ProverbHuman Nature
German origin
German originSchönheit vergeht, Tugend besteht
Meaning: Good looks fade, but good character lasts.
Literally: Beauty fades, virtue remains
Example: “Heirate sie nicht nur wegen ihres Aussehens. Schönheit vergeht, Tugend besteht.” — Don't marry her just for her looks: beauty is only skin deep.
Equivalents in English, French, and Russian
English: Beauty is only skin deep
French: La beauté ne se mange pas en salade (literally: Beauty can't be eaten in a salad)
Russian: С лица не воду пить (S litsa ne vodu pit') (literally: You don't drink water from a face)
Origin: The rhyme of vergeht (fades) and besteht (endures) sets the two side by side.
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Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
- Um den heißen Brei herumreden To beat around the bush.
- Schwein haben To be lucky; to get away with something by sheer good luck.
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