A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

Proverbs 19:29

Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.

Proverbs 28:23

He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.

Proverbs 31:26

She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

I finish this post with the following story

There is a story of a woman in a village who maliciously gossiped about another lady and her family in the village. One day she found out that she was wrong about this lady and her family and had a change of heart. She went to the village’s wise man and asked how she could take back all the wrong she had done. The wise man told her to go home and kill her chickens and pluck there feathers and put them into a bag. After this she was to go back and see the wise man again, but on her way back she was to scatter all the feathers she had plucked from the chickens.

The lady did as she was told. When she got back to the man, he told her, ” now go back and pick up all the feathers that you have scattered. ” The woman was astonished at such a command and said, ” By now the wind has carried the feathers through out the village and beyond.” The wise man then told Her, And so it is with your careless words. They are like the feathers scattered in the wind. You can not retrieve them. ” With that the woman with a broken heart because of the words she had spoken went her way, determined from that day forward to Watch her words.

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Categories: Life , Theology

Tags: death and life are in the power of the tongue. , Proverbs on words , the power of our speech , the power of our words , we need to watch what we say , what does the bible about our words , what if our words are more powerful that what we realise

Rich, excellent words–thank you for the sharing and the ending story..I will download and share with my family for Mother’s Day and keep it for my sustence as moved by the Holy Spirit to read it and be reminded. Malo vakalevu nai Talatala Qase. Leba.

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Printable speech topics: 196 proverbs & quotes

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last modified: 10-23-2023

These  Impromptu Speech Topic Cards  - are an excellent 'collect- and-go resource' for busy classroom teachers and people working with public speaking in community groups.

In just a few minutes you could be printing them out and on your way.

98 Proverbs and 98 Quotations 

There are two collections: Quotations and Proverbs. Both contain 98 Quotation or Proverb themed speech topics in a downloadable pdf formatted for printing in a plain font for easy reading. 

Take a peek! The sample extract shows one page of 14 topics from the Proverb collection. The Quotation collection is formatted in exactly the same way.

These are the traditional sayings, the ones we grow up hearing * , containing snippets of advice or truths based on common sense.

Examples are:

- Action speaks louder than words.

- Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.

- A stitch in time saves nine.

*  My grandmother used them frequently. She would cock her head to one side, nod, and then out they would come. "Treacle in one eye and toffee in the other" was how she summed up one of my boyfriends who, in her mind, was far too eager to impress. "Too sweet to be trusted", she said.  As it turned out she was right!

What fun you'll have with this collection of wise, witty and/or whimsical words  -  sayings that are well known because they perfectly capture and communicate an idea.

Here's three examples.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy. - Dalai Lama

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. - Mahatma Gandhi

Crying is for plain women. Pretty women go shopping. - Oscar Wilde There are 95 more of the same caliber in this set. They're guaranteed to sharpen the wits of your speakers considerably!

Why not buy BOTH sets of cards?

Y ou can have  one  set for  $4.75 .  O r  two  sets for  $7.50 .

 Purchase Proverbs  +  Quotations

These impromptu speech topic cards will save you time ...

And they'll do it in multiple ways because:

• the topics are prepared. There is no need for you to think them up yourself or alternatively, chase around finding, and then collating them.
• they are already formatted for printing. You'll get 14 topics per sheet of A4 paper.
• they are reusable. Print on heavier paper or card and laminate before cutting and you'll have a recyclable resource. The topics will not date. They are evergreen.

A collection of Impromptu Speech Topic Cards frees you to focus on the activity itself rather than expending your energy on gathering the resources needed to do it. 

Who will the cards work best for?

I've pitched the selection of topics towards middle school and upwards. That is from 11 years on.

They'll also be great for adult public speaking groups, and extension ESL classes. Both sets of cards offer opportunities to explore philosophy, the nuances of idiomatic English, irony, morality, motivation and more.

I've had a lot of fun putting them together. It's been the perfect excuse to browse here, and there, and everywhere!

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BibleProject Guides

Guide to the Book of Proverbs

Key Information and Helpful Resources

The word “proverb” typically refers to a short, clever saying that offers wisdom in some way. While this book does contain many hundreds of proverbs, most of them are found in the center section of the book (chs. 10-29). In the outer frames of the book (chs. 1-9 and 30-31) are more elaborate poems all about wisdom. There is more to this book than you might think.

8:08 • Old Testament Overviews

Who Wrote the Book of Proverbs?

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings and poems tied to King Solomon. Although not all the material is written by Solomon, Israel’s wisdom tradition begins with him.

The events in the book of Proverbs span several centuries during Israel’s history. Proverbs was compiled and arranged after Israel’s return from exile in Babylon around the 5th to 4th century B.C.E.

Literary Styles

The book of Proverbs contains mostly poetry, along with some narrative sections.

• Fear of the Lord
• Wisdom in God’s good world

Proverbs is divided into three parts. Chapters 1-9 contain 10 speeches about virtue, integrity, and generosity. Chapters 10-29 are a collection of wise sayings about life. Chapters 30-31 explore fearing the Lord, personified by Lady Wisdom.

Proverbs 1:1-9: Introducing Solomon’s Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord

The book of Proverbs has been designed with a short introduction in 1:1-9 that starts by linking the book to King Solomon, son of David. Remember the story in 1 Kings 3 in which Solomon asked God for wisdom to lead Israel well? God honored his request, and Solomon became known as the wisest man and teacher in the ancient world. In 1 Kings 4:29-33, we’re told that he wrote thousands of proverbs and poems and that he collected knowledge about plants and animals. Solomon became the fountainhead of Israel’s wisdom literature, a group of texts that explore what it looks like to live well in God’s good world. Not all the material in this book is written by him personally, but Israel’s wisdom tradition began with him.

The introduction goes on to say that by reading this book, you will gain wisdom. For most of us, this word simply means “knowledge,” but the Hebrew word chokhmah means more than just mental activity. It refers primarily to practical knowledge, and it would be better translated with the words “skill” or “applied knowledge.” This is why artists and craftsmen in Israel were said to have chokhmah, that is, skill (Exod. 31:3). The purpose of this book is to help you develop a set of practical skills for living well in God’s good world.

The introduction also links with another foundational idea in this book: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7, 9:10). The word fear is not about terror. Rather, it refers to a sense of reverence and awe before God, which makes clear our small place in the universe. It’s a moral mindset that recognizes that we are not God and don’t get to make up what’s right and wrong for ourselves. The fear of the Lord is a posture of humility before God, embracing his definition of good and evil even when it’s difficult or inconvenient.

Related Content

Podcast Episode

Proverbs: How Human Wisdom Becomes Divine

Proverbs 1-9: Poems From a Father and Lady Wisdom

This introduction leads us into the first main section of the book (chs. 1-9), which doesn’t contain any proverbs at all. Instead, we find 10 speeches from a father to a son. The father tells the son that he should listen to wisdom and cultivate the fear of the Lord. This will require a life of virtue, integrity, and generosity, all of which will lead to success and peace. The father warns the son about folly and evil, about shortsighted, selfish decisions and pride. All of these will lead to ruin and shame. Therefore, the son should make the pursuit of wisdom and the fear of the Lord his highest goals. This way of thinking forms the moral logic of the entire book.

These speeches clue us in to what biblical wisdom literature is and how it’s different from other parts of the Bible. While it does explore how to live well in God’s world, wisdom is neither law nor prophecy. Rather, wisdom is the accumulated insight of God’s people through the generations. It is all about how to live in a way that honors God and others. Through the book of Proverbs, these human words about wisdom have become God’s word and wisdom to his people.

This connects to another key theme in chapters 1-9, the words of Lady Wisdom. There are four poems where wisdom is personified as a woman, calling out to humanity to pay attention to her and to seek her out. Wisdom says that she is woven into the very fabric of the universe. Whenever people are making wise decisions, they’re relying on her. Whenever someone is being generous, having sexual integrity, or upholding justice, they’re drawing on wisdom. These Lady Wisdom poems are a creative, poetic way of exploring the idea that we live in a moral universe and that goodness and justice are objective realities that we ignore at our own peril. To fear the Lord and live wisely is to live along with the grain of the universe.

Together, these twin sets of speeches from the father and Lady Wisdom make a powerful claim about the book of Proverbs. This book doesn’t simply offer good advice. It is an invitation from God to learn human and divine wisdom from previous generations of God’s people.

In the Beginning With Lady Wisdom

Proverbs: Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly

Proverbs 10-29: The Collection of Ancient Sayings

In chapters 10-29, we finally come to the collections of proverbs. Here are hundreds of ancient sayings that apply wisdom and the fear of the Lord to every life topic you can imagine, including family, work, community life, friendship, sex, marriage, money, anger, forgiveness, alcohol, and debt. These proverbs are short and easy to memorize. This section of the book is meant to become like a reference work to which you return time after time for the rest of your life.

This raises an important issue in reading this book. Proverbs are, by nature, about probabilities. If a person fears the Lord and makes wise, moral choices, things will likely go well for them. If a person doesn’t fear the Lord and acts foolishly, their life will more likely turn out poorly. Both of these statements are often true, but not always. Therefore, the proverbs are not promises or guaranteed formulas for success.

For example:

“The fear of the Lord prolongs your life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”

Proverbs 10:27

“Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they’re old, they won’t turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Fearing God and being moral is more likely to lead to a better, longer life. Raising your kids in a stable, loving home can set them up well for the rest of their lives, but there’s no guarantee. Lots of things can and do go wrong in our world.

Proverbs, by their nature, focus on the general rule and not the numerous exceptions to that rule. The biblical wisdom books are not ignorant about this. In fact, these exceptions to the moral rule are what the books of Job and Ecclesiastes are all about. Life is too complex for formulas, which is why we need all these books of accumulated wisdom to get to the bigger picture.

