are there any free bilingual sources of chinese proverb?
the internet archive is your friend. unfortunately, it's blocked in "that area" :(

the first one: a handbook of the chinese language, by james summers, printed in 1863

in page 95 &amp; page 97, there're several proverbs translated in english:

https://archive.org/stream/handbookofchines00summiala#page/95/mode/1up

https://archive.org/stream/handbookofchines00summiala#page/97/mode/1up

on page 393, the original text:

https://archive.org/stream/handbookofchines00summiala#page/n392/mode/1up

sample: 恭敬不如從命　⋯　"to feel reverence is not as good as to give obedience"

the next one: essays on the chinese language, by thomas watters, printed in 1889

page 493 - 496, there're chinese proverbs of Buddhist origin 

https://archive.org/stream/essaysonchinesel00wattrich#page/492/mode/2up
https://archive.org/stream/essaysonchinesel00wattrich#page/494/mode/2up
https://archive.org/stream/essaysonchinesel00wattrich#page/496/mode/1up

sample: 與人方便與己方便　⋯　"do good to others and you do good to yourself"

last one is: an english and chinese dictionary, a "revised version" of william lobscheid's dictionary, printed in 1883, in tokio.

the appendix is the gem, from page 1227-1373. which has bilingual texts ranged from trimetrical classic (三字經), wisdom verses, merits, thousands of famous phrases and proverbs; and miscellaneous "common knowledges" of the days of yore. all in literary chinese and english.



samples:

有利必興．有害必除　⋯　"what is profitable must be put into action, what is injurious must be removed"

有緣千里能相會．無緣對面不相逢　⋯　"no distance can separate what heaven unites, or unite what heaven separates"

月明月明不可獨行．寔要獨行手提紅燈　⋯　"bright moon, bright moon, but don't walk alone; if you must walk alone, take a red lantern in your hand"

anyone who want a genuine "chinese proverb", have a read of these books, particularly the last one.

or, anyone who want to "fake" one, study these thoroughly.

do it better, please