В тесноте, да не в обиде
With accent marks:
В тесноте́, да не в оби́де.
Translation:
Crowded, but not aggrieved.
Meaning:
This Russian proverb dates back to the XVII-XVIII centuries, when people used to live very tightly in peasant huts. Оne room could accommodate a father, a mother, their already adult sons with their wives and children. But if the family was friendly, then crowding did not bother anyone, everyone got along peacefully.
Nowadays, the proverb is sometimes remembered when a lot of people get into public transport at rush hour. Since everyone needs to go, nobody should complain.
The closest English equivalents of this proverb are: "the more the merrier" and "plenty is no plague"
Other Russian proverbs
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Some to the forest, some for firewood.
-
Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят
Do not look at a given horse's teeth.
-
Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе
A titmouse in hands is better than a crane in the sky.
-
Каждый кулик своё болото хвалит
Each sandpiper praises its swamp.
-
Where it is thin, it breaks.
-
In a quiet whirlpool, demons live.
-
Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает
The apple never falls far from the tree.
-
Eggs don't teach the chicken.
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