The Books of Solomon

The Quest for Wisdom

Intro to the Wisdom Literature

Proverbs 30-31: The Wisdom of Agur and King Lemuel’s Mother

This all leads to the final section of the book in chapters 30-31, where we find two large collections of poems. The first comes from a man named Agur, who begins by acknowledging his ignorance and folly as well as his great need for God’s wisdom. He then discovers that divine wisdom has been given to him through the Scriptures. Agur is put before us as a model reader of Proverbs and as someone who’s always open to hearing God’s wisdom.

The final chapter, 31, is connected to a man named Lemuel, a non-Israelite king who passes on the wisdom given to him by his mother. Most of this chapter is made up of guidance for being a wise and just leader, but the final poem is an acrostic, or alphabet, poem. Each line begins with a new letter from the Hebrew alphabet and tells the story of a “woman of noble character.” This woman lives according to the wisdom of Proverbs and stands as a model of someone who takes God’s wisdom and translates it into practical decisions in everyday life at work, at home, in her family, and in her community.

The book of Proverbs opens with words from a father to a son about listening to Lady Wisdom (chs. 1-9), and it appropriately closes by offering the words from a mother to her son about a woman who lives wisely (ch. 31).

This is a book for everyone, in every season of life. It’s a reliable guide for learning to live wisely and well in God's good world.

Poetic Metaphor

Metaphor and Our Imagination

Wisdom depends on trusting God and leads to life, but folly starts with distrusting God and leads to death.

Recommended Reading

Proverbs (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)

Proverbs (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms)

Proverbs 1-9 (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries)

Proverbs 10-31 (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries)

Downloads and Resources

Proverbs Overview Poster

Scripture Reference Guide

Proverbs Script References

Study Notes

Proverbs 8 Study Notes

Proverbs 8 Script References

English Proverbs

• English Proverbs- WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY
• English Proverbs- TRUST YOURSELF TO GET SUCCESS
• English Proverbs- ‘THINK POSITIVE’ WIN POSITIVELY
• English Proverbs-PREPAREDNESS FOR WAR FOR PRESERVING PEACE
• English Proverbs-NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS
• English Proverbs-THE CHILD IS FATHER OF THE MAN
• English Proverbs-JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
• English Proverbs-KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
• English Proverbs- KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT CHARACTER IS DANGEROUS!
• English Proverbs-MONEY IS A GOOD SERVANT, BUT A BAD MASTER
• English Proverbs-MONEY IS DEARER THAN HONEY
• English Proverbs- FAILURES ARE THE PILLARS OF SUCCESS
• English Proverbs- DILIGENCE IS MOTHER OF SUCCESS
• English Proverbs- AS YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP
• English Proverbs- ALL THAT GLITTER IS NOT GOLD
• English Proverbs-APPEARANCES ARE DECEPTIVE
• English Proverbs-WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY
• English Proverbs-VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
• English Proverbs-PRACTICE MAKES MAN PERFECT
• English Proverbs- KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
• English Proverbs-HANDSOME IS THAT HANDSOME DOES OR A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER
• English Proverbs -THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
• English Proverbs – THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD OR MOTHER — THE FIRST AND THE BEST TEACHER
• English Proverbs -SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
• English Proverbs – SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD
• English Proverbs -ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY
• English Proverbs – ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS
• English Proverbs -PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
• English Proverbs – NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION
• English Proverbs – AS YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP
• English Proverbs – A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED
• English Proverbs – GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES
• English Proverbs – EXAMPLE IS BETTER THAN PRECEPT
• English Proverbs – BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
• English Proverbs – A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE
• English Proverbs – TO ERR IS HUMAN TO FORGIVE DIVINE
• English Proverbs – THESE GRAPES ARE SOUR
• English Proverbs – WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY
• English Proverbs – THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM
• English Proverbs – SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD
• English Proverbs – SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
• English Proverbs – STRIKE WHEN THE IRON IS HOT
• English Proverbs – PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
• English Proverbs – ONE LIE MAKES MANY
• English Proverbs – GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW
• English Proverbs – GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELPS THEMSELVES
• English Proverbs – FORBIDDEN FRUIT IS THE SWEETEST
• English Proverbs – FINE FEATHERS MAKE FINE BIRDS
• English Proverbs – EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS IS NOBODY’S BUSINESS
• English Proverbs -EVERY HORSE THINKS ITS OWN PACK THE HEAVIEST
• English Proverbs – EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY
• English Proverbs -DISCONTENT IS THE FIRST STEP IN PROGRESS
• English Proverbs -DEATH IS THE GREAT LEVELER
• English Proverbs -CUT YOUR CLOTH ACCORDING TO YOUR COAT
• English Proverbs -CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
• English Proverbs -CALL A SPADE A SPADE
• Proverb Expansion- A FAULT CONFESSED IS HALF REDRESSED
• Proverb Expansion- A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED
• English Proverbs – A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS
• English Proverbs -AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP
• English Proverbs -A DROWNING MAN WILL CATCH AT A STRAW
• English Proverbs – A BAD WORKMAN ALWAYS BLAMES HIS TOOLS
• English Proverbs – A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH
• English Proverbs – A BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE
• English Proverbs – ALL IS FISH THAT COMES TO THE NET
• English Proverbs – ALL LAY LOADS ON A WILLING HORSE
• English Proverbs – BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER
• English Proverbs – BOOKS AND FRIENDS SHOULD BE FEW, BUT GOOD
• English Proverbs – BURN NOT YOUR HOUSE TO FRIGHT THE MOUSE AWAY
• English Proverbs – CLOTHES DO NOT MAKE THE MAN
• English Proverbs – THE BEST FISH SWIM NEAR THE BOTTOM
• English Proverbs -BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
• English Proverbs -BETTER TO GET AN EGG TODAY THAN A HEN TOMORROW
• English Proverbs -BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITE
• English Proverbs -ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
• English Proverbs -ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD
• OUR NATIONAL SYMBOLS—HOW WELL DO WE KNOW THEM?: Essay Topics
• English Proverbs – MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE
• English Proverbs -IF WINTER COMES CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND
• English Proverbs – IF CHARACTER IS LOST ALL IS LOST
• English Proverbs – HEALTH IS WEALTH
• English Proverbs – DEATH IS A LEVELER
• English Proverbs – CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
• English Proverbs – MAKE HAY WHILE SUN SHINES
• English Proverbs – HE IS STRONG WHO CONQUERS OTHERS, HE WHO CONQUERS HIMSELF IS MIGHTY
• English Proverbs – NEITHER A BORROWER NOR A LENDER BE
• English Proverbs -UNION IS STRENGTH
• English Proverbs – PEACE HATH HER VICTORIES NO LESS RENOWNED THAN WAR
• English Proverbs -AN EMPTY VESSEL MAKES MUCH NOISE
• English Proverbs -AN IDLE BRAIN IS DEVIL’S WORKSHOP
• English Proverbs – WISDOM LIES IN CUTTING ONE’S COAT ACCORDING TO ONE’S CLOTH
• English Proverbs -WORK IS WORSHIP
• English Proverbs -WHO KNOWS MOST SAYS LEAST
• English Proverbs -WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY
• English Proverbs – WHERE ONE DOOR SHUTS, ANOTHER OPENS
• English Proverbs -WHAT CANNOT BE CURED MUST BE ENDURED
• English Proverbs -WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE
• English Proverbs -WE LIVE IN DEEDS, NOT IN YEARS
• English Proverbs – WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

10 thoughts on “English Proverbs”

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2 Minute Speech On Proverbs In English

Good morning to everyone in this room. I would like to thank the principal, the teachers, and my dear friends for allowing me to speak to you today about proverbs. A proverb is a straightforward, wise traditional phrase that conveys a fact that is believed to be true based on common sense or experience.

Proverbs frequently include formulaic language and metaphors. A proverbial phrase, also known as a proverbial statement, is a form of customary saying that is passed down orally and is comparable to proverbs. A proverb is a set expression, but a proverbial phrase can be altered to match the grammar of the situation. 

Poetry, tales, music, commercials, ads, movies, literature, and literature are just a few of the many origins of proverbs. Proverb interpretation is complicated and challenging and is best done within a context. Sometimes, since they are still learning how to appreciate the conventionalized metaphor, children will read proverbs literally. Injuries to the brain and disorders like schizophrenia have an impact on how proverbs are interpreted.

Many proverbs from different cultures reflect on morality and proper conduct. Proverbs are frequently valued as key texts in religions, which is not unexpected. The Bible’s Book of Proverbs serves as the most obvious example.

Proverbs exist in more than one language due to people borrowing them from languages and cultures with which they are in contact, with the Bible and medieval Latin playing a major role in distributing them. However, almost every culture has its unique proverbs. Thank you. 

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• 1 Minute Speech on Proverb In English

Learn English Online

English speech topics for students – 1 and 2 minute, english speech topics for students.

Writing a speech is not easy because speeches are given to the public rather than to a teacher. It should have a topic that grabs the listeners’ attention, doesn’t make them feel it is monotonous or boring and persuades viewers to take action. 

Nowadays, students have to give 1-2 two minutes speeches, which is much better than extempore, wherein the student receives the topic on the spot. Therefore, the student has to prepare for multiple topics. 

Speeches give the student a chance to research thoroughly on a single chosen topic, create points of addressing in an organized manner, and make the viewers understand the importance of the topic.

