Idioms, Proverbs, Slogans, Etc. Which Srila Prabhupada Has Quoted

krsna · September 16, 2004

1. "A bad king spoils the kingdom, and a bad housewife spoils the family." (Bengali proverb)

2. "A confectioner is never attracted by sweetmeats." (Bengali proverb)

3. "A dead elephant is also one lakh of rupees." (Indian parable - "Elephant, living or dead, still, it is valuable.")

4. "A dog cannot digest ghee." (Because he is a meat-eater.)

5. "A fight between the husband and wife should not be taken seriously." (Chanakya Pandit)

6. "A fool will be revealed as soon as he speaks" (Chanakya Pandit)

7. "A happy man is one who lives at home and who has no debts." (Chanakya Pandit)

8. "A man is known by the company he keeps." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

9. "A man without an aim is like a ship without a rudder." (English Proverb)

10. "A man without an education is like a flower without a scent." (Chanakya Pandit)

11. "A person can become a preacher if he has got life. A dead man cannot become a preacher." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

12. "A rich man may be honored in his own country or on his own planet, but a learned man, a devotee of God, is honored wherever he goes." (Chanakya Pandit)

13. "A rolling stone gathers no moss"

14. "A woman who has not given birth to a child cannot understand the pain of childbirth."

15. "After getting up from your sleep, you take your shoes and beat your mind hundred times. This is your first business. And while going to bed, you take a broomstick and beat your mind hundred times. Then you can control your mind. Otherwise it is very difficult." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

16. "All men are created equal."

17. "All that glitters is not gold."

18. "An envious man is more dangerous than a snake." (Chanakya Pandit)

19. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."

20. "Anything material, if it is used in the service of Krishna, it is a mistake to give it up." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

21. "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." (Bible)

22. "at heart" (basically, fundamentally)

23. "at someone's beck and call" (always ready to serve somebody)

24. "Bad money drives away good money." (Gresham's theory)

25. "beating a dead horse" (engaging in useless activity)

26. "beg, borrow, or steal" (acquire somehow or other, obtain at almost any cost)

27. "Better late than never."

28. "Better to have a wise man as an enemy than a fool for a friend."

29. "Birds of a feather flock together."

30. "blind leading the blind" (someone who doesn't understand something trying to explain it to others)

31. "bury the hatchet" (stop quarreling and become friendly with someone)

32. "by hook or by crook" (in any way necessary)

33. "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."

34. "call a spade a spade" (speak truthfully)

35. "castles in the air" (daydreams)

36. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

37. "chalk out" (plan, project, work out, sketch out, map out, lay out, design a prototype)

38. "change of heart" (change in the way one feels about something)

39. "Chant, chant, chant...Can't, can't, can't." ("There was a cartoon in some newspaper that depicted an old lady and her husband sitting face to face. The lady is requesting her husband, 'Chant, chant, chant.' And the husband is answering, 'Can't, can't, can't.'")

40. "chewing the chewed" (punah punas carvita-carvananam (SB 7.5.30) - "In our country, India, the sugar cane is chewed, the juice is sucked, and it is thrown in the street. Now, if somebody goes and chews the chewed sugar cane, what relish, what taste he will get? Similarly, because we have no information of spiritual life, we are simply chewing the chewed. That's all.")

41. "come to grips with" (struggle (successfully) with an idea or problem)

42. "Come to kingdom of God." (Bible)

43. "come to pass" (to happen, occur)

44. "come to terms" (reach an agreement)

45. "come to the point" (be direct)

46. "come up with" (produce or find a thought, idea or answer)

47. "Commit civil suicide." (If you commit suicide it is criminal. It is also suicide, no more connection with family. This is also suicide, but it is civil. There is no criminal action against... But it is also voluntarily committing suicide--no more connection with anyone.) (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

48. "dancing dog" (puppet, pawn)

49. "Devotees actually serious about advancing in spiritual life should give up the company of nondevotees and always keep company with devotees. (Chanakya Pandit)

50. "Discretion is the better part of valor." ("The better part of valor is discretion." - Shakespeare)

51. "Disease and unwanted guest: If you don't give food, they will go away.

