Learning to be More Grateful from Arab Proverbs

We can all learn to show a little more gratitude in our day-to-day lives. We may not mean it, but when we’re rushing around at work or busily getting on with our days, we can often forget to show our thanks for the little acts of kindness and help that others give us. World Gratitude Day, which happens annually on September 21, however, is meant as a reminder and a catalyst for us to rethink our relationship with gratitude and to better value and express our thanks to others. We here at Scoop Empire thought we’d look through Arab proverbs all throughout the region to find out what these, sometimes thousand-year-old, sayings can teach us and better help us to be more grateful.

Good health is a crown worn by the healthy that only the ill can see.

الصحة تاج على رؤوس الأصحاء لا يراه إلا المرضى

Be grateful for your health, because not everyone is so fortunate.

He who demands it all, loses it all.

من طلب الكثير أضاع القليل

If you are not grateful for what you have and want more, you will lose everything.

Death is the end of life.

آخر الحياة الموت

Be grateful for what you have in this life as it won’t last forever.

He tried to apply kohl (eyeliner) in her eyes, but ended up blinding her.

جه يكحلها عماها

Be grateful for what you have and don’t try to keep improving things, because you will ruin them.

Even if your friend is honey, don’t lick them all up.

اذا كان حبيبك عسل، ماتلحسوش كله

Be grateful for your friends, but don’t take advantage of their kindness of generosity.

If you’re unable to reward, then make sure to thank them.

إذا قصرت يدك عن المكافأة فليصل لسانك بالشكر

Being grateful to others is owed if they have done something for you.

Oh bald man, we’re confused about where to kiss you.

احترنا يا قرعة من وين بدنا نبوسك

Some people can never be pleased and are never grateful.

Winds blow counter to what the ship wants.

تأتي الرياح بما لا تشتهي السفن

We cannot get everything we want, so be grateful whatever happens.

There’s always tomorrow.

إن مع اليوم غدا يا مسعدة

Be grateful that we always have the time to try again.

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