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25 Laotian Quotes, Sayings & Proverbs Everyone Should Know

Lao people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

Check out these proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Laotian beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Below I’ve listed famous Laotian quotes, inspiring Lao sayings and common Lao proverbs. 

Famous Lao Proverbs & Lao Sayings

Below I’ve listed the most famous Lao proverbs as well as some common Lao sayings. These are used often in day to day life.

  1. Live with vultures, become a vulture; live with crows, become a crow.

This Laotian quote means that you often show similar characteristics to those who you hang out with.

Famous Laotian quote which reads 'live with vultures, become a vulture; live with crows, become a crow'.
  1. Happiness flies away from those who want it most.
  1. When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water falls, the ants eat the fish.
  1. One piece of wood will not make a fire.

This Lao proverb highlights the value of teamwork.

  1. A single rotten fish makes a basketful turn bad.
  1. You know, you teach. You do not know, you learn.
  1. Although he who walks behind an elephant may feel very secure, he is likely to get splattered with elephant dung.

This Lao saying teaches that taking no risk at all isn’t always the best option.

  1. Listen with one ear, be suspicious with the other.

This Laotian quote highlights that we should not believe everything we hear.

  1. You can bend a young twig, but it is hard to bend an old tree.

This Laotian quote means that young people can be more easily manipulated and influenced than older people.

  1. An empty pot makes the loudest noise.
  1. A full purse never lacks friends.

This Lao proverb teaches us that often people will only be friends with you for your money.

  1. A good man doesn’t have to worry about harm.
  1. The voice of a poor man does not carry very far.

This Laotian saying highlights inequality and infers that only wealthy people have a say in important matters.

Beautiful Laotian Quotes & Laotian Sayings 

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Laotian quotes.

  1. A tray full of money is not worth a mind full of knowledge.

This Laotian quote teaches us that knowledge is a lot more valuable than money.

Famous Laotian proverb which reads 'a tray full of money is not worth a mind full of knowledge'.
  1. If you like to have things easy, you’ll have difficulties; if you like problems, you will succeed.
  1. A pen is mightier than a sword.
  1. If you must be a servant, serve the rich; if you must be a dog, let it be a temple dog.
  1. You get nothing watering a stump.
  1. Ten mouths speaking are not as good as seeing with one’s own eyes; ten eyes that see are not as good as what one has in one’s hand.
  1. When the buffaloes fight, it is the grass that suffers.
  1. A person’s stripes are inside, those of a tiger are outside.
  1. One has to cross upstream, higher up, to come downstream properly.

This Lao saying means that sometimes you have to do more than you initially anticipated to achieve goals.

  1. When you have money, you can speak; when you have wood, you can build your home.
  1. A bad worker always blames his tools.
  1. A sky after the storm, a rainbow after rain.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Laotian quotes about life, famous Lao sayings and fascinating Laotian proverbs.

These Lao quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Lao beliefs and language.

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