1 Minute Speech Topics for Students

1. What do I want to become? Why?

2. How is pollution affecting lives?

3. What would I do if I was Batman?

4. How has social media helped me?

5. Why do I watch ___ show?

6. __ character is my favorite because__

7. What did I learn by playing cricket?

8. Who is my favorite teacher? Why?

9. What do I do in my free time?

10. The one bad habit I am trying to overcome.

2 Minute Speech Topics for Students

1. Books vs. Movies: Which is better? Why?

2. Importance of technology in our lives.

3. Smart Work: Good or Bad? Why?

4. Children’s reality shows: A Boon or Not? Why?

5. What values have I learned from homework?

6. Importance of communication

7. Importance of recycling

8. Women leaders: Good or Bad? Why?

9. Hard lessons learned during the pandemic

10. Importance of human life

English Speech Topics on Social Issues

1. Feminism

2. Casteism

4. Child Trafficking

5. Unemployment

6. Child Labor

7. Child Education

8. Communism

9. Capitalism

10. Equality

English Speech Topics on Proverbs

1. The pen is mightier than the sword.

2. Laughter is the best medicine.

3. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

4. A picture is worth a thousand words.

5. Ignorance is bliss.

6. Knowledge is power.

7. Better safe than sorry.

8. A cat has nine lives.

9. Actions speak louder than words.

10. Strike while the iron is hot.

English Speech Topics on Education

1. Importance of Girl Education

2. Importance of Education in India

3. Teachers make the best parents.

4. Advantages of online spoken English classes.

5. What are the advantages of going to a college abroad?

6. Teacher or AI: Which is better? Why?

7. Lifestyle changes after finishing school.

8. College guidelines that should also apply in schools.

9. Impact of student union protests during exams.

10. Lifetime repercussions of cheating during exams.

Miscellaneous Speech Topics

1. Youth in India

2. Women’s rights

3. Leadership skills

4. Generation gap

5. Family values

6. Outdoor vs. Indoor games

7. Elections

8. Exercising

9. Online Education

10. TV Shows: Have they increased our tv time?  

English Speech Topics on Environment

1. Pollution

2. Climate change

3. Global warming

4. E-waste management

5. Importance of protecting tigers

6. Impact of 5G on our environment

7. Mismanagement of natural resources

8. Deforestation

9. Disaster management

10. Water conservation

Students can speak on various topics based on their grades and knowledge of subjects. Helping students prepare public speeches can enable them to become leaders in a specific field and contribute to society. An effective way of telling students to create a speech is to ask them to speak about themselves and create a list of pointers they would like to cover. It will help students to understand the importance of storytelling and retaining attention. Moreover, the method will enable them to think more like listeners than speakers.

Powerful 2 Minute Speech Topics: A-Z Guide (With 200+ Examples)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Topics , Speech Writing

It is often believed that giving a 2-Minute Speech is the most challenging form of public speaking because of the time constraint. But here I am to tell you that there is something even more challenging than giving a 2-minute speech. And that is finding a powerful 2-minute speech topic !

2-minute speeches are short, crisp ways to present your opinion, understanding, or study to others. It is short. It is simple. And it is convenient, especially from the listener’s point of view.

To know more about 2-minute speeches, check out this short video below:

Here is what you can expect from this blog:

What is a 2-minute speech.

• How do you find a 2-minute speech topic?
• 2-minute speech topics

How to make a 2-minute speech script?

2-minute speeches to memorize, delivering 2-minute speeches.

2-minute speeches are short and crisp speeches of about 260-350 words.

Because 2-minute speeches are short, you can be assured of having constant attention from your audience. This means that you might have to come up with a 2-minute speech topic that is not only informative and interesting but one that stands out and makes the audience want to listen to it immediately.

So how do you find a 2-minute speech topic?

There are 2 ways you can find a 2-minute speech topic that would suit perfectly for your next speech.

First is when you go about doing your research and then ideating or selecting a topic that is more in line with your purpose of giving the speech.

The second and the most popular way to find a 2-minute speech topic is to go on to google and type 2-minute speech topics. You shouldn’t be shocked at the number of topics the internet has to offer to you. You might not even have to go anywhere else, jump on to the speech topics section if you want to get straight into selecting a 2-minute speech topic for yourself.

Researching for your 2-minute speech topic

So, you chose not to select one of the many topics available on the internet? That’s great! Want to know why?

1. It would help you come up with a topic that is more personalized and less common.

When you come up with the topic yourself, you move from the very broad topics available online and can find a topic that caters more to your area of interest or understanding.

2. You would be able to narrow down on a topic of your choice or area of interest.

3. it would help you gain an understanding of the topic from various points of view.

In the initial ideation stage, as you try to research the topic and find a topic for your 2-minute speech, you would be exposed to various political, environmental, or social perspectives of the same topic which would further help you to not only narrow down your topic but also understand your topic from various points of view, thus helping you ace a question-and-answer round.

Process of Finding a topic

Before beginning straight up by researching your topic, there are a couple of things that you might have to take a look into which will help you navigate through the next step (that is researching for your topic). These include:

1. Understanding the event for which you’d be giving the speech

Understanding the event or occasion where you will be giving the speech is important as it would give you a brief idea of what is expected in terms of the content and tone of your speech .

So, for instance, if you are giving a speech at a conference, it would have a more formal tonality to it as compared to a speech that you might present at your best friend’s wedding which would usually be filled with a lot of slang, humor, and casual tone.

2. Understanding your audience

The next thing you should try to find a little more clarity on is your possible audience. Understanding who the majority of your audience will comprise will help you in finding a topic that would be more in line with their broad interest, thus attracting them to listen to your speech right from the very beginning .

3. Your interests and knowledge

Yet another thing that you must take into consideration besides what the event and audience expect from you is your interest in the topic. Having a tad bit of understanding of the speech topic you would want to dive into can also help you in navigating through your research better.

4. Your purpose for giving the speech

Establish your purpose for giving the speech even before you start researching. The reason is very simple, you’d be able to understand which kind of a topic you should focus on depending on the purpose of your speech.

Do you plan on providing the audience with detailed information on the topic? Or are you trying to sell your view or product to the audience within these 2 minutes?

In both cases, your topic, as well as the structure of speech, would be very different.

Once you have an idea of your audience, your interests, and your knowledge areas, you can then move on to researching your topic.

A simple google search can be a good starting point.

Take the help of news articles, journals, blogs, and much more to narrow down and come up with a 2-minute speech topic that you feel most excited about!

Selecting a 2-minute speech topic from the internet

A-z list of 2-minute speech topics, find some of the best 2-minute speech topics here:.

• Abortion: Should the government have a say in it?
• Art:  A mode of storytelling
• A day in the life of a (add your profession, organization, or ethnicity)
• Artificial intelligence: a boon or a curse?
• Art and Craft: a lost activity
• Benefits of Yoga
• Benefits of meditation
• Ban on Animal testing
• Bullying and how to discourage it
• Buildings and Aesthetics: An architectural standpoint
• Chronic Depression and its cure
• Cults: The secrets you know nothing about
• Cultural difference: The harsh reality of moving abroad
• Corruption: the hidden dirt
• Cricket: sport turned into a religion
• Climate Change
• Disaster Management
• Domino effect in real life
• Demonetization in India
• Dance therapy and its uses
• Dealing with daily hassles of life
• Environmental pollution and its adverse effects
• Education system of India
• Election ethics and rules
• Elocutions: Everything you need to know
• Everything we know about aliens
• FOMO (Fear of missing out) and how to deal with it
• Falling in your dreams: the meaning behind it
• Fat loss fads you must avoid
• Fitness and influencing
• Forced labor: An unfortunate reality
• Girl Education: The inspiring story of Malala
• Generation gap and how it affects communication
• Gender sensitization and ways of being more aware of it
• Growing a terrace garden
• Gaining muscles: everything you need to know
• Health and Hygiene: Two underrated
• Hacks to do well in your academics
• Habits that are ruining your health
• Hollywood: An insight into the world of glamour
• Hitchhiking your way to find peace
• Importance of reading
• Importance of following a routine
• Importance of kindness
• Importance of education
• Importance of sports
• The language barrier and how to overcome it
• Loyalty: An endangered quality?
• Land Pollution and ways to deal with it
• Less is more: All about Minimalism
• Legalization of marijuana: An opinion
• Moral Policing: is it ethical?
• Memorizing speeches and their disadvantages
• Making friends as adults
• Manifestation: A belief or a joke?
• Millennials: generation of environmental advocates
• Mental health
• Music and its power to heal
• Media and its effects on forming opinions
• My role models
• Noise pollution
• National integration
• Natural resources: A tragedy of depleting future
• Negating minorities and their impact on the overall development of the country
• Natural disasters: Can we tackle them?
• Online dating and its effects on self-esteem
• Online education and its authenticity
• Overcoming fear through exposure therapy
• Olympics 2021
• Organ donation: Progress made so far
• Our Environment, our responsibility
• Pros and cons of being a vegetarian
• Political ideologies that shook the world
• Poor scores and their effect on the success
• Parenting styles over the years
• Paternal leaves in Indian organizations
• Poverty in India
• Positive thinking and gratitude
• Punctuality: Through the eyes of different cultures
• Quarantine and increase in social anxiety among people
• Qualifying for Olympics: Struggle unspoken of
• Quran and its teachings
• Questionnaire: The best way of collecting data?
• Questioning and its importance in the workspace
• Racism:  An unfortunate view in the society
• Right to education
• Religion vs Spirituality
• Reasons why failure is important
• The reality of fast-food brands
• Should body-shaming be a punishable offense?
• Sneaker trends that would blow your mind
• Sustainable fashion brands to follow
• Shaping perspectives through conformity
• Time management: A necessary corporate skill
• Travel and tourism: A Course
• Technology and its growing importance in everyday life
• Tourism in India
• The best day of my life
• Unity: A quality that formed countries
• Unity in Diversity in India
• Unemployment and its impact on the mental health of the youth
• Understanding climate change
• Understanding the importance of compounding
• Value of Education
• Value of Hard work
• Value of Discipline
• Videogames and their influence on violent behavior
• Viral: A trend or a tragic accident?
• Which is better: Studying in the country or moving abroad?
• What does sustainability mean?
• What is the Bermuda triangle?
• Water pollution and its solutions
• Waste management around the world
• World peace: An idea that is achievable or too far-fetched?
• Xenotransplantation: Future of organ transplantation
• Xerox: A brand or name for photocopy
• Xbox and its evolution over the years
• X-rays and how it harms the human body

2-minute speech topics for students

What are the best topics for students.

