Live and let live
Meaning: Be tolerant of others' choices and lifestyles.
Origin: A Dutch proverb, leven en laten leven. The English merchant Gerard de Malynes quoted it in his commercial handbook Lex Mercatoria (1622), and it soon became common English advice to tolerate other people's ways.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and Italian
- French: Vivre et laisser vivre (literally: Live and let live)
- Spanish: Vivir y dejar vivir (literally: Live and let live)
- Japanese: 人は人、我は我 (Hito wa hito, ware wa ware) (literally: Others are others, I am I)
- German: Leben und leben lassen (literally: Live and let live)
- Italian: Vivi, e lascia vivere (literally: Live and let live)
More proverbs about Morality
- The pot calling the kettle black — Criticizing someone for a flaw you yourself possess.
- Give credit where credit is due — Acknowledge others' contributions fairly.
- Practice what you preach — Live according to the principles you advocate.
- Cleanliness is next to godliness — Being clean is a virtue akin to being pious.
- Pride comes before a fall — Arrogance often precedes failure.
- The wheels of justice turn slowly — Justice takes time but eventually arrives.