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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Trust but verify.
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You can't spoil the porridge with butter.
-
Предупреждён – значит вооружён
Forewarned is forearmed.
-
There are no friends for taste and color.
-
Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе
A titmouse in hands is better than a crane in the sky.
-
A bird is visible by its flight.
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There is no bad withouth good.
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В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят
Don't bring your set of rules in a foreign monastery
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