A prophet is not without honor in his own country
Meaning: Recognition is hardest to win from the people who know you best.
Origin: From the gospels of Luke and Matthew. Jesus returns to Nazareth, where he grew up, and is met with mockery by people who had known him as the local carpenter's son and could not make him into anything else. Matthew closes the episode with the line that gives the saying its edge: he did not work many miracles there, because of their lack of faith. The French wording settles into its modern form in the middle of the 17th century, and the proverb is now said mostly by people describing their own careers.
Translations
- French: Nul n'est prophète en son pays (literally: No one is a prophet in his own country)
- Spanish: Nadie es profeta en su tierra (literally: Nobody is a prophet in his own land)
- German: Der Prophet gilt nichts im eigenen Land (literally: The prophet counts for nothing in his own land)
More proverbs about Human Nature
- Blood is thicker than water — Family bonds are stronger than other relationships.
- Birds of a feather flock together — People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other.
- You can't judge a book by its cover — Appearances can be deceiving.
- Too many cooks spoil the broth — Too many people involved can ruin a project.
- Curiosity killed the cat — Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
- The apple doesn't fall far from the tree — Children often resemble their parents.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu as de la répartie — You're brilliantly quick-witted — always ready with the perfect comeback.
- Eres un crack — You're brilliant — a total star at what you do.
- Eres muy majo/a — You're a lovely, kind, and genuine person — the nicest way to compliment someone's charac…
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