Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Proverbs & Maxims
Short, memorable sayings that distill moral and practical wisdom appear in every scriptural tradition. These proverbs serve as ready guides for daily life and are often the first scriptures children memorize.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Biblical proverbs — pithy moral wisdom
- Key Text
- Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 7:7
Islam
- Practice
- Quranic aphorisms and Hadith wisdom sayings
- Key Text
- Quran 31:17-19; Hadith (Nawawi 40)
Judaism
- Practice
- Mishlei (Proverbs); Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)
- Key Text
- Proverbs 15:1; Pirke Avot 1:14; 2:4
Hinduism
- Practice
- Subhashita — wise verses from Sanskrit literature
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 2:47; Chanakya Niti-Shastra
Buddhism
- Practice
- Dhammapada — 423 verses of the Buddha's wisdom
- Key Text
- Dhammapada 1, 183, 276; Udana 1.10