A gentle word opens an iron gate

Meaning: Kindness and diplomacy can overcome even the most resistant obstacles.

Origin: Bulgarian proverb, widely used in Eastern European folk wisdom.

Translations

• French: Une parole douce ouvre une porte de fer (literally: A gentle word opens an iron door)
• Spanish: Una palabra amable abre puertas de hierro (literally: A kind word opens iron doors)
• Japanese: 優しい言葉は鉄の門を開く (Yasashii kotoba wa tetsu no mon wo hiraku) (literally: A gentle word opens an iron gate)

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