Common Proverbs in Austria

1. Wer rastet, der rostet.: "Whoever rests, rusts."

• Meaning: If you stop being active or learning, you’ll become lazy and lose your skills. (Similar to “Use it or lose it.”)

2. Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben: "Don’t praise the day before the evening."

• Meaning: Don’t celebrate too early — things can still go wrong before the end. (Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.)

3. Besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach: "Better a sparrow in the hand than a dove on the roof."

• Meaning: It’s better to have something small and certain than something bigger that’s uncertain.

4. Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn.: "Out of sight, out of mind."

• Meaning: When you don’t see someone or something anymore, you quickly forget about them.

5. Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten: "Whoever laughs last, laughs best."

• Meaning: The person who succeeds in the end has the greatest satisfaction.

6. Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen: "No master has fallen from heaven yet."

• Meaning: Everyone has to practice and learn — no one is born an expert.