Mi pluma lo mató.
“My pen killed him.”
Montalvo's declaration on hearing of the death of dictator Gabriel García Moreno in 1875, asserting the power of his writings against the regime to inspire its downfall.
— Juan Montalvo, Ecuador
Source: Attributed to Juan Montalvo, 1875, following the assassination of Gabriel García Moreno; widely documented in Ecuadorian historical and literary accounts
More Proverbs from Ecuador
When hungry enough, no bread is bad.
Real need makes people accept what they would otherwise reject.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Accept a gift graciously rather than criticizing its quality.
Love from far away is a fool's love.
Distance weakens romantic bonds; long-distance love rarely lasts.
Lacking bread, cakes will do.
When the ideal option is unavailable, a reasonable substitute is welcome.
Great ills call for great remedies.
Serious problems require bold, decisive solutions.
In troubled waters, the fishermen profit.
Confusion and chaos create opportunities for those ready to seize them.