Elven aphorisms
The aphorisms below, given both in their original Elven as well as in Common (the translation is from an in-game system, not from a secondary source) were gathered from a fortune cookie-like food item sold at a festival from around early 2001.
Yureto hin yasu altatisa
Sulking doesn't gild the goldfish
Diren, shiren, shiren, diren.
'Rich, poor, poor, rich.' Or, as the Humans say, Life has its ups and downs.
Nime iruzur Poz, sanzuzur Moz izentisa
What the fool calls Luck, the wise man calls Forethought
Cim ar burwa ebastisa, ar altan ebastisa
Who steals my honor steals my gold
Shon imir sha zuzur yangya edanman hinamisa?
You aren't really going to drink that, are you?
Agnis aina ohe ruba
Wine is a window on the soul
Carromarro iniowrenmisa beltu lauwur
'A crab can't learn to walk straight.' In other words, it's useless to try to fight nature
Bir otamac eloric bir gul amisa taida fausan ton islemisa
'A weed is only a flower where no one wants it'
Cim ada agirtisa, pas edo agirtisa
'Who hurts the island hurts himself.' Obviously a proverb from Mer'Kresh
Gundogaren necu azcama hinscu amisa.
'A Gor'Tog's work is never done.' You realize that might have several meanings
Zaraten, buisen, maimen -- Sansoyasat?
Loud, proud, and vulgar -- a politician?
Yari Cichumbuen hich oruruen
Half a Halfling is nothing at all
Hem bulen su, hem nechen pul
'Water too high, money too low.' Hey, that's life, isn't it?