Turkey and the EU - Values and Proverbs

Proverbs contribute to our cultural heritage through widespread or frequent use. They either express some fundamental truth or describe basic rules of behaviour which are often closely related to those values we consider as the basis of the European Union. The proverbs have been collected from the EU Member States and Turkey, showing a selection of shared values.

These, we hope, will contribute to a better mutual understanding among peoples in 2008, the “European Year of Intercultural Dialogue”.

Unity
 V slogi je moč. 
Unity makes strength.
^{(Slovenian proverb)}

Nerede birlik, orada dirlik.
Where there is unity, there is prosperity.
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© Atila Cangır}

Justice
Nöden har ingen lag. 
In distress there is no law.
^{(Swedish proverb)}

Zor kapıdan girerse, adalet bacadan çıkar.
When compulsion steps in, justice goes out from the chimney.
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© European Commission}

Neighbourhood
 Ein guter Nachbar ist besser als ein Bruder in der Fremde. 
A good neighbour is better than a brother far away.
^{(German proverb)}

Yakın komşu, hayırsız hısımdan yeğdir.
A good neighbour is better than a bad relative.
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© Ufuk Şanlıoğlu}

Diversity
 It takes all sorts to make a world. 
^{(British proverb)}

Beş parmağın beşi bir değil.
None of the fingers of a hand are the same. 
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© Krzysztof Ziebinski}

Freedom
 Pasãrea în colivie nu se bucurã, şi de e vie. 
A caged bird has no joy, even if alive. 
^{(Romanian proverb)}

Bülbülü altın kafese koymuşlar, "Ah vatanım" demiş
The nightingale was put in a golden cage, but it cried for its home.
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© Bernadett Bondar}

Peace
 Mieux vaut en paix un oeuf qu'en guerre un bœuf. 
Better an egg in peace than a beef in war. 
^{(French proverb)}

Barışta ter dökmeyen, savaşta kan döker.
One who does not put effort into peace, sheds blood in war.
^{(Turkish proverb)}

^{© Marc Pierini}

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