Italy — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano.

“He who goes slowly, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far.”

Acting with patience and care leads to lasting success.

Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca.

“The morning has gold in its mouth.”

Rising early and starting work in the morning is the most productive and rewarding time.

Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare.

“Between saying and doing lies the sea.”

There is a great distance between promising something and actually accomplishing it.

Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco.

“Not all doughnuts come out with a hole.”

Things do not always turn out as planned.

Buon vino fa buon sangue.

“A good wine makes good blood.”

Enjoying good food and wine in moderation is good for health and spirits.

Chi si contenta gode.

“He who is content enjoys.”

Contentment with what one has brings happiness.

Il mondo è fatto a scale, c'è chi scende e c'è chi sale.

“The world is made of stairs; there are those who go up and those who go down.”

Fortunes rise and fall for different people over time.

Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro.

“He who finds a friend finds a treasure.”

A true friend is one of the most valuable things a person can have.

Quando il gatto non c'è, i topi ballano.

“When the cat is away, the mice dance.”

People take liberties when the person in authority is absent.

Chi dorme non piglia pesci.

“Whoever sleeps catches no fish.”

Success requires effort and action, not idleness.

Chi fa da sé, fa per tre.

“He who does it himself does it for three.”

Doing something yourself, without relying on others, gets it done better and faster.

Ride bene chi ride ultimo.

“He who laughs last, laughs best.”

The final outcome matters more than an early advantage; do not celebrate too soon.

L'erba del vicino è sempre più verde.

“The neighbor's grass is always greener.”

Other people's circumstances always seem better than one's own, even when they are not.

Chi cerca trova.

“He who seeks, finds.”

Persistent effort in looking for something eventually leads to success.

Meglio tardi che mai.

“Better late than never.”

Doing something behind schedule is still better than never doing it.

Chi la fa l'aspetti.

“He who does it should expect it.”

Whoever causes harm to others should expect the same in return.

Non è tutto oro quello che luccica.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.

Can che abbaia non morde.

“A barking dog does not bite.”

Those who make the loudest threats are often the least dangerous.

Rosso di sera bel tempo si spera, rosso di mattina la pioggia si avvicina.

“Red sky in the evening, good weather is hoped for; red sky in the morning, rain is approaching.”

A traditional sailors' and farmers' rule for predicting the next day's weather from the color of the sky.

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.

“Do not look a given horse in the mouth.”

One should not criticize or question the value of a gift.

Chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta.

“He who sows wind reaps storm.”

Reckless or harmful actions bring consequences far greater than the original act.

Tale padre, tale figlio.

“Like father, like son.”

Children often inherit the traits and habits of their parents.

Chi va con lo zoppo impara a zoppicare.

“He who walks with a lame man learns to limp.”

Spending time with people of bad habits will eventually influence one's own behavior.

L'abito non fa il monaco.

“The habit does not make the monk.”

Outward appearance does not determine a person's true character.

Chi non risica non rosica.

“He who does not risk does not gnaw.”

Without taking risks, one cannot obtain rewards.

Ogni promessa è debito.

“Every promise is a debt.”

A promise made must be honored, just like a debt that must be repaid.

Meglio soli che male accompagnati.

“Better alone than in bad company.”

It is preferable to be by oneself than to associate with people who bring harm.

Fatta la legge, trovato l'inganno.

“No sooner is the law made than the loophole is found.”

People quickly find ways to get around new rules and regulations.

Chi tace acconsente.

“Silence gives consent.”

Failing to object to something is taken as agreement with it.

Tutte le strade portano a Roma.

“All roads lead to Rome.”

Different methods or paths can all lead to the same end result.

Paese che vai, usanza che trovi.

“In whatever country you go, follow the customs you find there.”

One should adapt to and respect the customs of wherever one happens to be.

Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo.

“He who has time should not wait for time.”

Do not delay a task when you already have the opportunity to do it now.

Del senno di poi son piene le fosse.

“The ditches are full of hindsight.”

It is easy to know what should have been done only after the fact.

Moglie e buoi dei paesi tuoi.

“Wife and oxen from your own villages.”

It is safer to choose a spouse or make important deals with people and things you know well.

A buon intenditor poche parole.

“To a good listener, few words are enough.”

A perceptive person needs only a brief hint to understand what is meant.

Chi ben comincia è a metà dell'opera.

“He who begins well is halfway through the work.”

A good start greatly increases the chance of successfully finishing a task.

Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio.

“The wolf loses its fur but not its vices.”

People may change in appearance with age, but their deep-rooted habits remain the same.

Non si può avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca.

“You cannot have the barrel full and the wife drunk.”

It is not possible to have every advantage of a situation at the same time; choices involve trade-offs.

Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe.

“He who wants too much grasps nothing.”

Excessive greed or ambition often results in gaining nothing at all.

La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi.

“The hasty cat made blind kittens.”

Rushing a task leads to a poor and flawed result.

Anno nuovo, vita nuova.

“New year, new life.”

The start of a new year is seen as a chance to change and improve one's life.

Piove sempre sul bagnato.

“It always rains on what is already wet.”

Misfortune tends to strike those already struggling, or fortune favors those already fortunate.

L'unione fa la forza.

“Union makes strength.”

People working together accomplish far more than they could individually.

A mali estremi, estremi rimedi.

“For extreme ills, extreme remedies.”

Severe problems sometimes require drastic solutions.

Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani.

“Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.”

A smaller certain gain now is better than a larger uncertain gain later.

Chi si loda si imbroda.

“He who praises himself dirties himself.”

Boasting about oneself tends to reflect poorly on the person doing it.

Non tutto il male vien per nuocere.

“Not all evil comes to cause harm.”

A setback can sometimes lead, unexpectedly, to a positive outcome.

Finché c'è vita c'è speranza.

“As long as there is life, there is hope.”

One should never give up hope while there is still a chance to act.

Volere è potere.

“To want is to be able.”

Strong determination is often enough to achieve what one sets out to do.

Occhio non vede, cuore non duole.

“The eye does not see, the heart does not ache.”

What one does not see or know about cannot cause emotional distress.