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Name, Names A name doesn’t harm the man, if the man doesn’t harm the name. (Estonian) A person with a bad name is already half hanged. (English) Be mindful, even though you lose your wealth, not to lose your name. (Irish) Everybody has a name, but not always the same luck with it. (Roman) Get a name for rising early, and you may lie in bed all day. (Spanish) He who has a bad name is half hanged. (Italian) One has a good name, another the worth. (Greek) Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. (American) Though a man dies, he leaves his name. (Korean) Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names. (Japanese)

Nature Nature abhors a vacuum. (Roman) Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night. (Poor Richard) Nature draws stronger then seven oxen. (German) Nature gives what no man can take away. (English) Nature has granted man no better gift than the brevity of life. (Roman) Nature herself makes the wise man wealthy. (Roman) Nature is a good mother. (Unknown) Nature is better than a middling doctor. (Chinese) Nature is our mother. (Roman) Nature never says one thing and wisdom another. (Roman) Nature teaches one duty. (Roman) Nature trumps nurture. (American) Nature will come through the claws, and the hound will follow the hare. (Irish) Self-preservation is the first law of nature. (English) The greatest force is that of nature. (Roman) There is a nature in all things. (American) We cannot command nature except by obeying her. (English) You may drive out nature with a pitchfork, but she will keep coming back. (Roman)

Naught Naught is good for the eyes, but not for the stomach. (German)

Naught is never in danger. (German) Naught is that muse that finds no excuse. (English) Naught needs no hiding-place. (German)

Near, Nearest Everyone is nearest to himself. (Roman) Near is my shirt, but nearer is my skin. (English) The nearest, the dearest. (German)

Necessity Make a virtue of necessity. (Roman) Necessity becomes will. (Italian) Necessity breaks iron. (German) Necessity gives law without itself accepting one. (Roman) Necessity is a good teacher. (Mexican) Necessity is a powerful weapon. (Roman) Necessity is the last and strongest weapon. (Roman) Necessity is the mother of invention. (English) Necessity is the mother of the arts. (Roman) Necessity knows no holiday. (Roman) Necessity knows no law. (Roman) Necessity makes sour sweet. (Norwegian) Necessity never made a good bargain. (Poor Richard) Necessity requires no decision. (Roman) Necessity seeks bread where it is to be found. (German) Necessity teaches arts. (German) Necessity teaches even the lame to dance. (German) Necessity teaches us to bear misfortunes bravely, habit to bear them easily. (Roman) Necessity unites hearts. (German) No burden is really heavy to a man which necessity lays on him. (Roman) You cannot escape necessity, but you can overcome it. (Roman)

Neck However long the neck, the head is above it. (Hausan) Move your neck according to the music. (Ethiopian) Where there is a neck there will be a yoke. (Russian)

Need, Needs Do not tell your needs to those who cannot help you. (Spanish) He that desires but little has no need of much. (Danish) Need makes greed. (Scottish) Need makes the old woman trot. (French) Need teaches a plan. (Irish) Need will have its course. (Unknown) One often has need of a lesser than oneself. (French)

What you do not need is costly at a penny. (Roman) When the need is highest, the help is nighest. (English)

Needle He looks for a needle in a haystack. (Unknown) If a needle can pierce it, don’t chop it with an axe. (Burmese) It takes a needle to get a thorn out of one’s foot. (Persian) The needle clothes, yet it is naked. (Egyptian)

Negation Negation proves nothing. (Roman)

Neglect, Negligence He who neglects the little, loses the greater. (Roman) If two men feed a horse, it will be thin; if two men mend a boat, it will leak. (Chinese) Neglect will heal an injury sooner than revenge. (Roman) Neglected things flourish. (Roman) Negligence always has misfortune for a companion. (Roman) Negligence is the great enemy. (Japanese)

Neighbor A good neighbor adds value to your house. (German) A good neighbor is a found treasure. (Chinese) A good neighbor is a good friend. (Mexican) A good neighbor is better than a brother far off. (Danish) An enemy and an envious man carefully watches over his neighbor. (Roman) Ask about your neighbors, then buy the house. (Yiddish) Be patient with a bad neighbor: he may move or face misfortune. (Egyptian) Better a bad harvest than a bad neighbor. (Serbian) Better a near neighbor than a distant cousin. (Italian) Close neighbors are better than distant relatives. (Japanese) Do not wrong or hate your neighbor for it is not he that you wrong but yourself.