Japanese Proverbs and Inspirational Quotes

When a bonsai stops growing, you know it’s dead.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Growth

Fall seven times and stand up eight.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Bad Times, Courage, Perseverance, Resilience, Proverbs

When you’re dying of thirst it’s too late to think about digging a well.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Planning

If you want to know what’s happening in the market, ask the market.
—Japanese Proverb

One thousand days to learn; ten thousand days to refine.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Learning

The feet are the gateway to 10,000 illnesses.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Health

Seeing is poison for the eyes.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Eyes

If one man praises you, a thousand will repeat the praise.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Praise, Proverbs

If you are going out for a fight leave your best hat at home.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Fighting, Home

Each day you can admire the moon, the snow and the flowers.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Admiration

A good religion does not need miracles.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Miracles

The heaviest rains fall on the house that leaks most.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Rain

Deceive the rich and powerful if you will, but don’t insult them.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Deception/Lying, Deceit

The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Resilience

One joy can drive away a hundred sorrows.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Joy

Getting money is like digging with a needle. Spending it is like water soaking into the sand.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Money

If I peddle salt, it rains; if I peddle flour, the wind blows.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Rain

Two lovers in the rain have no need of an umbrella.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Rain

A wild goose may be worth a hundred pieces of gold, but you first have to spend three pieces of gold to buy an arrow.
—Japanese Proverb

It is no use cutting a stick when the fight is over.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Fighting

A single prayer moves heaven.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Heaven

Let the past drift away with the water.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Past, Reflection, Moving on

It is better to be ignorant than mistaken.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Mistakes

Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Love

Duty is heavy as a mountain but
Death is lighter than a feather.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Duty

The crow that mimics a cormorant gets drowned.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Being Ourselves

The most beautiful flowers flourish in the shade.
—Japanese Proverb

Into the house where joy lives, happiness will gladly come.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Happiness, Joy

Where there is laughter happiness likes to be.
—Japanese Proverb
Topics: Happiness

Numerous words show scanty wares.
—Japanese Proverb