Son frases o expresiones que usamos en momentos o situaciones determinadas, siempre conllevan una morelaja o un mensaje de fondo.
A buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan.
To a good listener, few words are enough (understanding comes easy).
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
In times of need kindnesses are especially sweet.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
If you don't need something, leave it for others to use; be generous; avoid greed.
Don't take that which is not rightly yours.
Avoid dangerous situations; avoid foreseeable problems.
Se coge antes al mentiroso que al cojo.
A braggart will quickly be revealed as a fraud when he can't back up what he says.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
If you take care of / raise / tolerate inherently indecent people, they will still take advantage of you at the end.
Cuando te toca, te toca.
When your time is up, it's up.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas (A closed mouth gathers no flies) - Same in English
En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo (In the house of a smith, they use a wooden knife
El que no llora no mama (He who doesn't cry, doesn't suckle) - The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Quien a buen árbol se arrima buena sombra le cobija (If you lean to a good tree you will be protected by a good shadow)
Del árbol caído todos hacen leña (Everyone gets wood from a fallen tree
A todo cerdo le llega su San Martín (Every pig has its San Martin's day) - What goes around, comes around.
Bueno ya vale por hoy.
Un saludo.