52. "Disappointment gives rise to the greatest satisfaction." (Sanskrit proverb)

53. "Do not go to Vrndavana with return ticket." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

54. "Don't make a guru just like you keep a dog, as a fashion." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

55. "Don't try to see a saintly person by your eyes. You see a saintly person by the ear." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

56. "Don't try to see Krishna. Do something so Krishna will see you." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

57. "Don't waste time. Don't wait for another life. In this life, finish this business, to understand Krishna, and go back home, back to Godhead." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

58. "Don't worry about money, Do something nice for Krishna and money will come." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

59. "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Bible)

60. "Economic development begins from family affection." (Alfred Marshall, 1842-1924, British economist)

61. "Either disciple or son, he should be always chastised. If you pat, then he'll be spoiled. If you chastise him, he'll come out a very nice person." (Chanakya Pandit)

62. "Even a moment of one's lifetime could not be returned in exchange for millions of dollars. (Chanakya Pandit)

63. "Everyone's servant is nobody's servant."

64. "Example is better than precept."

65. "Failure is the pillar of success."

66. "Familiarity breeds contempt."

67. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Bible: Lord Jesus Christ to God, the Father, while hanging on the cross)

68. "fifty-fifty" (half-and-half)

69. "Finish this business in this life. Don't delay for the next life." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

70. "fish out of water" (someone who does not fit in)

71. "Follow in the footsteps" (Follow someone's example exactly)

72. "fool's paradise" (a state of delusive contentment or false hope)

73. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." (Alexander Pope, English poet)

74. "For one who is not engaged in devotional service, reading all the books is simply like licking the outside of the honey jar." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

75. "Four kinds of enemies at home: If the father is in debt he is considered to be an enemy; if the mother has selected another husband in the presence of her grown-up children, she is considered to be an enemy; if a wife does not live well with her husband but deals very roughly, then she is an enemy; and if a son is a fool, he is also an enemy." (Chanakya Pandit)

76. "Fragrance in gold." ("Gold is already valuable, but if it has got some nice fragrance, then it becomes even more valuable.")

77. "from bad to worse" (get even worse, deteriorate even more)

78. "from the heart" (with great feeling)

79. "from time to time" (occasionally)

80. "give and take" (the practice of compromise)

81. "give rise to" (be the cause of something)

82. "Give the dog a bad name and hang it."

83. "go-down" (East Indian for "basement")

84. "God created man after His own image." (Bible)

85. "God helps him who tries to help himself."

86. "God is great."

87. "God is good."

88. "God, give us our daily bread." (Christian prayer)

89. "golden opportunity" (excellent opportunity, favorable opportunity, fine opportunity)

90. "hale and hearty" (in very good health, well and strong)

91. "Hallowed be Thy name." (Bible)

92. "hand to mouth" (having only enough money for basic living)

93. "have to do with" (be about or on the subject or connected with something)

94. "heart-to-heart" (candid, frank)

95. "hearth and home" (the folks at home, ancestral home)

96. "hen-pecked husband" (husband who is dominated or harassed with persistent nagging)

97. "History repeats itself."

98. "hope against hope" (continue to hope when things look very bad)

99. "Householder life is a concession for sense gratification." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

100. "However qualified a materialist may be, he is no better than a snake decorated with jewels. One should therefore be careful in dealing with such materialists, just as one would be careful in dealing with a bejeweled serpent." (Chanakya Pandit)

101. "I am a sannyasi. I am not married, neither I am meant for marrying. But if I can produce Krsna conscious children, I can marry hundred times." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

102. "I am the lord of all I survey."

103. "I don't find any scarcity within this world, except Krishna consciousness." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

104. "If a foolish person is given good instructions, he becomes more and more angry." (Chanakya Pandit)

105. "If a husband and wife are always satisfied with one another, then the goddess of fortune automatically comes." (Chanakya Pandit) ("Where there is no disagreement between husband and wife, all material opulence is present, and good children are born.")

