English French Literal translation
; E' f5 k( u9 G: _: T& H* Z An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Il vaut mieux aller au moulin qu'au médecin. It's better to go to the mill than to the doctor.$ d( P& k+ B3 t1 K2 s3 i' i
A bad workman blames his tools. à mauvais ouvrier point de bons outils. To a bad worker no good tools.
' v- @# l4 p7 ~ Beggars can't be choosers. Nécessité fait loi. Necessity makes law5 A' w* _& t2 c+ F# J7 {
Clothes don't make the person. L'habit ne fait pas le moine. The habit doesn't make the monk.
9 F, }6 @+ t: B' A3 e Don't judge a book by its cover. Il ne faut pas juger les gens sur la mine. One shouldn't judge people on their appearance.; L% p+ c, B/ e4 w" H1 s1 V% {
Do your work well and never mind the critics. Bien faire et laisser dire. Do well and let (them) speak.; q, D6 h0 ?$ a$ i0 v
Every Jack has his Jill. Il n'est si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle. There's no such mean jar that can't find his lid." V/ n1 v7 ]$ }! A, J2 e3 f$ \% C6 \
Givers of advice don't pay the price. Les conseilleurs ne sont pas les payeurs. Dispensers of advice are not the payers.
- P5 Q" b* z0 G0 O f$ s4 G A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Qui s'excuse, s'accuse. He who excuses himself accuses himself.. R/ D2 X5 {! Q4 C
Heaven helps those who help themselves. Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera. Help yourself, heaven will help you.
4 o( ?% R0 d& X( y2 n- H6 h. M Honor to whom honor is due. à tout seigneur tout honneur., R1 S/ E& Q( x! J
In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king. Au royaume des aveugles les borgnes sont rois., M/ d2 x5 z$ b) Q' H
It's better to talk to the organ-grinder than the monkey. Il vaut mieux s'adresser à Dieu qu'à ses saints. It's better to address God that his saints.5 f, l2 h6 ^) c r; v
A man's home is his castle. Charbonnier est ma?tre chez lui. A coalman is master at home.
& U* f9 R l9 Y) l% {7 O The miser's son is a spendthrift. à père avare fils prodigue. To a stingy father prodigal son.8 I, \# f0 p& `- E* w5 R) ~) ?% C/ x
New converts are the most pious. Quand le diable devient vieux, il se fait ermite. When the devil gets old, he turns into a hermit.8 Y/ |) `& `8 C2 X
No man is a prophet in his own country. Nul n'est prophète en son pays.0 U. { o( e$ j! F
Opportunity makes a thief. L'occasion fait le larron.$ U$ c* h* B( H# x& G* L2 H$ Z3 F
The rich man is the one who pays his debts. Qui paie ses dettes s'enrichit. He who pays his debts gets richer.
2 _& S" ^6 R& ?* p: C Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Il ne sert à rien de déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul. It serves no purpose to undress Peter to dress Paul.
3 {! r& s) |! L& B' U8 s The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot. Les cordonniers sont toujours les plus mal chaussés. Shoemakers are always the worst shod.- }* J5 n6 z6 w& a z E
The sky is the limit. Tout soldat a dans son sac son bat?n de maréchal. Every soldier has his marshall's baton in his bag.
" d2 Q' G0 Q$ @: Z3 { To err is human L'erreur est humaine The error is human. v5 q& @2 i! \) y$ F
To know a friend is to respect him. Comme on conna?t ses saints, on les honore. As one knows his saints, one honors them.
( T! k, O- `- {: s Too many cooks spoil the broth. Autant de têtes, autant d'avis. Deux patrons font chavirer la barque. So many heads, so many opinions. Two bosses capsize the boat, ]! ^# _. R6 Z, d
The tree is known by its fruit. C'est au pied du mur qu'on voit le ma?on. It's at the foot of the wall that you see the mason.! f( W) T% x i6 `
A word to the wise is enough. à bon entendeur, salut. To a good listener, safety.' d% w: x d& I& U/ i
You can tell an artist by his handiwork. à l'oeuvre on reconna?t l'artisan. By his work one recognizes the workman. |