Portugal Proverbs (10)

Quem não arrisca, não petisca.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

You cannot achieve rewards without taking risks.

Águas passadas não movem moinhos.

“Past waters do not turn mills.”

There is no use dwelling on things that are over and done with.

Depois da tempestade vem a bonança.

“After the storm comes the calm.”

Difficult times are eventually followed by peaceful, better ones.

Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois a voar.

“A bird in the hand is worth two in flight.”

It is better to keep what you already have than to risk it for something uncertain.

Cão que ladra não morde.

“A barking dog does not bite.”

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

Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.

“Who wants everything loses everything.”

Greed and overreaching often leave you with nothing.

Grão a grão enche a galinha o papo.

“Grain by grain, the hen fills her crop.”

Great results are achieved through small, steady, patient efforts.

Devagar se vai ao longe.

“Slowly one goes far.”

Steady, careful progress achieves lasting results better than haste.

Casa roubada, trancas à porta.

“A robbed house, bars on the door.”

Taking precautions only after the damage is done is useless.

Não há bela sem senão.

“There is no beauty without a flaw.”

Nothing and no one is perfect; every good thing has a drawback.