106. "If a person has neither a mother nor a pleasing wife at home, he should leave home and go to the forest, because for him there is no difference between his home and the forest." (Chanakya Pandit)

107. "If an honest person deals with a great cheater, it is necessary for him to become a cheater also" (Chanakya Pandit)

108. "If by selling all these properties, temples, if I could turn one man to Krishna consciousness, then my mission will be successful." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

109. "If I could produce really Krsna conscious children, I can use hundred times sex life. Otherwise why shall I use my sex for cat, producing cats and dog?" (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

110. "If I get at least one quality disciple, then all my labor will be success." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

111. "If Krishna wants to kill someone no one can save him, and if Krishna wants to save someone no one can kill him."

112. "If one has a wife like a sly fox, he must immediately give up his life at home and go to the forest." (Chanakya Pandit)

113. "If people do not come to hear this philosophy, don't be discouraged. You sit down in a room and try to preach. The four walls will hear you. Don't be disappointed." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

114. "If somebody takes salagram and breaks peanuts, so there is no devotion." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

115. "If there is a good tree within a garden or forest, its flowers will fill the forest with their fragrance. Similarly, a good son within a family makes the whole family famous all over the world. (Chanakya Pandit)

116. "If there is one moon in the sky that is sufficient to dissipate all darkness. There is no need of thousands or millions of stars." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

117. "If you have got money, spend it for Krishna. Don't keep it. You cannot keep it. Either the money will go from you, or you will have to go from the money." (Chanakya Pandit)

118. "If you love me, love my dog"

119. "If you want to make spiritual advancement, then you should always think, 'Death may come at any moment.', but if you want to be materially happy, you should always think, 'I shall never die.'" (Chanakya Pandit)

120. "If you want to deal with enemy, you should always take him as very dangerous." (Chanakya Pandit)

121. "Ignorance is no excuse."

122. "'Impossible' is a word found in a fool's dictionary." (Napoleon Bonaparte)

123. "In a place where there is no friend, no temple and no river, don't go there." (Chanakya Pandit)

124. "in due course" (when the time is ripe, in the usual amount of time, at the right time)

125. "In God we trust."

126. "in keeping with" (going well together, agreeing)

127. "in kind" (in a similar way, with the same kind of thing)

128. "in light of" (as a result of new information, because of)

129. "in line" (doing or being what people expect or accept, within ordinary limits)

130. "in love" (liking very much, loving)

131. "in memory of" (as a memorial to someone who has died)

132. "in no time" (soon, quickly)

133. "in other words" (say something in a different (usually more direct) way)

134. "in part" (to some extent, partly)

135. "in spite of" (in opposition to, despite, in defiance of)

136. "in store" (ready to happen, waiting)

137. "In the beginning there was God." (Bible)

138. "In the beginning there was word only, and the word is God." (Bible)

139. "in the charge of" (under the care or supervision of)

140. "in the course of" (while, during)

141. "in the first place" (firstly, to begin with)

142. "in the long run" (the distant future, in the end)

143. "inside and out" (in every part, completely)

144. "It is better not to talk than to talk foolish[ness]."

145. "It is better to become a sweeper and honestly earn one's livelihood than to become a false Bhagavata reader for earning livelihood." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

146. "It is better to have a blind maternal uncle than no maternal uncle." (Bengali proverb)

147. "It is better to have one qualified son than to have hundreds of fools." (Chanakya Pandit)

148. "It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss." (Thomas Gray, English poet, 1716-71)

149. "Judge by the result."

150. "Judge not others lest ye be judged."

151. "keep body and soul together" (keep alive, survive)

152. "keep books" (keep records of money gained and spent, do the work of a bookkeeper)

153. "keep from" (prevent, refrain from)

154. "keep in touch" (talk or write to someone)

155. "keep time" (show the right time)

156. "Keep to the left." (Drive on the left side of the road.)

157. "Keep to the right." (Drive on the right side of the road.)

