Под лежачий камень вода не течёт
With accent marks:
Под лежа́чий ка́мень вода́ не течёт.
Translation:
Water does not flow under a lying stone.
Meaning:
In this proverb, the "lying stone" symbolizes a person who does not want to do anything. If nothing is done, things will not budge, nothing will change.
The proverb is usually used to talk about someone who does not take care of himself, does not want to change anything in his life, and expects someone to help him. As a result, the whole life can pass by and the person will not achieve anything.
With such a proverb, we encourage this person to action.
A close equivalent in English is "No song, no supper".
Other Russian proverbs
-
Кто рано встаёт, тому бог подает
(lit.) Whoever gets up early, God gives him
-
Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют
The demon is not as scary as he is depicted.
-
Чем дальше в лес, тем больше дров
The further into the forest, the more firewood is there.
-
В чужом глазу соринку видим, а в своём бревна не замечаем
Оne sees the mote in another's eye and ignores the log in his own.
-
Where there is no fish even a crayfish is a fish.
-
Crowded, but not aggrieved.
-
Your own shirt is closer to your body.
-
Не рой яму другому, сам в неё попадешь
Do not dig a hole for another one, you will fall into it yourself.
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