Irish Proverbs About Words and Talk
An ní nach bhfeiceann súil ní bhrónann croí
A culture famous for talk kept its sharpest proverbs for the subject of talking itself. The advice runs both ways: words are power (a word in the court is better than a coin in the purse) and words are danger, which is why the sweetest mouth in the tradition is a silent one.
The storytelling sayings are self-aware: Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile explains every long night by the fire, and Is maith scéal gan drochscéal is the proverb form of “no news is good news”.
Nothing here is against talk. It is about the price of it, from a tradition that priced it accurately.
5 sayings each with its source
- An ní nach bhfeiceann súil ní bhrónann croíWhat the eye sees not, the heart rues not.
- Is binn béal ina thostSilence is golden.
- Is fearr focal sa chúirt ná bonn sa sparánA friend in court is better than a penny in the purse.
- Is maith scéal gan drochscéalNo news is good news.
- Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eileOne story begets another.