158. "keep track of" (maintain a record)

159. "keep up with" (go at the same speed as a person or thing, maintain the same rate of progress)

160. "kick out" (get rid of)

161. "know by heart" (memorize)

162. "labor of love" (something done for personal pleasure and not for money)

163. "last but not least" (in the last place but not the least important)

164. "last word" (the last remark in an argument, the final say in deciding something)

165. "Let there be creation." (Bible)

166. "Like a fish out of water." (The spirit soul in a material body.)

167. "Like the nipples on the neck of a goat." (Useless, because they don't give any milk.)

168. "little by little" (gradually - Ajamila's devotional service grew little by little...)

169. "Love me, love my dog."

170. "Make the best use of a bad bargain." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

171. "Man is made in the image of God." (Bible)

172. "Man is the architect of his own destiny."

173. "Man is the architect of his own fortune."

174. "Man proposes and God disposes."

175. "moment of truth" (a critical or decisive time on which much depends, a crucial moment)

176. "Money and wife should always be kept under control." (Hindi proverb)

177. "Necessity is the mother of invention."

178. "Necessity knows no law."

179. "Never trust a woman or a politician." (Chanakya Pandit)

180. "No one hears from a person coming from a humble, simple life. You remain always very humble." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

181. "Not a blade of grass moves without the will of God." (Mahatma Gandhi)

182. "Not only a person in the renounced order or one engaged in devotional service, but everyone should avoid mingling with women." (Chanakya Pandit)

183. "Obedience is the first law of discipline."

184. "once and for all" (permanently)

185. "One man's food is another man's poison."

186. "One must [learn] what is right from any source. If there is a glass of poison with some nectar in it, one should take out the nectar and leave the poison." (Chanakya Pandit) ("If one finds gold in a filthy place, he should take it. Similarly, although according to the Vedic system of education one must be given instruction by intellectual persons like brahmanas, if someone lower on the social scale has learned the truth, one should accept him as a teacher and learn from him. One should not think that just because one is lowly born he should not be accepted as a teacher.")

187. "One nation under God."

188. "One should give up the company of devils, demons and nondevotees and should always associate with devotees and saintly persons. One should always act piously, thinking that this life is temporary, and not be attached to temporary happiness and distress." (Chanakya Pandit)

189. "out of sight out of mind" ((We tend to not think about things which we cannot see on a regular basis.)

190. "part and parcel" (component, constituent)

191. "pass away" (die)

192. "pass on" (die)

193. "pay attention" (look at or listen to with full attention)

194. "Physician, heal thyself."

195. "playing with fire" (rashness, dangerous game)

196. "point out" (explain, call attention to)

197. "post dated check" (questionable outcome)

198. "put the cart before the horse" (do things in the wrong order, execute step two before step one)

199. "Saintly persons should be seen not through the eyes, but through the ears." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

200. "second nature" (an acquired behavior or trait that is so long practiced as to seem innate)

201. "see the light of day" (be born or begun)

202. "selling like hotcakes" (selling quickly)

203. "show-bottle" (a fake which is used only for show)

204. "slow but sure"

205. "sour grapes" (Denial of the desirability of something after one has found out that it cannot be reached or acquired - The losers' scorn for the award is pure sour grapes.)

206. "Strike while the iron is hot." (take advantage of an opportunity)

207. "The child is father of the man." (William Wordsworth, English poet)

208. "The cuckoo bird, although very black, is beautiful because of its sweet voice. Similarly, a woman becomes beautiful by her chastity and faithfulness to her husband, and an ugly person becomes beautiful when he becomes a learned scholar." (Chanakya Pandit)

209. "The face is the index of the mind."

210. "The happiness of wealth is enjoyable by a person who has tasted the distress of poverty."

211. "The jackals may howl, but the caravan moves on."

212. "the kingdom of God"

213. "The meek shall inherit the earth." (Bible)

214. "The night is [darkest] right before the dawn."

215. "The person for whom I have stolen accuses me of being a thief." (Bengali proverb - The family members, for whom an attached person acts in so many criminal ways, are never satisfied.)

