Maxims & Wise Counsel

Trí báis attá ferr bethaid...

Trí báis attá ferr bethaid: bás íach, bás muicce méithe, bás foglada.

(three * deaths * that are * better * than life * death * of a salmon * death * of a pig * fat * death * of an outlaw)

Three deaths that are better than life: the death of a salmon, the death of a fat pig, the death of an outlaw.

Cid glic fri hailchi úara...

Cid glic fri hailchi úara,
cid sáer ac imirt béla,
cid binn a dord fri dúana,
do chúala as borb nat léga.

(although * clever * at * stones * cold / although * a craftsman * at * plying * of an axe / although * sweet * his * vocalizing * at * songs / I heard * is * rude * that not * reads)

Though clever with cold stones,
though a craftsman with an axe,
though sweet his singing voice,
I’ve heard he is dull who does not read.

Find cach cóir.

(bright * every * just thing)

Everything just is bright.

Úaisliu cech rád, rí cech slán.

(more noble * (than) every * saying * a king * every * healthy one)

The noblest of sayings is that every healthy man is a king.

Lonn cech scíth.

(angry * every * tired one)

The weary are short-tempered.

Ní hopair niad náire.

(not * work/action * of a warrior * reluctance)

A hero has no business being shy.

Is álaind cech nderg...

Is álaind cech nderg,
is gel cach núa,
is caín cech ard,
is serb cach gnáth.
Cáid cech n-écmais,
is faill cech n-aichnid
co festar cach n-éolas.

(is * beautiful * every * red one / is * bright * every * new one / is * fair * every * tall one / is * bitter * every * usual one / noble * every * absent one / is * deficient * every * familiar one / until * is known * every * knowledge)

Everything red is beautiful,
everything new is bright,
everything tall is lovely,
everything usual is bitter,
everything absent is noble,
everything familiar is insufficient
until all knowledge is known.

Úasal cach fír.

(noble * every * truth)

Everything true is noble.

Is ard cech recht co himchim.

(is * high * every * law * until * transgression)

Every law is lofty until it’s broken.

Messam airli íargáes.

(worst * of advice * after-wisdom)

Hindsight is the worst sort of advice.