Рыбак рыбака видит издалека
With accent marks:
Рыба́к рыбака́ ви́дит издалека́.
Translation:
A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
Meaning:
Today we understand this proverb as "people with similar interests will always find a common language". In this sense, the closest English equivalent would be "birds of a feather flock together".
Although in the original version, the meaning of the proverb was much closer to the modern joke "a fisherman hates a fisherman from afar". Because in the full version, it sounded like this: "Рыбак рыбака видит издалека, потому и стороной обходит" (a fisherman sees a fisherman from afar, therefore he avoids him).
Other Russian proverbs
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A holy place is never empty.
-
The best is the enemy of the good.
-
A bird is visible by its flight.
-
One in the field is not a warrior.
-
When I eat I am deaf and mute.
-
Одна голова хорошо, а две – лучше
One head is good, but two ones are better.
-
Кабы знал, где упасть, так соломки бы подстелил
If I knew where I would fall, I would lay some straw there.
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Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается
All is well that ends well.
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