French money proverbs - Proverbes sur l'argent 

Here are the most common French proverbs about money.

Enjoy!






Proverbe / Proverb Literal translation Idiomatic translation / English equivalent Meaning
Le temps c'est de l'argent. Time is money Time is money Adapted from then English proverb
Plaie d'argent n'est pas mortelle. A financial wound is not mortal Money isn’t everything Life is not all about money
L'argent n'a pas d'odeur. Money has no smell Money has no smell Money’s good whatever its provenance.
L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur Money can’t buy happiness - Money can buy material things, but real happiness must be truly earned
La parole est d'argent, mais le silence est d'or. Speech is silver, silence is golden - Discretion can be worth more than even eloquent words
L'argent est un bon serviteur et un mauvais maître. Money makes a good servant but a poor master - Money can contribute to happiness for those who use it well but create misery for those who are controlled by greed.
On ne peut avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre. You cannot have the butter and the money for it. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. You cannot have everything, so you need make choices.
Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières. Little brooks make great rivers. Little brooks make great rivers. Little by little you can accumulate a great fortune.
Un sou est un sou. A penny is a penny. Every penny counts. Little by little you can accumulate a great fortune.
Il n'y a pas de petites économies. There is no small savings. Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. Small savings will make a big fortune.
Si de beaucoup travailler on devenait riche, les ânes auraient le bât doré. If working hard made you rich, donkeys would be covered in gold. - Hard work does not necessarily make you a rich.
Abondance de biens ne nuit pas. An abundance of goods does no harm - Said when receiving something that one already has in sufficient quantity
Les bons comptes font les bons amis. Good accounting makes for good friends Short reckonings make long friends If you borrow something from a friend, pay it back as soon as possible so that the two of you remain in good terms.
Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse. a rolling stone gathers no moss a rolling stone gathers no moss 1. The ones who keep moving will end up with nothing. 2. The ones who keep moving are never lacking of fresh ideas or creativity.
Charité bien ordonné commence par soi-même Well-ordered charity starts with oneself Charity begins at home You should take care of family and people close to you before you worry about helping others