Свято место пусто не бывает
With accent marks:
Свя́то ме́сто пу́сто не быва́ет.
Translation:
A holy place is never empty.
Meaning:
If a good place is empty, someone else immediately takes it.
For example, a position promising benefits and tempting prospects is rarely vacant - there are always those who want to take it.
Other Russian proverbs
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Fear has big eyes.
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~ Seven babysitters make the kid to lose an eye.
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Eggs don't teach the chicken.
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Век живи, век учись, а дураком помрёшь
Live for a century, learn for a century, but die being a fool anyway.
-
В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят
Don't bring your set of rules in a foreign monastery
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Предупреждён – значит вооружён
Forewarned is forearmed.
-
Готовь сани летом, а телегу зимой
Get your sleigh ready in summer and your (horse-drawn) cart in winter.
-
Одна голова хорошо, а две – лучше
One head is good, but two ones are better.
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