When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Meaning: Adapt to local customs when visiting a new place.
Origin: Saint Augustine recorded advice from Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan, about whether to fast on Saturdays: when he was in Rome he fasted on Saturday, as the Romans did, and in Milan he did not. Ambrose's point was to follow the local church's custom, and the saying now means adapting to local ways wherever you are.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: À Rome, fais comme les Romains (literally: In Rome, do as the Romans)
- Spanish: Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres (literally: Where you go, do what you see)
- Japanese: 郷に入っては郷に従え (Gō ni itte wa gō ni shitagae) (literally: When entering a village, follow the village)
- German: Andere Länder, andere Sitten (literally: Other countries, other customs)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Keep your friends close and your enemies closer — It's wise to monitor those who might harm you.
- Jack of all trades, master of none — Versatility can come at the cost of expertise.
- Haste makes waste — Rushing leads to mistakes and wasted effort.
- Don't cry over spilled milk — Don't worry about things that have already happened.
- A penny saved is a penny earned — Saving money is just as valuable as earning it.
- Easy come, easy go — Things obtained without effort are easily lost.