Traditional Aruba Wisdom

Poco poco ta yena bari.

“Little by little, the barrel fills.”

Steady, small efforts accumulate over time into real progress.

Sopi no ta herebé dos biaha.

“Soup doesn't boil twice.”

A missed chance rarely comes back, so do not dwell on what is already lost.

Un cabuya ta corta dos biaha.

“A rope cuts twice.”

Cutting corners or rushing a job often creates twice the trouble later.

Kabes ta traha otro.

“One head makes another.”

Two people thinking together accomplish more than one mind working alone.

Muchu amèn ta daña misa.

“Too much amen damages the mass.”

Even a good thing becomes harmful when it is carried to excess.

Bai gaña baka.

“Go tell that to a cow.”

A sharp dismissal of a story so unbelievable that not even an animal would fall for it.

Bo ta bomba awa di renbak.

“You're pumping water from an empty cistern.”

A parent's warning against wasting time on something pointless instead of doing real work.

Kara di angel, kurason di diabel.

“The face of an angel, the heart of a devil.”

A warning that an innocent appearance can hide a person's true, unkind nature.

Sòpi purá ta sali salu.

“A hastily made soup turns out salty.”

Rushing a task usually spoils the result, because care takes time.

Esun ku kana lo kontra.

“The one who walks will find it.”

Taking action and moving forward is what eventually leads to results.

Galiña ta laba ku e awa ku e tin.

“The chicken washes with the water it has.”

Make the best of whatever limited resources are actually available to you.

Papia ta un cos, hasi t'e otro.

“Talking is one thing, doing is another.”

Words are easy; a person's real character is proven through action.

Hasi bon i bon lo bin p'abo.

“Do good, and good will come back to you.”

Kindness given to others eventually returns to the person who gave it.