If you have asked yourself this question but haven’t received an answer yet, check out the list below to find one now!

• Opinion on the New education policy
• Need for sex education in schools
• Overcoming the problem of Brain Drain
• Addressing the issue of child labor
• Pros and cons of online degrees
• Boarding school vs full-time schools
• Co-ed school vs gender-specific schools
• Liberty to choose your subjects in schools
• Ban on uniforms
• Curbing school shootings
• Grading system: Changes required.
• Peer pressure and the need to fit in
• Coping with academic stress
• Are scores a good measure of student’s intelligence?
• Importance of focusing on extracurricular activities

2-minute speech topics for MBA students

• Advantages of cloud kitchens
• Importance of understanding the market
• Best marketing strategy
• Hard work vs smart work
• The rise of entrepreneurship in India
• Importance of internships in skills building
• Reservation system: My honest pinion
• Pros and cons of working from home
• Everything about GST you don’t know of
• Stocks or Cryptocurrencies?
• Using reels to market products
• Understanding the importance of influencer marketing
• Assessing job satisfaction among employees
• Biggest banking frauds in the world
•  How movies influence fashion trends
• The insane E-commerce discounts
• Women in Business
• Why age is just a number when it comes to entrepreneurship
• Management lessons from mythology
• Make in India or Make for India?

Speech topics for adults

• Are first impressions really the most lasting impressions?
• Importance of observing in everyday life
• Conforming vs standing out: What should you prefer?
• Impact of positive thinking in healing chronic diseases
• Importance of body language in public speaking
• Is buying luxury goods on a loan worth it?
• Why renting a house is better than buying it
• Why timetables never work
• How do colors affect the way we feel?
• How your brains are wired to think negatively
• Impact of childhood trauma on antisocial behaviors
• Love: Difference between what is real and reel
• Why being young is overrated
• Are you a victim of the fashion industry?
• How to easily start a conversation
• Savings in college could help you in your 40s
• Being happy all the time is an unachievable reality
• The advantages of taking calculated risks
• Dealing with stress on a daily basis
• How do you overcome obstacles?

2-minute speech topics for the Interview

• Understanding the future of the metaverse
• Hard work leads to smart work
• Effect of job satisfaction on life satisfaction
• How to motivate the employees in no time
• Gender Equality in the Workplace
• How to get over stage fright?
• How to give a speech in an interview?
• How organizational culture affects motivation?
• Management strategies that can help in improving productivity
• Ways to essentially decrease production costs

Funny 2-minute speech topics

• Why I would rather go to jail than clean utensils
• If I could live my cat’s life for a day
• The most profitable mistake I ever made
• Tutorial on how to deny reality
• Tips on walking your dog
• Why you must never eat fish food
• Things you can do to irritate someone
• Evolution of my new year’s resolutions
• Adulting and falling in love with the idea of arranged marriages
• Dating in 2022

2-minute speech topics on any proverb

• Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
• Actions speak louder than words
• Health is wealth
• Joy of giving
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Knowledge is power
• Laughter is the best medicine
• Action speaks louder than words.
• A jack of all trades is a master of none.
• A good listener is a silent flatterer.
• All that glitters is not gold.
• Among the blind, the one-eyed man is the king.
• An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
• As you sow, so you shall reap.
• What goes around comes back around.
• Curiosity killed the cat.
• Time is money.

Unique speech topics

• The tragedy of not being on social media
• Importance of taking a drop year
• Are scholarships always fair?
• Reasons teenagers start substance abuse
• Places on earth no man has ever been
• The most surveillance city in the world
• Why euthanasia is justified
• Formal schooling is important despite not being practical
• If the earth stopped rotating for a split second
• Benefits of boiling water

2-minute speech topics on famous personalities

• Mahatma Gandhi
• William Shakespeare
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Nelson Mandela
• Barack Obama
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
• Virat Kohli
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Winston Churchill
• Abraham Lincoln

Once you have decided on your topic for the speech, the next step is to come up with the speech itself or the script.

For this, you’ll have to understand the approx number of words you will be comfortable adding to your speech so as to not exceed the time limit of 2-minutes.

Next, you can go about the usual “ introduction, main body, and conclusion ” structure for structuring your script.

It isn’t necessary for you to frame the entire speech word for word, you can also frame it in a pointer format if that is more convenient for you.

How do you start a 2-minute speech?

As there isn’t much time in your hand, presenting detailed opening lines for a 2-minute speech would mean that you would have to cut down on your main content.

Instead, you can start by giving a very quick introduction like “Hi I am Nisha and I will be talking about the adverse effects of sleep deprivation today with you.”

You can also use other more fun and engaging ways to begin your speech and there are tons of ways you can do it. Check out the list below to find examples of a few:

1. Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions are questions wherein you want to provoke the audience to think and not to come up with any specific answer . An example of the same is given below.

So from a glance, do I look like marriage material? Nina Donovan

Jokes and humor are almost always appreciated by the audience provided it isn’t even slightly derogatory or demeaning to anyone. Opening your 2-minute speech with a joke can in fact be a good attention grabber that would also not take up a lot of your speech time .

Example of a joke used as an opening line:

Do you know when brown kids get slapped? Every brown birthday party. Hasan Minhaj

3. Statistics or figures

What is the best way to make someone understand the reality of any situation you ask? Figures, numbers, or stats!

Because when the audience sees the number in front of them, they can no longer be in denial or in their own world of assumptions. Hence, using statistics in your opening lines would definitely help you reach your goal of spreading awareness (if that is what your purpose is).

Suicide happens to be one of the leading causes of death in United states with approximately one indivdiual dying to suicide every 11 minutes. The question is why are we still overlooking this grave issue?

To know more about effective opening lines, check out our post on 50 speech opening lines .

Following your brief introduction, as you dive into your topic, there are a couple of things that you must keep in your mind, they are:

• Stick to only one takeaway . Having many takeaways might not help you effectively reach the audience.
• Try to add short stories only if you plan on adding a story to your speech. Make sure that it isn’t taking up a huge chunk of your speech time.

How do you end your 2-minute speech?

In short speeches, your ending or conclusion is very important. It needs to be impactful. You can either summarize your speech in a couple of seconds or you can re-establish your takeaway at this point in your speech. You can try to end with a powerful quote or try to motivate your audience to take some action .

An example of asking the audience to take an action is,

“So as we reach the end of the speech on effects of sleep deprivation, I’d want you to go back home and think to yourself, is browsing for  a couple of more minutes really necessary over your precious sleep?”

To take a deeper look into the closing lines for your speech, check out our video below!

2-minute speech on Brain Drain

Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadela, Leena Nair, and Paraag Agarwal what do they all have in common?

You probably guessed it right! They are the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world but there is yet another commonality that they have. They are all Indian Origin CEOs who gained their initial education from some of the top colleges in India to hold such exceptional positions in world-renowned companies now. 

If this isn’t a good example of brain drain, I’m not sure what is. Brain drains, a concept that is very common to Indians when we lose some of the smartest people of our country to better opportunities abroad. These companies not only offer the individuals with better work ethos and environment but also provide them with a handsome paycheck and add to that the amount of appreciation they receive for the work they chip in. Something that is either too rare or alien to the Indian work environment. 

But the scenario in India is changing. With the coming of start-up culture in India where the employees are given just as much priority as the company’s clients If the companies encourage such open and collaborative culture where there is a fair opportunity for growth provided to all the employees, we might be able to see some considerable fall in the problem of brain drain in India.

Importance of education 2-minute speech

Do you remember how in school they asked us to prove whether the two figures were triangles when you could easily have concluded that they indeed were triangles just by looking at them?

So then why do we say that education is important?

For starters, to be able to live a decent life, the basic requirement for any job is for you to possess at least a diploma or degree. Apart from the theoretical learning that we get through education, there are plenty of other skills and experiences we are exposed to like broadening our perspective by interacting with peers, enhancing public speaking skills, understanding the basics of how the world functions are it the laws and rights that the individual possesses or the understanding of geographical division and economic conditions in the society. Education helps in enhancing the capacities, attitudes, interests, urges, and needs of the individual. And hence when the student or individual is deprived of education, it isn’t just the theoretical knowledge that they miss out on but they also miss out on having a holistic development of themselves. This is what makes education very important in everyone’s life.

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Final Words

2-minute speeches are short and crisp which can serve as a blessing as you are not required to go too much into detail. You can come up with a 2- minute speech topic either by researching one that fits perfectly with your interests or you can find one online.

The idea is to enjoy giving the speech. And for you to enjoy delivering your speech, it is important for you to first come up with something that excites you and interests you!

Keep following Frantically Speaking for more such short guides to help you with your public speaking and communication skills.

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The Bible’s Proverbs on Speech (Wise and Foolish Talk)

If you read my family devotionals , or if we’ve talked about spiritual matters in recent years, you probably know that I am a big fan of  The Daily Bible .

In fact, it has been one of my top five purchases ever.

For this post, I’m going to “borrow” from The Daily Bible’s topical organization of the Proverbs, concentrating on those proverbs dealing with our speech.

Only, I’m going to use a variety of translations here and not just the NIV (which  The Daily Bible  uses exclusively).

