Traditional proverbs of Venezuela in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much, holds little.”
Trying to take on too many things at once means none of them get done well.
Source: Traditional Venezuelan/Spanish proverb, shared Hispanic oral tradition, public-domain
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep is carried off by the current.”
If you are not alert and diligent, you will lose your opportunity.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
It is preferable to be by yourself than to keep company that harms you.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.
“To a good listener, few words are needed.”
A perceptive person understands the full message from just a hint.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps those who rise early.”
Those who start early and work hard are rewarded.
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
“Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.”
A person's character is judged by the company they keep.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which good does not come.”
Even misfortune can eventually lead to something positive.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent avoids unnecessary trouble.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is preferable to never doing it at all.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Taking chances is necessary to achieve success.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or question something that is given to you freely.
Cría fama y échate a dormir.
“Build a reputation and lie down to sleep.”
Once a reputation is established, it tends to stick, whether deserved or not.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“There is a long stretch between saying and doing.”
Promises are far easier to make than they are to fulfill.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no worse deaf person than one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is the hardest kind of ignorance to overcome.
Quien mucho promete, poco cumple.
“He who promises much, fulfills little.”
Be wary of anyone who makes grand promises.
El que se fue a la villa, perdió su silla.
“He who left for the town lost his seat.”
Step away from your place, and someone else may take it.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
Ignore insults or nonsense rather than dignify them with a response.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What remains unknown cannot cause pain.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Act promptly rather than putting off what needs to be done.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“Full belly, happy heart.”
Having your basic needs met brings genuine contentment.
El que la sigue, la consigue.
“He who keeps pursuing it, achieves it.”
Persistence eventually leads to success.
Zapatero a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
Mind your own trade or business rather than meddling in what you do not know.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you will not drink, let it run.”
Do not interfere with things that do not concern you.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its pair.”
People naturally pair with their equals; like tends to attract like.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no worse blind person than one who does not want to see.”
Willful denial is the hardest blindness of all to cure.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats often come from those least likely to act on them.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad times, put on a good face.”
Face hardship with courage and a positive attitude.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Early triumph can be overturned; final results matter most.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A smaller, certain gain is worth more than a larger, uncertain one.
Quien con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.
“He who walks with wolves learns to howl.”
People are shaped, for better or worse, by the company they keep.
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans on a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Aligning yourself with good people or good situations brings benefit.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without work.”
Real success requires genuine, sustained effort.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.”
Violence tends to return to those who wield it; actions have consequences.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Temperament and appearance, until the grave.”
A person's basic character rarely changes throughout their life.
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience teaches more than natural cunning or cleverness.
Al que no lo cargó el diablo, lo carga la carreta.
“He whom the devil did not carry off, the cart will carry off.”
Bad luck or consequence eventually catches up with everyone, one way or another.
Source: Traditional Venezuelan proverb (llanero/plains saying), public-domain oral tradition
Papaya puesta, papaya partida.
“A papaya left out in the open ends up cut.”
If you carelessly leave yourself exposed to risk, do not be surprised if someone takes advantage of it.
Source: Traditional Venezuelan proverb, public-domain oral tradition
El que espera, desespera.
“He who waits, grows desperate.”
Waiting on something uncertain slowly wears down a person's patience.
Cuando el río suena, piedras trae.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”
Persistent rumors or signs usually have some basis in truth.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not all that shines is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“Lacking bread, cakes will do.”
When you cannot have what you want, make the best of an available alternative.
El que tiene tienda, que la atienda.
“He who has a shop should tend to it.”
Take responsibility for your own affairs rather than neglecting them.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising very early does not make the dawn come sooner.”
Some things take their natural course no matter how much you try to rush them.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deep-rooted flaws or habits formed early are very hard to correct later in life.
Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces.
“Before you marry, watch what you do.”
Think carefully before making a major, hard-to-reverse decision.
Al mejor cazador se le va la liebre.
“Even the best hunter lets the hare get away.”
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, no matter how skilled they are.
Cuentas claras, amistades largas.
“Clear accounts, long friendships.”
Being transparent about money and obligations preserves relationships.
El que da primero, da dos veces.
“He who gives first, gives twice.”
Prompt generosity is worth more than generosity that comes too late.
No hay rosa sin espinas.
“There is no rose without thorns.”
Nothing good comes entirely without difficulty or cost.
La moral y las luces son nuestras primeras necesidades.
“Morality and enlightenment are our primary needs.”
A republic cannot endure on laws and institutions alone; it depends on the moral character and education of its citizens.
Source: Simón Bolívar, Discurso de Angostura (Angostura Address), 15 February 1819
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