São Tomé & Príncipe — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Quem não arrisca, não petisca.

“Who does not risk, does not snack.”

Nothing is gained without taking some chance; caution alone brings no reward.

Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura.

“Soft water on hard stone strikes until it bores through.”

Gentle but constant effort eventually overcomes even the hardest obstacle.

Devagar se vai ao longe.

“Go slowly and you will go far.”

Steady, unhurried effort leads to greater and more lasting achievement than haste.

Quem semeia ventos, colhe tempestades.

“Sow the wind and you will reap the storm.”

Reckless or harmful actions bring consequences far larger than the act itself.

Mais vale um pássaro na mão que dois a voar.

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

A smaller, certain gain is worth more than a larger, uncertain one.

Filho de peixe sabe nadar.

“The fish's child knows how to swim.”

Children often inherit the skills, trade, or character of their parents.

Cão que ladra não morde.

“A barking dog rarely bites.”

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

Quem tem boca vai a Roma.

“A person with a mouth can find their way to Rome.”

Those willing to ask questions can find their way through any difficulty.

A pressa é inimiga da perfeição.

“Haste is the enemy of perfection.”

Rushed work is rarely done well; care and time produce better results.

Antes tarde do que nunca.

“Better late than never.”

Doing something after a delay is still better than never doing it at all.

O que os olhos não veem, o coração não sente.

“What the eyes do not see, the heart does not feel.”

People are not troubled by problems or truths they are unaware of.

Grão a grão, a galinha enche o papo.

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

Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.

Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.

“Who wants everything loses everything.”

Excessive greed or ambition often ends in losing what one already has.

Nem tudo que reluz é ouro.

“Not all that glitters is gold.”

Attractive appearances do not guarantee real value or worth underneath.

Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau.

“In the blacksmith's house, the roasting spit is made of wood.”

People skilled at something often neglect to apply that very skill within their own home.

Quem canta seus males espanta.

“Whoever sings scares their troubles away.”

A cheerful spirit and song can ease the burden of hardship.

A união faz a força.

“Union makes strength.”

People working together accomplish far more than they could separately.

Panela velha é que faz comida boa.

“It is the old pot that makes the good food.”

Experience and long practice, though worn by time, produce the best results.

Quem ri por último, ri melhor.

“Who laughs last, laughs best.”

Early success or mockery means little; the final outcome is what truly matters.

Mais vale prevenir do que remediar.

“It is better to prevent than to remedy.”

Taking precautions beforehand is wiser than dealing with damage after it happens.

Antes só que mal acompanhado.

“Better alone than in bad company.”

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

Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga.

“God helps those who rise early.”

Diligence and an early start are rewarded; those who act promptly gain an advantage.

A ocasião faz o ladrão.

“Opportunity makes the thief.”

Temptation arises when circumstances make wrongdoing easy, so avoiding exposure to temptation matters.

Quem espera sempre alcança.

“Whoever waits always achieves.”

Patience is eventually rewarded; good things come to those who wait.

Não há mal que sempre dure, nem bem que nunca acabe.

“There is no evil that lasts forever, nor good that never ends.”

Both hardship and good fortune are temporary; circumstances always change with time.

Quem ama o feio, bonito lhe parece.

“To one who loves the ugly, it seems beautiful.”

Affection distorts judgment; love makes flaws invisible to the one who loves.

A galinha da vizinha é sempre mais gorda.

“The neighbor's hen is always fatter.”

People tend to think others' possessions or lives are better than their own, though it is rarely true.

Quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido.

“He who wounds with iron shall be wounded with iron.”

Those who cause harm to others should expect to suffer harm in return.

Quem cala consente.

“Whoever stays silent, consents.”

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

Cada macaco no seu galho.

“Each monkey on its own branch.”

Everyone should attend to their own affairs and stay within their proper place or role.

A cavalo dado não se olha o dente.

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

One should not criticize or find fault with something received for free.

Águas passadas não movem moinhos.

“Waters gone by turn no mills.”

What is done in the past can no longer affect the present; there is no use dwelling on it.

Quem vê caras não vê corações.

“Whoever sees faces does not see hearts.”

A person's outward appearance reveals nothing about their true character or feelings.

A necessidade aguça o engenho.

“Necessity sharpens ingenuity.”

Difficult circumstances force people to find clever and resourceful solutions.

Quem tem telhado de vidro não atira pedras.

“Whoever has a glass roof should not throw stones.”

Those who are vulnerable to criticism themselves should be careful about criticizing others.

Nunca digas: desta água não beberei.

“Never say that of this water you will not drink.”

Never assume you will be exempt from a situation you scorn in others; circumstances can change.

Quem muito abarca, pouco aperta.

“Whoever grasps too much holds little.”

Trying to take on or control too many things at once often results in doing none of them well.

A esperança é a última que morre.

“Hope is the last thing to die.”

Even in the darkest circumstances, hope persists longer than anything else.

O seguro morreu de velho.

“The cautious one lived to old age.”

Being careful and prudent leads to a long and safe life; caution pays off.

Gato escaldado de água fria tem medo.

“A scalded cat fears even cold water.”

A painful past experience makes a person fearful even of situations that pose no real danger.

Quem com porcos se mistura, farelo come.

“Whoever mixes with pigs eats bran.”

Associating with bad company tends to bring a person down to their level.

Amigos, amigos, negócios à parte.

“Friends are friends, business is a separate matter.”

Personal friendship should not interfere with the fair conduct of business dealings.

Quem dá aos pobres empresta a Deus.

“Whoever gives to the poor lends to God.”

Charity toward those in need is regarded as a debt that will ultimately be repaid by providence.

O que não mata, engorda.

“What does not kill, fattens.”

Hardships that do not destroy a person often end up strengthening or benefiting them.

Casa onde não há pão, todos ralham e ninguém tem razão.

“In a house where there is no bread, everyone argues and no one is right.”

Poverty and want breed conflict within a household, clouding everyone's judgment.

Cada um sabe onde lhe aperta o sapato.

“Everyone knows where their own shoe pinches.”

Only the person experiencing a hardship truly understands its weight; others cannot fully judge it.

Quem faz o que pode, não é obrigado a mais.

“Whoever does what they can is not obliged to do more.”

A person who makes their best honest effort has fulfilled their duty, even if the outcome is imperfect.

Mais vale pouco e bem ganho, que muito e mal ganho.

“Better little and well-earned than much and ill-gotten.”

Modest wealth honestly earned is worth more than a fortune gained through dishonesty.

Quem não chora, não mama.

“He who does not cry is not fed.”

Those who do not speak up or ask for what they need are often overlooked.

Não deixes para amanhã o que podes fazer hoje.

“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”

Delaying tasks that could be done immediately often leads to greater difficulty later.