Wise and Foolish Speech

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise will protect them. (Prov. 14:3 NASB)

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. (Prov. 15:2 NKJV)

The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right. (Prov. 15:7 YLT)

The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. (Prov. 16:23 NKJV)

6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. (Prov. 18:6-7 NIV)

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his speech and is a [self-confident] fool. (Prov. 19:1 AMP)

15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; 16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. (Prov. 23:15-16 NIV)

Righteous and Wicked Speech

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. (Prov. 10:20-21 NIV)

31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted. (Prov. 10:31-32 NASB)

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. (Prov. 11:11 NIV)

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. 14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. (Prov. 12:13-14 NIV)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. (Prov. 13:2 NIV)

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (Prov. 15:28 NASB)

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. (Prov. 17:4 NIV)

Appropriate Speech

A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is! (Prov. 15:23 AMP)

To the wise in heart is called, ‘Intelligent,’ And sweetness of lips increaseth learning. (Prov. 16:21 YLT)

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Prov. 16:24 NIV)

Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. (Prov. 25:11 NASB)

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. (Prov. 27:14 NKJV)

Keeping Silent

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Prov. 10:19 NKJV)

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. (Prov. 12:23 NIV)

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (Prov. 13:3 NASB)

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Prov. 17:28 NIV)

He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him. (Prov. 18:13 AMP)

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. (Prov. 21:23 NKJV)

Controlled Speech

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Prov. 15:1 NIV)

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. (Prov. 17:28 NIV)

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Prov. 25:15 NIV)

Flattering Speech

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. (Prov. 26:28 NKJV)

Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue. (Prov. 28:23 NIV)

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his own feet. (Prov. 29:5 AMP)

Slander and Gossip

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. (Prov. 10:18 NIV)

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. (Prov. 11:13 NIV)

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. (Prov. 16:28 NIV)

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. (Prov. 17:9 AMP)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. (Prov. 18:8 NIV)

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip. (Prov. 20:19 NASB)

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. (Prov. 26:20 NIV)

Hurtful Speech

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent. (Prov. 11:12 NASB)

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov. 12:18 NIV)

There they are.

Whew, I have a lot of improving to do!

2 responses to “The Bible’s Proverbs on Speech (Wise and Foolish Talk)”

Excellent research of God’s word.

Thank you for reading and for the kind feedback, John.

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English Speech Topics for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 2, 2024

Writing an exciting and thoughtful speech requires selecting a good topic, researching it thoroughly, and forming individual opinions to express the same. School students are usually asked to speak on a contemporary topic to help them become good public speakers as well as learn the art of expressing oneself in front of an audience. While many speech competitions often allot topics beforehand, you might also have heard of extempore where topics are given on the spot for speech. This blog brings you a list of common English speech topics as well as some helpful tips and tricks that can assist you in effectively expressing your thoughts and opinions in front of an audience. Let’s begin!

Checkout our 200+ Essay Topics for Students in English

This Blog Includes:

List of best english speech topics for students, 1-minute speech topics, 2-minute speech topics, 3-minute speech topics, easy topics for speech in english, english speech topics on environment, english speech topics on technology, english speech topics on independence day, english speech topics on diwali, english speech topics on corruption, english speech topics on feminism, english speech topics on mother’s day, english speaking topics on capitalism, engish speech topics on gandhi jayanti, english speech topics on reading, english speech topics on communism, english speech topics on deforestation, english speech topics on social issues, english speech topics on important days & events, english speech topics on greatest leaders in india & around the world, english speech topics on indian culture, english speech topics on proverbs, english speech topics on human rights, english speech topics on education, english speech topics on the importance of water, miscellaneous speech topics, types of persuasive speech topics, tips for writing and speaking a speech.

Speeches are all about one’s thoughts. It should not be copied from somewhere. It is all about what the speaker thinks of any given topic. However, take a look at the following list of English Speech topics on different contemporary issues as well as concepts.

• The Best Day of My Life
• Social Media: Bane or Boon?
• Pros and Cons of Online Learning
• Benefits of Yoga
• If I had a Superpower
• I wish I were ______
• Human Rights
• Environment Conservation
• Women Should Rule the World!
• The Best Lesson I Have Learned
• Paperbacks vs E-books
• How to Tackle a Bad Habit
• My Favorite Pastime/Hobby
• Why should every citizen vote?
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Is it real or not?
• Importance of Reading
• Importance of Books in Our Life
• My Favorite Fictional Character
• Introverts vs Extroverts
• Lessons to Learn from Sports
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Quick Read: English Speaking Books

Quick Read: Essay on Peer Pressure

Quick Read: Essay on Health and Fitness for Students

• I mportance of Kindness
• Is there Value in Homework?
• Things I learned in Lockdown
• How can food be recycled?
• Should Art be a part of the school curriculum?
• Should schools teach sign language?
• Women make better presidents/prime ministers
• Why books are better than movies?
• Life was better when technology was simple
• Impact of technology on our health
• Should children’s reality shows be banned?
• Learning in the Wake of COVID-19
• Hard Work vs Smart Work
• What Makes Learning Fun?
• The Coolest Inventions You’ve Seen
• Nuclear Energy
• Importance of AI in Education
• Importance of Extracurricular Activities
• Should exams be banned?
• How to Tackle Bullying in Schools?

• Speech about dreams
• Speech about life
• Speech on time
• Speech on discipline
• Speech on happiness
• Speech on kindness
• Speech on value of time
• Speech on health and fitness
• Speech on Doctor
• Speech on Nurse
• Graduation Day Speech
• World Health Day Speech
• Sex Education Speech
• Importance of Education
• Is it beneficial to learn a Second Language?
• Music has healing power
• Success in life
• Self Confidence
• 18th birthday
• Love is more powerful than hate
• Social Impact of Covid-19
• How can Online Learning be Fun?
• Make Public Transport Free
• Should violent video games be banned?
• Speech on Learning

Exploring English Speech Topics? You must also take a look at Extempore Topics !

• Climate Change
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Reducing Water Levels
• Deforestation
• Global Warming
• Waste Management
• Water-Saving Techniques
• Reducing the Green Cover of Earth
• Endangered species need protection
• Importance of fishing regulations
• Importance of investing in alternative fuels
• Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms
• The misuse of the term “sustainable development” by environmentalists
• Microbial benefits
• E-Waste Management
• Natural Disasters and their impact on economic growth
• Energy alternatives – Only solution to the environmental damage
• Extinction of rare species
• World Environment Day
• Disaster Management
• Over and Improper Use of Natural Resources
• Air, Water and Soil Pollution
• Efficiency of Recycling

Also Read: How to Write Dialogue: Format, Tips and Examples

• Technology and Mental Health
• Privacy in the Digital Age: Navigating the Challenges of Data Collection and Surveillance
• The Impact of Technology on Society
• Artificial Intelligence: The New Normal
• The Role of Social Media in Communication and Social Interactions
• Sustainable Technology: Innovations for a Greener Future
• The Rise of E-commerce
• Gaming Technology: Entertainment, ESports and Interactive Experiences
• The Digital Divide: Bridging the Gap for Equal Access to Technology
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Emerging Technologies

Also Read: English Vocabulary: Meaning, Types, Tips to Improve

• The Journey of Independence Day
• The Significance of Independence Day
• Indian Independence Day
• Remembering the Founding Fathers
• The Spirit of Independence
• Independence Day and Volunteering
• Independence Day Speeches
• India’s Road to Freedom
• Independence Day and National Identity
• Independence Day in the Digital Age
• Independence Day and Women’s Empowerment
• Diwali: The Festival of Lights and Its Significance in Hindu Culture
• Diwali and the Victory of Good Over Evil
• Diwali and the Art of Giving
• Diwali and the Spirit of Forgiveness
• Diwali and Cultural Exchanges
• Diwali and the Essence of Joy
• Diwali and Social Responsibility
• Diwali and Artistic Expressions
• The Rituals and Traditions of Diwali
• Diwali and the Symbolism of Light
• The Economic Consequence of Corruption
• Corruption and International Aid
• Media and Corruption
• Fighting Corruption
• Corruption in Politics
• The Role of Transparency and Accountability in Curbing Corruption
• The Role of Technology in Combating Corruption
• Whistleblowing and Protecting Mechanism
• Corruption in Business and Corporate Practices
• Understanding Feminism
• The Future of Feminism
• Feminism and Parenting
• Feminism and Online Activism
• Feminism and Environmental Activism
• Feminism and Reproductive Rights
• The Gender Pay Gap: Examining Inequalities in the Workplace
• Feminism and its Evolution
• Feminism and Body Positivity
• Feminism and Media Representation: Encouraging Authentic and Diverse Portrayals of Women
• Expressing Gratitude and Love to Mothers
• The Influence of Mothers in Shaping Our Values and Beliefs
• Motherhood and Education
• Mother’s Day and Volunteerism
• Mother-Daughter Relationship
• The Role of Mothers in Shaping Society
• Mother’s Day Crafts and DIY Gifts
• Learned Lessons from Mothers
• Mother’s Day Around the World: Cultural Traditions and Celebrations
• Capitalism: An Introduction to the Economic System and its Principles
• The Future of Capitalism
• Pros and Cons of Capitalism
• Capitalism and Globalisation
• Capitalism and Consumerism
• Capitalism and Financial Crisis: Undertaking the Risk and Mitigation Measures
• Capitalism and Environmental Sustainability
• Capitalism and the Role of Government
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Capitalism
• Capitalism and the Digital Economy
• Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation and His Ideals
• Remembering Gandhi: Reflecting On His Life and Legacy
• Gandhi’s Influence on the Indian Independence Movement
• Satyagraha: The Power of Truth and Nonviolent Resistance
• Gandhi’s Philosophy of Swaraj
• The Role of Women in Gandhi’s Freedom Struggle
• Gandhi’s Teaching on Education and Moral Values
• Gandhi’s Lasting Legacy
• Gandhi’s Vision for a Just and Inclusive Society
• The Relevance of Gandhi’s Principles in Today’s World
• The Influence of Reading on Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
• Reading and Mental Health
• Benefits of Reading
• Reading and Empowerment
• The Role of Reading in Academic Success and Lifelong Learning
• Promoting a Reading Culture: Encouraging Reading Habits in Society
• Reading Biographies and Memoirs
• Reading and Social Connections
• The Joy of Reading: Escaping Into the Different Worlds and Characters
• Reading and Personal Identity
• The Current State of Communism
• Communism: An Introduction to the Ideology and Its Historical Context
• The Evolution of Communist Movements
• The Role of the State in a Communist Society
• The Fall of Communist Regimes
• Communism and Religious Freedom
• Communism and Gender Equality
• Communism and Workers’ Rights
• The Criticisms of Communism
• Deforestation: Causes, Consequences and Global Impact
• Deforestation and Climate Change
• Deforestation and Carbon Sequestration
• Deforestation and Individual Actions
• Deforestation and Wildlife Trafficking
• Deforestation and Sustainable Development
• Deforestation and Indigenous Communities
• Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss
• Deforestation and Forest Fires
• The Importance of Forests

Quick Read: Speech on Nuclear Energy

• Women Empowerment
• Education of Girl Child
• Unemployment
• Casteism 
• Reservation
• Importance of Maintaining Hygiene
• Child Labour
• Social Distancing
• Organ Donation
• Importance of the Right to Education
• Child Trafficking
• Cultural Diversity
• Struggles of Immigrants
• Impact of Globalisation
• Adult education
• Independence Day
• Mother’s Day
• World Cancer Day
• World Population Day
• World Health Day
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights Day
• Zero Discrimination Day
• Women’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Anti-Terrorism Day
• Hindi Diwas 

Check out this list of all the important national and international days in 202 4 !

