perfection does not exist

the first step is always the hardest

don't go overboard, not too much

(informal) where's the fire? what's the rush?

doing it once is all right, but let it not turn into a habit; it's ok this time, but let's not make a habit of it

to listen with half an ear (to listen distractedly, without paying attention)

words are wasted on a starving man; a hungry man is an angry man (you can't reason with someone who is hungry)

youth isn't what it used to be! the youth are all rotten!

Alternative form of il n'y a pas le feu au lac

(games, idiomatic) that's not fair game