A rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Meaning: The essence of something doesn't depend on what it's called.
Origin: From the balcony scene of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595). Juliet, in love with the son of her family's enemy, argues that a name is only a label: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." The tragedy of the play is that the name turns out to matter a great deal.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Une rose sous un autre nom sentirait toujours aussi bon (literally: A rose under another name would still smell as good)
- Spanish: Una rosa con otro nombre olería igual de dulce (literally: A rose with another name would smell just as sweet)
- Japanese: 名は体を表さず (Na wa tai wo arawasazu) (literally: A name does not always reflect the essence)
- German: Name ist Schall und Rauch (literally: A name is sound and smoke)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Kill two birds with one stone — Accomplish two tasks with a single action.
- Don't bite off more than you can chew — Don't take on more than you can handle.
- Every rose has its thorn — Even the best things have their drawbacks.
- All's well that ends well — A good outcome justifies the difficulties along the way.
- A rolling stone gathers no moss — Those who keep moving avoid stagnation (or commitments).
- Don't burn your bridges — Don't destroy relationships you might need later.
From our compliments & insults
- Tête de linotte — A scatterbrain who can't hold a thought.
- Courir sur le haricot — To get badly on someone's nerves.
- Tienes menos luces que un barco pirata — You're really not the brightest.