• Mahatma Gandhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Raja Rammohan Roy
• George Washington
• Albert Einstein
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Nelson Mandela
• Kailash Satyarthi
• Diversity in India
• Speech on Holi
• The Role of Yoga and Meditation in Indian Culture and Its Global Impact
• The Importance of Traditional Indian Clothing
• Indian Folklore
• Indian Festivals
• The Art of Indian Dance
• Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda)
• Indian Epics and Mythology
• Social Customs and Etiquettes in Indian Society
• Indian Sports and Games

Also Read: Speech on Indian Culture

• Honesty is the best policy
• When there’s a will, there is a way
• Actions speak louder than words
• Knowledge is Power
• Ignorance is Bliss
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Hard work is the key to success

Explore these proverbs & their meanings through this blog on Difficult Phrases !

• The Role of International Organisations in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Milestone in Human History
• Gender Equality: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women
• Ensuring a Safe and Sustainable Environment for the Next Generation
• The Right to Education: Empowering Minds
• Bridging the Gap Between the Rich and Poor
• Human Rights and Armed Conflicts
• Global Fight to Combat Human Trafficking
• Human Rights and Climate Change
• Religious Freedom: Tolerance and Coexistence in a Diverse Society

To know what to mention in such speech topics, explore the Great Personalities in the World !

• Importance of teacher in your life
• SAT scores for college application
• Student bullies should be expelled
• Consequences of cheating in exams
• Homeschooling is better than normal schooling
• Importance of value education
• Importance of sports and physical exercises
• Schools vs colleges
• What is the difference between a school, college and university in the USA?

Check Out: Synonyms List

• The Water-Energy Nexus
• The Essence of Water: Exploring the Live-giving Properties of H2O
• Water as a Driver of Economic Growth and Prosperity
• Water Security: Ensuring Equal Access and Quality for All
• Water and Agriculture
• The Role of Water in Ecosystems
• Water and Blue Economy
• Water Diplomacy: Promoting Collaboration for Transboundary Water Management
• Water and Cultural Significance: Exploring Symbolisms and Rituals
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Foundational for Human Health and Dignity
• Article 370
• Women rights
• The Constitution of India
• Youth of India
• Culture of India
• Importance of Unity
• Generation Gap
• Importance of Value Education
• Old Age Homes
• Family Values
• Leadership skills
• Rise of Smart Classes
• Grading System
• Importance of Practical Education
• Benefits of Co-Education
• Importance of Co-Curricular Activities
• The uselessness of Power-Point Presentations
• Rise of Technology
• Excessive usage of the Internet
• Speech on Fear
• Speech on Dependence on Technology
• Importance of Social Media
• Speech on India of My Dreams
• Indian Education System
• Speech on My India

While exploring persuasive English speech topics, you must make sure that they are stimulating, engaging, concise and clear. There are three main types of Persuasive Speech topics which are:

1. Factual Persuasive Speech : These topics include facts, figures and statistics to thoroughly analyse the given topic and assess whether it’s true or false.

2. Policy Persuasive Speech : Discussing policies, laws and reforms, these speech topics critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the given policy or law and suggest the improvements that can be made.

3. Value Persuasive Speech : Mainly focusing on social or political issues, these speech topics present the critique and argument of whether certain actions are morally right or not.

While speaking on a particular topic, there are certain things that you must keep in mind to make your speech expressive and effective. Let’s take a look at some useful topics that help you in acing any topic you are speaking on.

• Always research the topic. If you are participating in an extempore, then make sure to go through the common and popular topics as well as the unconventional ones that you might get. Preparation is the key to delivering an impressive speech. For inspiration, look up various speech examples to see how effective speakers engage their audience
• Whether you are given a topic on the spot or you are prepared for the speech, it is always pivotal that you seem interested in speaking about it. Relate the given issues to your own life and this will help you in giving it your twist.
• Pay extra attention to your body language and enunciation. While a gesticulative approach will make you seem outward, having timid body language can cause a wrong impression.
• Ponder upon the different viewpoints on a topic . Try to present a holistic view of the given topic but don’t forget to present your opinion on it as well. Along with this, don’t try to take sides unless the topic demands you to.
• Involve your audience, if possible. This way, you will be able to interact with the people and it will also be useful in fighting the fear of public speaking.
• Don’t mug up a speech. It becomes evident when someone just speaks on a topic continuously and the audience might realise that you have memorized it or you might forget a certain part which will let the whole speech fade away from your brain.
• Instead, make notes about the topic in your mind, remember certain keywords and try to maintain a particular flow in your speech.
• Incorporate humour in your speech in a way that you do not offend anyone or overdo it but get a positive reaction from the audience. Humour is a great way of lightening the mood as well as ensuring the whole speech is interactive and engaging.
• When you need more specialized assistance, a  US essay writing service  can be a valuable resource for crafting your speech.

While preparing for English Speech topics, you must also check out IELTS Speaking Topics !

Juvenile delinquency is acceptable. Prostitution should be legal. Underage driving should be punishable by law. Beauty pageants for children should be banned. Prisoner’s right to vote. Voting rights should not be universal. Guns should be banned from college campuses.

A three-minute speech is undoubtedly a wonderful starting point for public speaking. This is because you need to communicate with your audience more effectively when you just have a short amount of time. In addition, the speech ought to be concise, pertinent, and clear.

Life is the gift of God in the form of trust that we will make it meaningful in whatever we can. We are all unique individuals. No one is born like you and no one will ever be, so cherish your individuality. Many times, I come across people accusing God of things that they don’t have. They always cursing their lives.

 2-minute speeches are  short and crisp speeches of about 260-350 words .

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Thus, we hope that this list helps you in preparing for different English speech topics. Gearing up for IELTS ? Sign up for an online demo session with our experts at Leverage Edu and we will assist you in preparing for its different sections as well as improving your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to ensure that you ace the exam with flying colours!

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14 comments

I take english speaking classes, please provide me sone more material to help student’s.

Here are some articles on books and study material that will help your students- https://leverageedu.com/blog/english-speaking-books/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/books-by-charles-dickens/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/best-books-by-george-orwell/

I want topic on students and online classes

It is helpful for my school homework thanks 😸

Glad we could help!

Nice advise 👍

Thank you, Pragya!

Not good topics 🤔🤔

Thanks for the suggestion. We will update the blog!

Helpful for students . So I like it

Thanks for reading! Also, read: Daily Used English Words Speech on Importance of English Reach us at 1800 57 2000 for study-abroad related matters!

You people are giving great contribution in internet learning and it is for all….

Hi, thank you for your valuable feedback.

Awesome! Its really awesome article, I have got much clear idea concerning from this post.

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125+ Speech Topics For Students [Latest + Evergreen]

Here Below we have compiled a list of speech topics for students. For your convenience, the list is classified into various domains. Apart from students, teachers can also take an idea from the list to give assignments to their students.

Speech Topics Related to Lifestyle

• Speech On Discipline
• Speech On My Hobby
• Speech On Gardening
• Speech On Book Fair
• Speech On Travelling
• Speech On Reading
• Speech On Health Is Wealth
• Speech On Hygiene
• Speech On Honesty
• Speech On Fast Food
• Speech On Physical Exercise
• Speech On Leisure
• Speech On Courage
• Speech On Importance Of Money
• Speech On Importance Of Education
• Speech On importance Of English
• Speech On Morning Walk
• Speech On Bicycle
• Speech On The Importance Of Good Health
• Speech On Study
• Speech On Self Help Is The Best Help
• Speech On Unity
• Speech On Communication
• Speech On Fashion Among Students
• Speech On Aim In Life
• Speech On Cleanliness
• Speech On Value Of Time
• Speech On Time Management
• Speech On Punctuality
• Speech On Good Manners
• Speech On Generation Gap
• Speech On Teamwork
• Speech On Peace
• Speech On Picnic
• Speech On Books
• Speech On Summer Vacation (summer Holidays)
• Speech On Sharing And Caring
• Speech On Healthy Food Habits
• Speech On Truthfulness
• Short Speech On Dussehra
• Speech On Our National Flag
• Speech On Indian Festivals
• Speech On Our School Library
• Speech On Historical Place
• Speech On Hill Station

Speech Topics Related to Student Life

• Speech On How I Spent My Summer Vacation
• Speech On Picnic With Family
• Speech On My Aim In Life
• Speech On First Day At School
• Speech On An Ideal Student
• Speech On Friendship
• Speech On Duties Of A Student
• Speech On Education
• Speech On Online Classes
• Speech On My School
• Speech On My Favourite Book
• Speech On My Favourite Subject
• Speech On My Favourite Teacher
• Speech On My Favourite Sports
• Speech On My Visit To A Picnic
• Speech On My Visit To A Zoo
• Speech On My Visit To Taj Mahal
• Speech On Importance Of Reading
• Speech On Student Life
• Speech On School Picnic
• Speech On Visit To A Zoo
• Speech On Children’s Day
• Speech On My Ambition In Life
• Speech On Childhood Memories

