Qui va et retourne, fait bon voyage. Who goes and returns makes a good journey.
Qui va, il lèche; qui repose, il sèche. He who bestirs himself sucks up, he who lies still dries up.
Qui veut apprendre à prier, aille souvent sur la mer. If a man would learn to pray let him go often to sea.
Qui veut être riche en un an, au bout de six mois est pendu. He who wants to be rich in a year is hanged at six months’ end.
Qui veut faire une porte d’or, il y met tous les jours un clou. He who wishes to make a golden door drives a nail into it every day.
Qui veut noyer son chien, l’accuse de rage. A man who wants to drown his dog says he is mad.
Qui veut plaire à tout le monde, doit se lever de bonne heure. He had need rise early who would please everybody.
Qui veut prendre un oiseau, qu’il ne l’effarouche. To scare a bird is not the way to catch it.
Qui veut tenir nette maison, il n’y faut prêtre ni pigeon. He that would keep his house clean must not let priest or pigeon into it.
Qui veut vivre à Rome, ne doit pas se quereller avec le pape. He who wishes to live at Rome must not quarrel with the pope.