Irish proverbs and sayings are like life advice that’s been around for a long time. They give us simple but important lessons that stay relevant over the years. Let’s take a closer look at the wisdom these old sayings offer.
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Irish Proverbs Conveying Timeless Wisdom
1. “There is no fireside like your own fireside.”
2. “A man’s mouth often breaks his nose.”
3. “In every land, hardness is in the north of it, softness in the south, industry in the east, and fire and inspiration in the west.”
4. “He is bad that will not take advice, but he is a thousand times worse that takes every advice.”
5. “The reason the Irish are always fighting each other is they have no other worthy opponents.”
6. “If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn.”
7. “Though wisdom is good in the beginning, it is better at the end.”
8. “It is not a secret if it is known by three people.”
9. “Tis better to spend money like there’s no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there’s no money!”
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10. “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.”
11. “Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.”
12. “If it’s drowning you’re after, don’t torment yourself with shallow water.”
13. “May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty!”
14. “There is no luck except where there is discipline.”
15. “To live above with the Saints we love, ah, that is the purest glory. To live below with the Saints we know, ah, that is another story.”
16. “The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot.”
17. “A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.”
18. “A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.”
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19. “Here’s to you and here’s to me, I pray that friends we’ll always be, but if by chance we disagree, the heck with you and here’s to me.” — Irish Toast
20. “Here’s to eyes in your heads and none in your spuds.” — Irish Toast
21. “Here’s to good Irish friends—never above you, never below you, always beside you.” — Irish Toast
22. “Here’s to Hell! May the stay there be as fun as the way there!”
23. “There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.”
24. “Don’t be breaking your shin on a stool that’s not in your way.”
25. “Forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid.”
26. “It’s easy to halve the potato where there’s love.”
27. “Legend says that each leaf of the clover has a meaning: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and, if you can find a 4-leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck.” —Jean LeGrand
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28. “There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.”
29. “May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.“
30. “Never scald your lips with another man’s porridge.”
31. “God is good, but never dance in a small boat.”
32. “Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.”
33. “The man who has luck in the morning has luck in the afternoon.”
34. “A family of Irish birth will argue and fight, but let a shout come from without, and see them all unite.”
35. “It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.”
36. “Leave the table hungry. Leave the bed sleepy. Leave the bar thirsty.”
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37. “There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish, and those who wish they were.”
38. “There’s no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are tied down.”
39. “Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck.”
40. “May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two inside!”
41. “If you dig a grave for others, you might fall into it yourself.”
42. “I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”
43. “Lie down with dogs and you’ll rise with fleas.”
44. “Life is like a cup of tea, it’s all in how you make it.”
45. “The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to keep money in his purse.”
46. “He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend loses more; And he who loses faith loses all.”
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47. “My Friends are the best friends. Loyal, willing and able. Now let’s get to drinking! All glasses off the table!”
48. “In our togetherness, castles are built.”
49. “Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden.”
50. “Put silk on a goat, and it’s still a goat.”
51. “Always remember to forget the things that made you sad. But never forget to remember the things that made you glad.”
52. “You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.”
53. “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
54. “You must crack the nuts before you can eat the kernel.”
55. “We cannot share this sorrow if we haven’t grieved a while. Nor can we feel another’s joy until we’ve learned to smile.”
56. “A best friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.”
57. “Experience is the comb that life gives a bald man.”
58. “As the big hound is, so will the pup be.”
59. “May you get all your wishes but one, so that you will always have something to strive for!”
60. “The light heart lives long.”
61. “There comes a time when you must take the bull by the tail and face the situation squarely.”
62. “May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.”
63. “What butter and whiskey won’t cure, there is no cure for.”
64. “There is luck in leisure.”
65. “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.”
66. “The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune.”
67. “A good word never broke a tooth.”
68. “When a twig grows hard it is difficult to twist it. Every beginning is weak.”
69. “Here’s to our wives, and here’s to our sweethearts, may the two never meet!” — Irish Toast
70. “Time is a great storyteller.”
71. “Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.”
72. “A friend’s eye is a good mirror.”
73. “A best friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.”
74. “It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead the rest of your life.”
75. “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.”
76. “May the grass grow long on the road to Hell for want of use.”
77. “Always remember that hindsight is the best insight to foresight.”
78. “For the test of the heart is trouble and it always comes with years. And the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through the tears.”
79. “The longest road out is the shortest road home.”
80. “A trade not properly learned is an enemy.”
81. “Tis better to buy a small bouquet and give to your friend this very day, than a bushel of roses white and red to lay on his coffin after he’s dead.”
82. “There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
83. “A drink precedes a story.”
84. “Men are like bagpipes – no sound comes from them until they are full.”
Irish Sayings for Daily Inspiration
85. “Happy out.” (Meaning: Currently content).
86. “Slainte!” (Meaning: Cheers!)
87. “Top of the morning to ye!” (Meaning: The best part of the morning to you.)
88. “I’m going to the jacks.” (Meaning: I’m going to the bathroom.)
89. “Your oul fella and your oul wan.” (Meaning: Your father and your mother.)
90. “A whale of a time!” (Meaning: It was a great time!)
91. “Away with the fairies.” (Meaning: You’re delusional.)
92. “Story horse?” (Meaning: What’s up?)
93.” Quit acting the maggot.” (Meaning: Stop being up to no good.)
94.“Go way outta that!” (Meaning: No way—unbelievable!)
95. “Will you have a mineral?” (Meaning: Will you have a drink?)
96. “I’m knackered.” (Meaning: I’m exhausted.)
97. “How’s the craic?” (Meaning: How are you?)
98. “What eejits.” (Meaning: What fools.)
99. “Sure you know yourself.” (Meaning: You understand.)
100. “Sucking diesel.” (Meaning: Rewards of hard work.)
101. “Black stuff.” (Meaning: Pint of Guinness.)
102. “Delira and excira.” (Meaning: Delighted and excited.)
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