Speech Topics Related To Social Issues

• Speech On Women Empowerment
• Speech On Women Education
• Speech On Corruption
• Speech On Overpopulation
• Speech On Brain Drain
• Speech On Dowry System
• Speech On Child Labour

Speech Topics Related To Environment

• Speech On Environment
• Speech On Climate Change
• Speech On Pollution
• Speech On Sustainable Development
• Speech On Winter Season
• Speech On Water Pollution
• Speech On Spring Season
• Speech On Air Pollution
• Speech On Summer Season
• Speech On Noise Pollution
• Speech On My Favourite Season
• Speech On Nature
• Speech On World Environment Day
• Speech On Save Water (Water Conservation)
• Speech On My Village
• Speech On Village Life
• Speech On Animals
• Speech On Dog
• Speech On Cow
• Speech On A Rainy Day

Speech Topics Related To Country & Culture

• Speech On Farmer
• Speech On Clean India Mission
• Speech On Agriculture
• Speech On Indian Army
• Speech On Patriotism
• Speech On My Country
• Speech On Soldier
• Speech On Postman
• Speech On Holi
• Speech On Diwali
• Speech On Teacher’s Day
• Speech On Farmers
• Speech On Dignity of Labours
• Speech On Freedom Fighters
• Speech On Unity in Diversity

Speech Topics Related To Yourself

• Speech On Myself
• Speech On My Teacher
• Speech On My Home
• Speech On My Family
• Speech On My Mother
• Speech On My Brother
• Speech On My Best Friend
• Speech On My Sister
• Speech On My Grandparents
• Speech On My Birthday Party
• Speech On My Favourite Game

Speech Topics Related To Personalities

• Speech On Mahatma Gandhi
• Speech On Swami Vivekanand
• Speech On Subhash Chandra Bose
• Speech On Rabindranath Tagore
• Speech On Apj Abdul Kalam
• Speech On Cv Raman
• Speech On Jawaharlal Nehru
• Speech On Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Speech On Bhagat Singh
• Speech On Rani Laxmi Bai
• Speech On Chhatrapati Shivaji
• Speech On Mother Terresa
• Speech On Aryabhatta
• Speech On Br Ambedkar
• Speech On Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• Speech On Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Speech Topics Related to Science & Technology

• Speech On Wonders Of Science
• Speech On Science And Technology
• Speech On Internet And Its Advantages
• Speech On Mobile Phone
• Speech On Computer
• Speech On Artificial Intelligence
• Speech On Science In Everyday Life
• Speech On Mass Media
• Speech On Blockchain Technology
• Speech On Internet of Things
• Speech On NFT
• Speech On Automation
• Speech On Virtual Reality
• Speech On Augmented Reality

Speech Topics Related To Some Proverbs

• Speech On Work Is Worship
• Speech On Time And Tide Wait For None
• Speech On A Stitch In Time Saves Nine
• Speech On Actions Speak Louder Than Words
• Speech On All That Glitters Is Not Gold
• Speech On Prevention Is Better Than Cure
• Speech On Honesty Is The Best Policy
• Speech On Laughter Is The Best Medicine
• Speech On Knowledge Is Power

Importance Of Time Management Speech [1,2,3 Minutes]

Speech on ethics and etiquette [1,2,3 minutes], speech about mahatma gandhi jayanti 2023.

• 1 Minute Speech On Health Is Wealth
• 2 Minute Speech On Child Labour
• 1 Minute Speech On Child Labour
• Speech On Nature [ 1-2 minutes ]
• 2 Minute Speech on Importance Of Education
• 1 Minute Speech on Pollution
• 2 Minute Speech on Population Explosion
• Speech On World Environment Day For Students
• Heartfelt Speech On Mothers [Mother’s Day Special]
• Speech On World Environment Day in 200 words
• Speech On World Environment Day in 100 Words
• 2 Minute Speech On Climate Change

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AllAssignmentHelp.com

Explore Fascinating School Speech Topics and Ideas

Table of Contents

Finding school speech topics and ideas is often challenging. Additionally, giving a speech could make you shake with fear as you wonder how your fellow students and teacher would view you. However, it needs a good topic to produce an impactful speech. The content must also be structured in a way that keeps listeners’ attention. Finding the ideal topic might be difficult, particularly if you want to stand out from the crowd. But don’t worry; we are here to assist you. This blog presented by All Assignment Help has a selection of intriguing school speech topics and ideas that are guaranteed to attract your fellow mates and teacher and make an impact.

Are you looking for interesting and captivating topics for your next school speech? Our list of school speech topics includes everything, from science to literature and more. So, whether you are a high school student, middle school student, or elementary school student, get ready to research and discover some fascinating topics for your next school speech.

How To Choose the Best School Speech Topic?

It can be difficult to choose a topic for a school speech, especially if you don’t know where to begin. This sometimes make a student in a situation where they need to seek professional assignment writing service help . However, the right topic can make all the difference in delivering an impactful and memorable speech. We have listed below the tips to help you choose the best school speech topic.

• Consider your audience: Consider your audience and what might attract them. Furthermore, think about issues that are related to their interests or way of life. Select a timely and community-relevant issue if you are speaking to a larger audience.
• Consider your purpose: Decide whether your speech will be informative, persuasive, or entertaining. This will enable you to focus on your speech’s objectives and narrow your topic.
• Brainstorm: Make a list of topics that excite you and about which you are enthusiastic. This will enable you to focus your search and identify a topic on which you are comfortable speaking.
• Research: Once you have decided on a topic, do extensive research on it. Find trustworthy information sources and learn everything you can. This will enable you to construct an informed and compelling speech.

At last, choose a topic that offers more examples and proof to support your claims or point of discussion. Furthermore, you should confirm your topic only if it complies with the rules and recommendations offered by your teacher.

Read Here: All About GCU Online Classes- Hire Us

Captivating Ideas for School Speech Topics

Speeches mostly focus on the speaker’s personal beliefs and ideologies. It ought to be original and self-written. It all depends on the speaker’s perspective on the subject at hand. However, you can pick a school speech topic from any category, including the environment, politics, health, sports, technology, etc. We have provided you with a list of intriguing school speech topics below in a variety of categories. Go over each one and choose one that you feel most at ease with to give a fantastic speech.

School Speech Topics on Environment

• The advantages of recycling and how to promote it in your community
• The significance of switching to renewable energy sources and away from fossil fuels
• How plastic pollution affects marine life and what may be done to lessen it
• The significance of saving endangered species and sustaining biodiversity
• The consequences of climate change and the need for action
• What deforestation does to the environment and how to encourage replanting
• Public Health Effects of Air Pollution and the Need for a clean air policy
• The contribution of cities and urban design to the development of sustainable communities
• Environmental Sustainability and the Importance of Agriculture and food production
• Is the government addressing global warming effectively enough?
• How can water contamination be reduced?
• How can recycling benefit us?
• Should smoking be prohibited in public spaces?
• Effects of Overfishing and Strategies for promoting sustainable fishing methods

Educational Speech Topics

• Speech on the Value of Education
• Importance of physical activity and sports
• What a teacher means to you in your life
• SAT scores for applications to colleges
• What distinctions exist between schools, colleges, and universities?
• Bullies in schools should be expelled or not
• The benefits of homeschooling over traditional education
• The value of mental health education in higher education
• The contribution of extracurricular activities to academic achievement
• The impact of technology on modern education
• The importance of diversity in higher education
• Campus safety policies and their impact on student well-being
• The benefits of career Readiness programs
• College stress-reduction and anxiety-management techniques
• Advantages of taking electives outside of your main

Writing speech on these topics demand a lot of real-life examples and updated information. However, you can anytime request a professional, to take my online exam , for additional assistance.

School Speech Topics on Social Issues

• The significance of respect and kindness in our day-to-day interactions
• The significance of protecting the environment and minimizing carbon emissions
• Addressing the issue of internet abuse and cyberbullying
• Supporting self-care practices for mental health and wellbeing
• Social media’s effects on our well-being and mental health
• The significance of appreciating diversity and various cultures
• Taking action against racism and discrimination in our communities
• Encouraging a balanced diet and exercise for a healthy lifestyle
• The importance of using technology responsibly and preventing digital addiction
• Addressing the issue of homelessness and providing assistance to those who require it
• Encouraging gender equality and giving women and girls more authority
• The issue of poverty and providing assistance to people in need
• The importance of education and lifelong learning
• Taking action against animal cruelty and promoting animal rights
• The impact of drugs and alcohol on our health and well-being

School Speech Topics on Proverbs

• “Actions speak louder than words” – the significance of acting in a way that reflects our ideals
• You can’t judge a book by its cover” – the risks of drawing conclusions from appearances
• “Honesty is the best policy” – the value of honesty in all facets of life
• “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” – recognizing the risks associated with rumors and gossip
• “Patience is a virtue” – the benefits of having patience and a long-term perspective
• “All that glitters is not gold” – the danger of being seduced by appearances and the importance of discernment
• “Better safe than sorry” – being aware of how important it is to exercise caution and take reasonable risks
• “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – exploring the subjective nature of beauty and the role of perception in our lives
• “A penny saved is a penny earned” – the value of being frugal and handling money well
• “Time heals all wounds” – realizing the value of time and the need for patience in the face of difficulty

Also Read: Online Education: The Most Effective Way to Learn New Skills

Topics for 2-Minute Speeches

• Does Homework Have Any Purpose?
• What I discovered during Lockdown
• Should exams be prohibited?
• How is food repurposed?
• Should arts be included in the academic curriculum?
• Should reality TV for kids be prohibited?
• The Most Innovative Things You’ve Ever Seen
• When technology was less advanced, life was more stable
• AI in Education: Its Importance
• The Value of Extracurricular Activities
• Advantages of forgiving others and letting go of resentments
• Benefits of developing self-compassion
• The privacy effects of social media
• Value of personal accountability
• The importance of diversity and inclusion

A 2-minute speech does not mean that you will write yours in two minutes’ time. Yes, it takes a lot of effort. Especially when you indulge in other activities too and you don’t have the time to attend the class and focus, But you don’t have to worry about anything. You can ask experts, if can you take my online class , at any time and from any location. Hiring expert writers for help will assist you in reducing your stress and tension.

