13 Pieces of Wisdom from the 13th century

Hunger is the best cook among those who ever existed or ever will be.

Some study the stars

And tell us what soon will happen.

But if they were to tell me also something from near-by,

what herbs are growing in their garden,

and if they then tell it correctly,

I will more easily believe the other things.

A dense forest suffers little,

then a man collects wood.

That a rich man loses a little,

makes a poor many happy.

He who wants to take care of everything,

will end up with all kinds of worries.

No one ought to praise himself;

he who is worthy will be praised by others.

Whatever great treasure is found by the fool,

it will quickly fall into the hand of the wise one.

Many people have numerous friends,

as long as his life runs smoothly,

but among them are very few

Who will stand by him in an emergency.

We have all been given a false consolation:

we all believe that we will live a long life.

The mouse dislikes raising children

When it knows that cats are nearby.

Many believe that they know me

Who have never learned to understand themselves.

If each person were to learn more about himself,

People would rarely lie to each other.

A lord will never achieve his goal

when his own people are hostile towards him.

Who always intends to avenge

what people might say negatively about him,

will rarely be free of experiencing envy,

and a ton of bickering.

The world strives hard

For goods, smartness, and honor.

I know well that no person of this world

Will ever get enough of those three.