Quando o gatto passaggia o ratto sta ascoso.
“When the cat passes by, the rat stays hidden.”
While someone in authority is watching, people stay in line; the moment supervision is gone, they act freely.
— Traditional Monégasque and Ligurian Wisdom, Monaco
Source: Traditional Ligurian/Genoese proverb, shared regional heritage with Monégasque, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Monaco
Beauty does not make the pot boil.
Good looks alone provide no real sustenance — substance and hard work matter more than appearance.
A full purse serves as a passport.
Money smooths the way and opens doors wherever you travel.
The cursed horse comes out with a shining coat.
Ill will wished on someone else often ends up benefiting them instead.
The devil's flour all turns to bran.
Wealth or gain obtained dishonestly never truly profits the one who took it.
The best medicine is the wine from the cellar.
A good glass of wine, shared with company, can ease many of life's small troubles.
A good reputation is worth more than a fortune.
A person's honest name and character outweigh any amount of money.