Proverbs with the word Life

Art is long, life is short

This proverb is frequently misunderstood. It does not mean: 'Human life is short, but art goes on forever.' Its real meaning is: 'There is so... Read more →

While there is life there is hope

The outlook may be grim and the future dark, yet while we still have life within us there is always the possibility that he situation will... Read more →

Live not to eat, but eat to live

This rather puritanical proverb warns us that eating should not be the main purpose of life. We should, on the contrary, eat just enough to lead... Read more →

Life is sweet

This is to be found in Lavengro by George Borrow: 'Life is sweet, brother.' 'Do you think so?' 'Think so! - There's night and day, brother,... Read more →

Life is short and time is swift

Enjoy life while you can, for you will not live for ever. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Life is not all beer and skittles

Life is not all fun and games. We have our pleasant time, but we have our serious ones too. As Trilby says in the book by George Du Maurier that... Read more →

Bread is the staff of life

Here 'bread' refers to food in general, as in the Lord's Prayer ('Give us this day our daily bread') and 'staff' is something that serves as a... Read more →

A cat has nine lives

This is another way of saying that a cat is much more likely to escape death then are most animals. It is too wily and agile to be taken by... Read more →

Variety is the spice of life

Life becomes very monotonous without some break in the daily routine. William Cowper wrote in his long poem, The Task: Variety is the very spice... Read more →