Baka ga atte riko ga hikitatsu.
Due to the presence of fools wise people stand out.

Inu o mikka kaeba san-nen on o wasurenu, neko wa san-nen katte mikka de on o wasureru.
Feed a dog for three days and it is grateful for three years. Feed a cat for three years and it forgets after three days.

Me wa kokoro no kagami.
The eyes are the mirror of the soul.

Naite kurasu mo issho, waratte kurasu mo issho.
It is the same life whether we spend it crying or laughing.

Shunsho ikkoku, atai senkin.
Half an hour in a spring evening is worth a thousand gold pieces.

Saru mo ki kara ochiru.
Even monkeys fall from trees. (Even an expert can make mistakes.)

Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae.
Entering the village, obey the village. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)

Baka mo ichi-gei.
Even a fool has one talent. (Even a fool may be good at something.)

Baka wa shinanakya naoranai.
A fool is only cured by dying. (Once a fool, always a fool.)