Traditional proverbs of Bolivia in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps those who rise early.”
Getting an early start on the day brings good fortune and better results.
Source: Traditional Bolivia proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is preferable to never doing it at all.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which some good does not come.”
Even misfortune often carries a hidden benefit or silver lining.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep is carried off by the current.”
Those who grow careless or complacent will be overtaken by events.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Reward requires the courage to take a chance.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or question something given freely to you.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“From saying to doing there is a long stretch.”
It is far easier to talk about doing something than to actually do it.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent often keeps a person out of trouble.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats are often empty; those who make the most noise rarely act on it.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise crows and they will pluck out your eyes.”
Kindness given to the ungrateful is often repaid with betrayal.
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans against a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Keeping good company or strong allies brings protection and benefit.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising early does not make the dawn come sooner.”
Some things cannot be rushed no matter how much effort is spent early.
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
“Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.”
A person's character is revealed by the company they keep.
El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds very little.”
Trying to take on too many things at once weakens the result in each.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no worse deaf person than one who does not want to hear.”
Willful refusal to listen is more stubborn than any real disability.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you will not drink, let it flow.”
Do not interfere with matters that do not concern or benefit you.
Quien siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
“He who sows winds, reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring serious consequences.
Zapatero a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
People should stay within their own area of expertise and not meddle elsewhere.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not all that shines is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad weather, put on a good face.”
Facing hardship with a positive attitude makes it easier to endure.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own match.”
People naturally pair or belong with others who are similar to them.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry, does not get fed.”
Those who do not speak up for what they need often get overlooked.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to the company of those who bring harm.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is wise to ignore careless or foolish remarks rather than react to them.
El que la hace la paga.
“He who does the deed pays for it.”
Everyone eventually faces the consequences of their own actions.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What we are unaware of does not trouble us; distance dulls concern.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
Those most skilled often neglect to apply their own craft at home.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Character and habit last until the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature rarely changes throughout their life.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that is born crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deep-rooted flaws or habits formed early are very difficult to correct later.
El hábito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance alone does not determine someone's true nature or worth.
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”
Persistent rumors or signs usually have some real basis behind them.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Delaying necessary work only makes it pile up and become harder later.
Mucho ruido y pocas nueces.
“Much noise and few nuts.”
A great deal of fuss or promise that produces very little of real substance.
Donde manda capitán, no manda marinero.
“Where the captain commands, the sailor does not give orders.”
Authority and rank determine who gives the orders in any structured situation.
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
“Even dressed in silk, a monkey remains a monkey.”
Fine appearances cannot change a person's underlying nature.
Al que no le gusta el caldo, se le dan dos tazas.
“He who dislikes the broth is given two cups of it.”
Life often gives people more of exactly what they were trying to avoid.
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience and age teach more wisdom than natural cleverness alone.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
“To a good listener, few words are enough.”
A perceptive person understands a matter without needing lengthy explanation.
Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.
“A lamp for the street, darkness in one's own house.”
Some people are generous and kind to strangers while neglecting their own family.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no worse blind person than one who does not want to see.”
Willful refusal to acknowledge the truth is more blinding than any real disability.
Cuentas claras, amistades largas.
“Clear accounts make for long friendships.”
Being open and honest about money and obligations keeps relationships from breaking down.
Más vale maña que fuerza.
“Skill is worth more than strength.”
Cleverness and technique accomplish more than brute force alone.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.”
Violence tends to return upon those who use it.
Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces.
“Before you marry, look at what you are doing.”
Important decisions deserve careful thought before they are made, not after.
Cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato.
“Each person knows where their own shoe pinches.”
Only the person living a hardship truly understands its weight.
Del árbol caído, todos hacen leña.
“From the fallen tree, everyone gathers firewood.”
Once someone loses power or standing, others are quick to take advantage.
En tierra de ciegos, el tuerto es rey.
“In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”
Even modest ability stands out as exceptional where everyone else lacks it.
Dime de qué presumes, y te diré de qué careces.
“Tell me what you boast of, and I will tell you what you lack.”
People often brag loudest about the very thing they are missing.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“For lack of bread, good cakes will do.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a good substitute is worth accepting.
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