A tale is soon told; a deed is not soon done.
More Russian Proverbs:
If you talk to an official you must talk rubles.Russian
You need sharp axes for knotty trees.
Russian
The river is flat but the banks are steep.
Russian
When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart.
Russian
The fall of the leaf; is a whisper to the living.
Russian
The Tsar has three hands but only one ear.
Russian