От добра добра не ищут
With accent marks:
От добра́ добра́ не и́щут.
Translation:
They do not seek good from good.
Meaning:
Few people know that this is only part of the proverb. Its full version sounds like this: "От овса кони не рыщут, а от добра добра не ищут" (Horses do not roam from oats, but they do not seek good from good). It means that if the horses are fed, they will not run away. If a person is doing well at home, he will not leave the family.
In its shorter version the proverb acquired a second meaning: when doing good to people, one should not expect the same from them. You need to do good selflessly.
Other Russian proverbs
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Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят
Do not look at a given horse's teeth.
-
С волками жить – по-волчьи выть
Living with wolves means to howl like a wolf.
-
The forbidden fruit is sweet.
-
Чем дальше в лес, тем больше дров
The further into the forest, the more firewood is there.
-
Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей
Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
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Одна голова хорошо, а две – лучше
One head is good, but two ones are better.
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Crowded, but not aggrieved.
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Beast runs towards the hunter.
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