Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do matters more than what you say.
Origin: The parliamentarian John Pym said in 1628 that actions are more precious than words. The preacher Thomas Manton wrote in 1693 of actions "which speak much louder than words," and the exact modern form appears in a Massachusetts pamphlet of 1736.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Les actes parlent plus fort que les mots (literally: Actions speak louder than words)
- Spanish: Los hechos hablan más que las palabras (literally: Deeds speak more than words)
- Japanese: 行動は言葉より雄弁 (Kōdō wa kotoba yori yūben) (literally: Actions are more eloquent than words)
- German: Taten sagen mehr als Worte (literally: Deeds say more than words)
More proverbs about Communication
- Empty vessels make the most noise — Those who know the least often talk the most.
- Still waters run deep — Quiet people often have great depth of character.
- Barking dogs seldom bite — People who make threats rarely carry them out.
- A picture is worth a thousand words — Visual information communicates more effectively than text.
- The squeaky wheel gets the grease — Those who complain the most get attention.
- It takes two to tango — Both parties are responsible in a conflict.
From our false friends
- Lectura — Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.