Scottish Gaelic Proverbs

Scottish Gaelic Proverbs echo the Highlands’ oral bardic tradition and clan life. Shaped by rugged coasts and the Highland Clearances, they prize courage, hospitality, and quiet humor.

Friendship is as it's kept. (Scottish Gaelic Proverb)
Get bait while the tide is out. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Good sword has often been in poor scabbard. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Green is the grass of the least trodden field. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
He that keeps not his arms in time of peace will have none in time of war. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
He thought the ocean his own under his spells. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
He would cheat the heron of her egg, though her two eyes were fixed on him. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Hospitality to the exile, and broken bones to the oppressor. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
I would know your gift by your graciousness. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
If bad be the raven, his company is no better. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
If there be a God, and no one knows whether there be, leave it between ourselves and the dirks. (Scottish Gaelic Proverb)
It is not the nodding of heads that does the rowing. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
It is not the priest's first story that should be believed. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
It's a long river whose head can't be found. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
It's difficult to draw pure water from a dirty well. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
It's easy to keep a castle that's not besieged. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Kings will find armies, and the world men. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Like the herb plucked on sunday, it does neither good nor ill. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
The storm of reeds is loud till you go through them. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
The yellow dung-fly makes the loudest hum. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
There are many ways of killing a dog without choking him with butter. (Scottish Gaelic Proverb)
Though separation be hard, two never met but had to part. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
Truth is often harsh to tell. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
What's done in the corner will come to the hearth. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb
When the cup is fullest it is most difficult to carry. View proverb
Scottish Gaelic Proverb