Here are the proverbs in the puzzle:
Χαλεπὰ τὰ καλά.
Excellent (things are) difficult (to achieve).
The adjective καλά is being used substantively here: "excellent things." You can find these words in Plato, who refers to it as a proverb, παροιμία.
Μέγα βιβλίον μέγα κακόν.
A big book (is) a big evil.
So wrote the poet Callimachus, in defense of short poetry as opposed to epics. The adjective κακόν is being used substantively: an evil (thing).
So wrote the poet Callimachus, in defense of short poetry as opposed to epics. The adjective κακόν is being used substantively: an evil (thing).
Ἓν οἶδα — ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα.
I know one (thing) — that I know nothing.
This is the so-called "Socratic paradox." You can find out more at Wikipedia: I know that I know nothing. Both ἕν and οὐδὲν are being used substantively: one (thing) and not one (thing).
Μηδὲν ἄγαν.
Nothing to excess.
Note the specific form of "nothing" used here: μηδέν as opposed to οὐδέν (see previous saying). The word μή is used for negative imperatives, which gives this proverb the force of a negative imperative even though no verb is expressed: don't talk too much, don't eat too much, don't sleep too much, etc. etc. — μηδὲν ἄγαν.
Πάντα ῥεῖ.
Everything flows.
Note that the neuter plural takes a singular verb, as is the rule in Greek: πάντα (everything = literally, all things) ῥεῖ. Another translation might be: "All things are in flux," or "All situations are fluid." The idea is attributed to the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus.
Γνῶθι σεαυτόν.
Know yourself.
You can read about this Delphic maxim at Wikipedia: Know thyself. You will also find this form of the saying: Γνῶθι σαυτόν.
Εἷς ἀνὴρ οὐ πάνθ᾽ ὁρᾷ.
One man does not see all things.
The final alpha of πάντα elides before the following vowel, and because the following vowel is aspirated, πάντ' becomes πάνθ᾽. The saying is from Euripides's Phoenician Women.
Οἱ διψῶντες σιωπῇ πίνουσι.
Those who are thirsty drink in silence.
The word διψῶντες is a participle from the verb διψάω; compare the English word dipsomaniac. The idea is that when someone really needs something, they will be completely focused on that thing. Total absorption; no chit-chat.
Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐχ ἁλίσκει.
An elephant doesn't catch a mouse.
In other words: don't sweat the small stuff. If you are an elephant, the mouse is not worth your time and attention! This saying made its way into Erasmus's Adagia. A variation: Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐκ ἀλεγίζει, "An elephant doesn't trouble himself about a mouse."
Πολλαῖς πληγαῖς δρῦς δαμάζεται.
By many blows (of the axe), the oak tree is toppled.
In other words: if you have a big task in front of you, be persistent! You are not going to get the job done all at once. This is a good saying for language learners too: Greek is learned one word at a time. :-)
Μὴ πῦρ ἐπὶ πῦρ.
Don't (add) fire to the fire.
The Greek saying is quoted by Plutarch, and we have a similar expression in English "adding fuel to the fire." In other words, making a bad situation worse, with the result that the fire might start to burn out of control. From this Greek root, we get English words like pyre and pyromaniac.
Ἐν οἴνῳ ἀλήθεια.
In wine (there is) truth.
Wine loosens people's tongues and, under the influence of the wine, they speak the truth, saying things they would not admit when they are sober. Compare the famous Latin saying, "In vino veritas."
Γλαῦκας εἰς Ἀθήνας.
(Bringing) owls to Athens.
This refers to a foolish effort: there's no need to bring owls to Athens because Athens is full of owls. The owls that lived in the Parthenon were a symbol of Athens, and the coins of Athens were stamped with owls. Compare the English saying "Coals to Newcastle."
Ἅμαξα τὸν βοῦν ἕλκει.
The cart is pulling the ox.
Compare the English saying: "Don't put the cart before the horse."
Τῶν ὤτων ἔχω τὸν λύκον.
I've got the wolf by the ears.
I've got the wolf by the ears.
This refers to a no-win situation: it's dangerous to hold on, but it's also dangerous to let go! From this Greek root ὠτ- we get the English word otologist, an ear-doctor.
