from generation to generation and are supposed to have a universal value.
People use them to give a word of advice or a wise comment on the situation.
Some English and Russian proverbs are common and can be translated word by word from one language into another.
For example, ‘There is no smoke without fire’ has the Russian equivalent “Нет дыма без огня”.
With others the meaning of the proverb can be expressed in different ways.
For example, “once bitten, twice shy’ can be expressed in Russian by “Обжегшись на молоке, будешь дуть и на воду” или Пуганая ворона и куста боится”.