The Provençal proverbs on the theme « Philosophers » gather 12 traditional sayings, presented in Maritime Provençal with their English translation. They come from La Tour-Keyrié's collection (1882).
Aquéu a la sentido.That one has the nose for it. De segnour, de ribiero e de gran caminFa pas bouon èstre vesin.Lords, rivers and high roads make bad neighbours. Tau paire, tau flou.Like father, like son. Qu bèn fara,
Bèn trouvara,
lèu vau a la messo.Do well and you shall find good — as for me, I am off to mass. Qu avalo amar pau pas escupi dous.He who swallows bitter cannot spit sweet. Es pas bèu ço qu'es bèu, mai es bèu ço qu'agrado.Beauty is not what is fair, but what pleases. Sen e jouven
Vai gaire ensèn.Good sense and youth seldom go together. Fouesso e bèn
Noun se counvèn.Much and well do not go hand in hand. Qu san trèvo
San devèn.He who keeps company with saints becomes a saint. Lou pus gros mouloun tiro.The larger heap draws in the smaller. La Mar fa de riche e de paureThe Sea makes men rich and men poor. Qu noun fa quand pau,
Noun fa quand vau.He who will not act when he can shall not act when he wishes.