Thread: Russian wisdom - translation needed

Ok, Ok, Ok...... lol.... points taken...

We won't call them "Russian wisdom" anymore, although I have to say that not all Russian sayings are perfect examples of literary grace and truth either.

For example, "Тише едешь, дальше будешь" is certainly not always true. In fact, if you keep quiet while being attacked by a wild mountain lion, you have a good chance of dying sooner rather than later! Sometimes you have to scream and yell if you want to live. But, at least this saying rhymes I suppose.

I have no idea where the saying (in the original post) originated. I subscribe to some of these "wisdom of the day" pages on Facebook, and I like this one because it's in Russian. It's a good translation exercise for me.

Originally Posted by Deborski

Ok, Ok, Ok...... lol.... points taken...
For example, "Тише едешь, дальше будешь" is certainly not always true. In fact, if you keep quiet while being attacked by a wild mountain lion

In that wisdom word тише means slowly, not silent

Originally Posted by sergei

In that wisdom word тише means slowly, not silent

All the more silly then - because clearly there are some situations where you better run like hell to stay alive! If a tsunami is coming, for example, the slower you go the less likely you are to live

Originally Posted by Deborski

All the more silly then - because clearly there are some situations where you better run like hell to stay alive! If a tsunami is coming, for example, the slower you go the less likely you are to live

But it's not really about moving speed, actual meaning is "do not haste, make less mistakes and you will reach your goals faster".
Another one says it more clearly: "Поспешишь - людей насмешишь".

Originally Posted by Deborski

All the more silly then - because clearly there are some situations where you better run like hell to stay alive! If a tsunami is coming, for example, the slower you go the less likely you are to live

That particular cliche has even been rewritten to say "тише едешь, хрен приедешь" =))

Originally Posted by sergei

In that wisdom word тише means slowly, not silent

Sometimes тихо can be translated "cautiously". I would suggest "The more cautiously/carefully you go, the farther you'll go."

Compare with "Slow and steady wins the race" -- that's the usual English phrasing for the moral of the Эзопова басня про черепахи и зайца.

Also compare with the expression (быть/жить) тише воды, ниже травы -- literally it's "(to be/to live) quieter than water, lower than grass," but "to maintain a low profile" would also be a good translation, in some contexts.