216. "The present human society is a combination of the cheaters and the cheated" (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

217. "The vulture goes very high, three miles, four miles high, but the aim is not very good: 'Where is a dead body?'"

218. "The wife is the husband's better half."

219. "There are two envious living entities--the snake and the envious man. (Chanakya Pandit)

220. "There is no scarcity in the world. The only scarcity is that people are not Krsna conscious. That's all. Otherwise there is no scarcity." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

221. "Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another."

222. "This is a society of cheaters and the cheated." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

223. "This [material world] is not a fit place for a gentleman." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

224. "This [printing] press is brhad-mrdanga (big drum)." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

225. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Bible)

226. "Thou shalt not covet." (Bible)

227. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods" (Bible)

228. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" (Bible)

229. "Thou shalt not kill." (Bible)

230. "Thou shalt not steal." (Bible)

231. "Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain." (Bible)

232. "Three characteristics of a learned man (pandit): 1) Treats all women (except his wife) as his mother. 2) Treats others' property like garbage in the street. (Doesn't touch it.) 3) Treats all living entities as he wants to be treated." (Chanakya Pandit)

233. "Three things should be taken care of immediately: Fire, disease and debt." (Chanakya Pandit)

234. "Too much devotion is a symptom of a thief." (Bengali proverb)

235. "Trust no future however pleasant."

236. "Try and shoot the rhinoceros." ("If we fail, everybody will say never mind, nobody can shoot a rhinoceros anyway, and if we succeed, then everyone will say, Just see, what a wonderful thing they have done.")

237. "Up to five years, don't chastise, don't take any action. Let him [your son] be free. Whatever he likes, he can do. Then after fifth year, for ten years you must be very strict. Then five years and ten years, fifteen. And when he is sixteen years, treat him like a friend." (Chanakya Pandit)

238. "Variety is the mother of enjoyment."

239. "via media" (Just like my eyes are not very perfect, so I am using this transparent via media to see, similarly, because we have forgotten our relationship with Krsna, or God, so we have to see through the transparent via media of spiritual master.") (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

240. "What Bengal thinks today, other provinces will think tomorrow." (Gandhi's guru, Gokule)

241. "What is play to you is death to me."

242. "What is the use of a son who is neither a learned man nor a devotee of the Lord?" (Chanakya Pandit) (If a son is not a devotee of the Supreme Lord, he is just like blind eyes--a source of trouble.)

243. "Whatever spiritual progress one makes in life will be tested at the time of death." (Bengali proverb)

244. "white elephant" (an endeavor or a venture that proves to be a conspicuous failure)

245. "Why should you wait for another life? Finish Krishna consciousness business in this life." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

246. "Without a son, married life is simply abominable." (Chanakya Pandit)

247. "Women are generally not very intelligent and are therefore not trustworthy." (Chanakya Pandit)

248. "You are what you eat." (George Bernard Shaw)

249. "You have got wife, but if you have no children, that grha (household) is void." (Chanakya Pandit)

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The following were quoted by Srila Prabhupada for illustrative or instructional purposes, but which he does not necessarily agree with or approve of:

1. "Beg some rice and bring it and cook it and eat and sleep." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

2. "Do your own thing." (Hippie slogan)

3. "Equality, fraternity, liberty." (French slogan)

4. "From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs." (Communist slogan)

5. "Give us this day our daily bread." (Bible)

6. "I do not believe that there was a person, Krishna, ever living." (Gandhi)

7. "I have got some dozens of disciples, and I have got a temple, and people are contributing. Now I have got good arrangement for eating and sleeping. Now I am perfect. Because I am getting some food without any work, and honor, then I am perfect." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

8. "If it feels good, do it!" (Hippie slogan)

9. "The end justifies the means."

10. [Through the agency of gradual evolution one species is changing into another species]. ("The Darwin's theory is that the body is changing to another body. That is nonsense. That is not the fact. The soul is transmigrating from one body to another. That is knowledge. This is fact.")

11. "Why keep a cow when milk is available in the marketplace." (Why get married when prostitutes are available.)