菜根谭的智慧中有云：“十语九中未必称奇，一语不中，则愆尤骈集；十谋九成未必归功，一谋不成则訾议丛兴。君子所以宁默毋躁、宁拙毋巧。”

 

    意思是即使十句话能说对九句也未必有人称赞你，但是假如你说错了一句话就会遭受人的指责；即使十次计谋你有九次成功也未必得到奖励，可是其中只要有一次计谋失败，埋怨和责难之声就会纷纷到来。所以有修养的君子宁肯沉默寡言，不是经过深思熟虑的话不随便乱说；表情绝不冲动急躁，做事宁可显得笨拙一些，不能自作聪明显得高人一等。所以在生活中，我们一定要秉持君子之道谨言慎行。

 

    1. A little body often harbours a great soul. 莫道身躯小，伟人寓其间。

 

    2. A cock is valiant on his own dunghill. 夜郎自大。

 

    3. A close mouth catches no flies. 病从口入，祸从口出。

 

    4. When wine sinks, words swim. 美酒一下肚，话匣关不住

 

    5. Ale will make a cat speak. 酒后吐真言。

 

    6. A middle course is the safest. 中庸之道最保险。

 

    7. All one's geese are swans. 自吹自擂。

 

    8. All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws. 猫都爱吃鱼，却怕爪弄湿。

 

    9. All bread is not baked in one oven. 人心不同，犹如其面。

 

    10. A man has his hour, and a dog has his day. 人有称心时，狗有得意日。

 

    11. Always taking out of the meal-tub and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom. 坐吃山空。

 

    12. A great talker is a great liar. 最会饶舌的人也是最会说谎的人。

 

    13. A good heart cant's lie. 有仁心者不说谎话。

 

    14. A good tongue is a good weapon. 伶俐的口齿是一种锐利的武器。

 

    15. A flow of words is no proof of wisdom. 口若悬河不能作为才智的证明。

 

    16. Ask no questions and you will be told no lies. 如果你少问，谎言就难进。

 

    17. A lie begets a lie till they come to generation. 谎言生谎言，谎言传万代。

 

    18. A liar is worse than a thief. 撒谎比偷窃更可恶。

 

    19. A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. 骗子说真话，也没人相信。

 

    20. All truths are not to be told. 真理并不都能说得清。

 

    21. A man may dig his grave with his teeth. 祸从口出。

 

    22. A man may love his house well without riding on the ridge. 有宝何必人前夸。

 

    23. A good face needs no paint. 美貌无需擦脂抹粉。

 

    24. A good conscience is a continual feast. 白日不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。

 

    25. A good conscience is a soft pillow. 白日不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。

 

    26. A man may talk like a wise man and yet act like a fool. 一个人可能说话像个聪明人，而行为像个大笨蛋。

 

    27. A man has two ears and one mouth that he may hear much and speak little. 人有两只耳朵一张嘴，就是为了多听少说话。

 

    28. Apothecaries would not sugar their pills unless they were bitter. 好药不苦不会加糖衣。

 

    29. Answer a fool according to his folly. 以其人之道，还治其人之身。

 

    30. A new broom sweeps clean. 新官上任三把火。

 

    31. An old poacher makes the best keeper. 老偷猎者是的看守人。

 

    32. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 预防胜于治疗。

 

    33. An old dog barks not in vain. 老犬不空吠。

 

    34. An old dog bites sore. 老狗咬人痛得很。

 

    35. A man may smile and smile and be villain. 笑里藏奸。

 

    36. An honest man's word is as good as his bond. 诚实人的话像他的契约一样靠得住。

 

    37. An ox is taken by the horns, and the man by the tongue. 牛因有脚而被抓，人因有舌而遭殃。

 

    38. A smart coat is a good letter of introduction. 人要衣装，佛要金装。

 

    39. A ragged coat may cover an honest man. 不能以衣著取人。

 

    40. Appearances are deceitful. 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量。

 

    41. A silent tongue and true heart are the most admirable things on earth. 缄默的嘴，真诚的心，是世界上最令人赞美的东西。

 

    42. A secret between more than two is no secret. 两人以上知道的秘密就不算秘密。