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Proverb collection

 You are looking for proverbs about land and soil? 

In each country, proverbs and sayings provide insights into beliefs and simple truths. Those beliefs were passed down from generation to generation, altered by the wisdom of the times and finally becoming part of culture and education.
 
Browse our collection of worldwide provebs on land and soil classified by country of origin.
 
 

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z-

 

 

 
 
A
 
 Albania
  • The gardener's hands are black with earth but his loaves are white

Submitted by Emily Davila, Germany  

 
 
 
B
 
Benin
  •  Aîkoungban non wa hè a / "The land (soil) never lies",

Submitted by Armande Zanou, Benin

 
 Bulgaria
  • Каквото посадиш, такова ще пожънеш. Ако не посееш нещо, няма да ожънеш нищо/Whatever you plant is what you will reap. If you do not plant /sow something you  would not get anything
  • Лозето не ще молитва, ами мотика. Където не копае мотика, грозде не се ражда/ The vineyard does not need a prayer, but a hoe. Where there is not  a hoe, there isn't any grape
  • Земята да роди, иска хиляда пъти метан / поклон/ да и сториш!/ когато човек работи с примитивни оръдия, земята, работи приведен или кланяйки се/ The Land wants thousands bows to give birth ( When a man works with primitive tools to dig or cultivate the land  always bents or worship)
 
 Submitted by Katya Arapnakova, Bulgaria 
 
C
 
China
  • 地尽其利  / "The Soil is put to the best use"
  • 深耕细作 / "Deep Ploughing, Careful (intensive) cultivation/deep ploughing and meticulous cultivation"
Submitted by  Yang Youlin, China

 

  • The way of cultivation is not easy. He who plants a garden plants happiness.
Submitted by Emily Davila, Germany
 
 
D
 
 
Denmark

 

  • It is good to lend to God and to the soil--they pay good interest. 
    Submitted by Emily Davila, Germany
 
E
 
 
 
 
F
 
 
Finland
 
  • When a man remembers the land, the land remembers him.
Submitted by Emily Davila, Germany
 
G
 
 
Ghana
 
  • When a yam doesn't grow well, we don't blame it; it is because of the soil.
Tshi proverb (Ghana) submitted by Emily Davila,Germany
 
Germany
  •  Der Segen der Erde zum Brot uns werde / "It is the soil, which gives us bread",

Submitted by Barbara Kunz, Germany.

 

 
 
Honduras
 
  • Un pedazo de tierra...es el hijo que nace igual que las
    espigas y los granos de trigo.  Es la novia, la madre y el amigo. A
    demás de pedazo de tierra." Claudio Barrera. Honduran Poet  (1912-1971)  A piece of land ... is the child born like the ears and grains
    of wheat. It is the bride, the mother and the friend.
    Besides (being) a piece of land. 
Submitted by Sergio A. Zelaya-Bonilla, Hunduras
 
I
 
 
 
J
 

Japan

  •  飢えに臨みて苗を植える / "There is no use in planting seeds when you are facing hunger"  Meaning: start before too late.

Submitted by Yukie Hori,  Japan

 
K
 Kenya
  • Miye nyumba ya undongo, sihimili vishindo / "I am a mud hut, I cannot stand shocks"
  • Nifae na mvua nikufae na jua / "Do me a favor in the rainy season and I'll payback in the dry season."
  • Udongo uwahi ungali maji / "Work the clay while it's still wet."

Submitted by Wagaki Wmangi, Kenia

 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
 
  • 참새도 땅이 없으면 못산다 / "Even sparrow cannot survive without land"  Meaning:  "Land is the most essentials for every single life."

Submitted by Kug Bo Shim, Republic of Korea

 
Republic of Korea
  •  신토불이(身土不二 / "Body and Land are not two but one"
  •  농자천하지대본(農者天下之大本) / "Agriculture forms the basis of national existence"  

 Submitted by Kug Bo Shim, Republic of Korea

 
L
 
 
 
M
 
 
 
 
N
 
New Zealand
 
  • He kura tangata, e kore e rokohanga; he kura whenua ka rokohanga
    Possessions are temporary things compared to the land ‘A loved person will not remain, a treasured land is always there.’
    This may be interpreted as comparing the temporary nature of human possessions with the permanence of the land.
 
  • Manaaki Whenua, Manaaki Tangata, Haere whakamua
    Care for the land, Care for the people, Go forward.
 
  • Toitū he whenua, whatungarongaro he tangata?
    Land is permanent, man disappears.

Maori proverbs/ New Zealand, submitted by Emily Davila, Germany  
 
Norway
 
  • Black soil produces white bread.
 
Submitted by Emily Davila, Germany
 
O
 
 
 
P
 
Portugal
  • Cada terra com seu uso, cada roca com seu fuso/ "Each land with its use, each distaff with its spindle"
Submitted by Andre Neves, Portugal
 
Q
 
 
 
R
 
 
 
S
 
Spain
 
  • De floja tierra, nunca abundante cosecha/  From loose soil never abundant harvest
    La tierra es más señora que su mismo amo/ The land is more owner than its own landlord  
    Dar a la tierra el grano, para que retorne la mazorca/  Give a maize grain to the land and it will return a cob corn
  • El cultivo de la tierra goces tranquilos encierra / Cultivating the soil brings peaceful satisfaction
 Submitted by Marcos Montoiro, Spain
 
 St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  •  "When you have land, you have the world".

Submitted by Richard Byron-Cox, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 

 
 
T
 
Turkey
  •  "Başlıca güç kaynağımız ve dayanağımız topraktır. Onu sele, yele ve ele vermeyelim." / "Land is our foundation, do not let the wind, float, and the others take it. "
  • "Toprağı işleyen ekmeği dişler"./ "Tame the land, get the bread.
Submitted by ​Ömer Sebat, Turkey
 
U
 
United States of America
  •  "This land is my teacher, it is my altar. It is at the heart of my culture"

Submitted by Nayeli Guzman, New Mexico, USA. More information see http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/9401-this-land-is-my-teacher-preserving-native-agriculture-and-traditions

 
V
 
 
 
W
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
Y
 
 
Z
 
Zimbabwe
 
  • Ivhu inhaka yedu /"The land (soil) is our inheritance"
  • Chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana wembeva anorwara / "It is the land (soil) that knows that the mouse's child is ill"
  • Pasi panodya or Pasi rinodya / "The land eats" 

Submitted by Emmanuel Chinyamakobvu, Zimbabwe

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

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