"actions speak louder than words"

[alan gould]

The dictionary has both “les mots valent moins que les actions” and “les actes sont plus éloquents que les paroles."  I would think that the first one is more common.  Do the French use both expressions?      

merci d'avance 

 

[Charles D]

Not everything is an idiom.  What's wrong with a literal translation: les actions parlent plus haute que les mots?  

[alan gould]

makes it easier for me, certainly.  thank you.  

[Chantal Savignat]

Hello

Yes both expressions are used but the second one is more common

and can be heard with some variations : "les actes parlent plus que les mots" or "les actes parlent plus fort que les mots" or "les actions parlent plus que les mots".

and here you must translate "louder" by "plus fort" and it's ok

[Charles D]

Of course "fort" instead of "haute" and "actes" is a better choice.  This always happens when I try to write in French without thinking it through.  My intention was correct, only my word choices were off.  Merci pour votre aide.