High School Speech Topics

• Should students be required to submit to drug tests?
• Is government censorship of the internet appropriate?
• Should completing community service be required in order to graduate from high school?
• Will the world collapse because of weapons of mass devastation someday?
• Mothers ought to look after their children at home
• Why are vampires so favored by young people in schools?
• Performance-based compensation for teachers is ideal
• Meat consumption is bad for the environment and your health
• Strategic Marketing Analysis of PepsiCo Inc
• Violence in movies, video games, and television shows all raise the rate of youth criminality
• The school that students attend should be their choice
• Cell phone overuse traumatizes the developing brains of children
• The voting age should drop to 16 years old
• Why you should get an A in this class
• Should any nation be permitted to use torture to gather intelligence?
• Technology dependence is reducing human intelligence

Middle School Speech Topics

• What brands or products are popular in this school and why?
• My interests and annoyances
• Activities you can suggest to do in your spare time
• Arguments against abandoning grounding rules
• Strange world records have been set throughout history.
• Tips and tricks for skating safely on sidewalks
• The wagering strategies utilized in greyhound racing
• Environmental issues in our community
• Observing butterflies in our yard and the surrounding field
• Monsters from mythology like the Minotaur and Nymphs
• How to plan a family-friendly weekend getaway
• If I had been born a century ago, I would be
• My recommendations while relocating to a new town

Speech Topics for Elementary School

• Characters from fairy tales you would like to talk with
• Why I aspire to space travel to the interstellar universe
• The best paper aircraft require minimal folding effort
• Circus clowns of all varieties and personalities
• Magic tricks you can show
• My day of work experience with the fire department
• Making puzzles up of thousands of pieces and using the techniques I have learned
• Police uniforms or fire department attire outfits
• What can you see in the zoo?
• Musical instruments in a full orchestra
• Persuade us that sweets are either healthy or unhealthy
• Life goals that I have
• Describe your prized possession
• A medical appointment
• Favorite cartoon character of mine

Also Read: Boost Your Career Through Online Classes for Students

Tips for Giving a Powerful Speech in School

Delivering a speech in front of a school audience can be nerve-wracking. However, with the right tips, you can impress your peers and teachers alike.

• Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your speech multiple times to ensure that you are comfortable with the material and can deliver it confidently.
• Start strong: Grab the audience’s attention with a powerful opening statement or question that will pique their interest.
• Speak clearly and confidently: Pronounce your words clearly and speak confidently, projecting your voice so that everyone in the audience can hear you.
• Use body language: Use appropriate hand gestures and facial expressions to emphasize key points and keep the audience engaged.
• Make eye contact: Maintain eye contact with your audience to establish a connection and keep them engaged.
• Keep it simple: Use simple and clear language, avoiding complex jargon or technical terms that may confuse your audience.
• Use visuals: If possible, use visuals such as slides or props to help illustrate your points and make your speech more memorable.
• Tell stories: Use anecdotes or personal stories to help illustrate your points and make your speech more relatable.
• Pace yourself: Speak at a steady pace, taking pauses when necessary to allow the audience to digest the information.
• End strong: Leave a lasting impression with a powerful closing statement or call to action that will leave your audience with something to think about.

Remember, delivering an impressive speech takes practice and preparation, but with these tips, you can confidently take the stage and make your voice heard in your school setting. However, if you need help with writing a speech on any topic, you can consider using online assistance. Also if you feel you are lagging behind, request the experts for online exam help at a reasonable price.

The Last Words!

There are countless fascinating school speech topics and ideas to choose from, covering a wide range of subjects and interests. However, the key is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that resonates with your audience. With careful research, thoughtful preparation, and effective delivery techniques, you can deliver a speech that captivates your audience and leaves a lasting impact. Thus, take some time to explore the many possibilities and find the perfect topic that will allow you to shine on stage and showcase your unique voice and perspective. Also, if you don’t know what speech topic to pick or how to write engaging speech content, get in touch with us right away.

April 17, 2024

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California valedictorian will no longer give graduation speech over 'alarming' discussion

The university of southern california says asna tabassum will no longer speak at the ceremony after the discussion about her selection took on 'an alarming tenor'.

The University of Southern California said its valedictorian will no longer deliver a graduation speech this year, citing "substantial risks relating to security" over social media chatter surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Los Angeles school revealed that Asna Tabassum , a fourth-year student from Chino Hills, California, was selected as the valedictorian and would give a speech alongside two salutatorians. In a news release Monday, the university said she would no longer speak at the ceremony after the discussion about her selection took on "an alarming tenor."

The move comes after some students, alumni and others complained to the university about Tabassum's social media, which includes an Instagram bio that links to a pro-Palestine website.

"The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement," Provost Andrew Guzman said in a statement.

Guzman said the school can not ignore that similar risks led to harassment and violence at other campuses. He added that the school's Department of Public Safety and campus safety team have consulted to evaluate potential threats for graduation, which typically draws around 65,000 people.

"This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and keep our campus community safe," he said.

Groups call to reverse USC decision

Tabassum addressed the university's decision in a statement released through the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Los Angeles.

"Although this should have been a time of celebration for my family, friends, professors, and classmates, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all," Tabassum said.

The council said the school's decision empowers voices of hate, violates its obligation to project students and "sends a terrible message to not only Muslim students at USC but all students who dare to express support for Palestinian humanity." It's also urging the community to demand the school to allow Tassabum to speak at graduation.

Among the calls against Tassabum as a graduation speaker were student group " Trojans For Israel ," who said her selection turned "an inclusive and meaningful milestone into an unwelcoming and intolerant environment for Jewish graduates and their families."

The 2024 commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 10.

War in Gaza stokes controversy worldwide

Controversies over the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict have been amplified since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a brutal attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people.

Over 30,000 Palestinians  have died in Gaza since that day. The region is also difficult to access, leaving many civilians displaced and  facing famine .

The crisis had led to protests for the release of Israeli hostages  and to  call for a ceasefire in Gaza , with those speaking out in support of Israelis and Palestinians  on social media receiving threats.

Contributing: Kinsey Crowley

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100 pennies for your thoughts? —

So much for free speech on x; musk confirms new users must soon pay to post, the fee, likely $1, is aimed at stopping “relentless” bots, musk said..

Ashley Belanger - Apr 16, 2024 8:29 pm UTC

Elon Musk confirmed Monday that X (formerly Twitter) plans to start charging new users to post on the platform, TechCrunch reported .

"Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots," Musk wrote on X.

In October, X confirmed that it was testing whether users would pay a small annual fee to access the platform by suddenly charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 . Paying the fee enabled new users in those countries to post, reply, like, and bookmark X posts.

That test was deemed the "Not-A-Bot" program, and it's unclear how successful it was at stopping bots. But X deciding to expand the program seems to suggest that the test must have had some success.

Musk has not yet clarified when X's "small fee" might be required for new users, only confirming in a later post that any new users who avoid paying the fee will be able to post after three months. Ars created new accounts on the web and in the app, and neither signup required any fees yet.

Although Musk's posts only mention paying for "write access," it seems likely that the other features limited by the "Not-A-Bot" program will also be limited during those three months for any users who do not pay the fee, too. An X account called @x_alerts_ noticed on Sunday that X was updating its web app text that was seemingly enabling the "Not-A-Bot" program.

"Changes have been detected in the texts of the X web app!" @x_alerts_ wrote, noting that the altered text seemed to limit not just posting and replying, but also liking and bookmarking X posts.

"It looks like this text has been in the app, but they recently changed it, so not sure whether it's an indication of launch or not!" the user wrote.

Back when X launched the "Not-A-Bot" program, Musk claimed that charging a $1 annual fee would make it "1000X harder to manipulate the platform." In a help center post, X said that the "test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity."

Earlier this month, X warned users it was widely purging spam accounts, TechCrunch noted. X Support confirmed that follower counts would likely be impacted during that purge, because "we're casting a wide net to ensure X remains secure and free of bots."

But that attempt to purge bots apparently did not work as well as X hoped. This week, Musk confirmed that X is still struggling with "AI (and troll farms)" that he said are easily able to pass X's “are you a bot” tests.

It's hard to keep up with X's inconsistent messaging on its bot problem since Musk took over. Last summer, Musk told attendees of The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council that the platform had "eliminated at least 90 percent of scams," claiming there had been a "dramatic improvement" in the platform's ability to "detect and remove troll armies."

At that time, experts told The Journal that solving X's bot problem was nearly impossible because spammers' tactics were always evolving and bots had begun using generative AI to avoid detection.

Musk's plan to charge a fee to overcome bots won't work, experts told WSJ, because anyone determined to spam X can just find credit cards and buy disposable phones on the dark web. And any bad actor who can't find what they need on the dark web could theoretically just wait three months to launch scams or spread harmful content like disinformation or propaganda. This leads some critics to wonder what the point of charging the small fee really is.

When the "Not-A-Bot" program launched, X Support directly disputed critics' claims that the program was simply testing whether charging small fees might expand X's revenue to help Musk get the platform out of debt.

"This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount," X Support wrote on X. "It is not a profit driver."

It seems likely that Musk is simply trying everything he can think of to reduce bots on the platform, even though it's widely known that charging a subscription fee has failed to stop bots from overrunning other online platforms  (just ask frustrated fans of World of Warcraft) . Musk, who famously overpaid for Twitter and has been climbing out of debt since , has claimed since before the Twitter deal closed that his goal was to eliminate bots on the platform.

"We will defeat the spam bots or die trying!" Musk tweeted back in 2022, when a tweet was still a tweet and everyone could depend on accessing Twitter for free.

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Channel ars technica.