Traditional Puerto Rico Wisdom

Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.

“The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the current.”

Those who grow careless or complacent will lose their opportunity.

Al jíbaro, aunque se vista de seda, jíbaro se queda.

“Even if the jíbaro dresses in silk, he remains a jíbaro.”

A person's true roots and character cannot be hidden by outward appearance or wealth.

Papá Dios aprieta pero no ahoga.

“God squeezes tight, but He does not drown you.”

Hardship may test you severely, but it will not destroy you completely.

El que no llora, no mama.

“He who doesn't cry doesn't nurse.”

Those who never ask or advocate for themselves rarely receive what they need.

A mal tiempo, buena cara.

“In bad times, put on a good face.”

Face adversity with a positive attitude rather than despair.

Más vale tarde que nunca.

“Better late than never.”

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

No hay mal que por bien no venga.

“There is no bad from which some good does not come.”

Every misfortune tends to carry within it some hidden benefit.

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 can be judged by the company they keep.

En boca cerrada no entran moscas.

“Flies don't enter a closed mouth.”

Staying silent at the right moment helps a person avoid trouble.

El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.

“He who leans on a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”

Associating with good, capable people brings protection and benefit.

Cría fama y échate a dormir.

“Build a reputation, and then lie down to sleep.”

Once a reputation is established, it tends to follow a person regardless of later behavior.

A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.

“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”

Do not criticize or find fault with something that was given to you for free.

Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.

“A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying.”

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

Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.

“From saying to doing, there is a long stretch.”

It is far easier to talk about doing something than to actually accomplish it.

El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.

“He who grasps too much holds little.”

Taking on too many things at once usually means none of them are done well.

No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.

“There is no worse deaf person than one who does not want to hear.”

The most stubborn people are those who deliberately refuse to listen.

Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.

“Temperament and figure, until the grave.”

A person's fundamental character rarely changes for the rest of their life.

Quien mal anda, mal acaba.

“He who lives wrongly, ends wrongly.”

Persistent wrongdoing eventually catches up with a person.

No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.

“No matter how early you rise, dawn does not come any sooner.”

Rushing a natural process does not make its outcome arrive any faster.

Barriga llena, corazón contento.

“Full belly, happy heart.”

Having one's basic needs met brings genuine contentment.

El que siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.

“He who sows winds reaps storms.”

Small wrongdoings can bring disproportionately large and painful consequences.

Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.

“Water you will not drink, let it run.”

Do not trouble yourself over matters that do not concern you.

Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.

“A lamp for the street, darkness in his own house.”

Said of someone who is generous and kind to outsiders but neglects their own family.

El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.

“He who walks with wolves learns to howl.”

A person's habits and behavior are shaped by the company they keep.

A palabras necias, oídos sordos.

“To foolish words, deaf ears.”

It is wiser to ignore insults or foolish remarks than to respond to them.

El que no arriesga, no gana.

“He who does not risk, does not win.”

Taking chances is often necessary to achieve any real reward.

Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.

“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”

Experience gathered over a long life is more valuable than raw cleverness.

Cada oveja con su pareja.

“Each sheep with its own mate.”

People naturally pair or belong with others who are similar to themselves.

No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.

“Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”

Avoid procrastination and act on tasks while you have the chance.

Zapatero a tus zapatos.

“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”

Attend to what you know best and do not meddle in matters outside your expertise.

Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena.

“It is never too late if the outcome is good.”

A good result can justify even a long delay in reaching it.

Perro que ladra no muerde.

“A dog that barks does not bite.”

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

Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces.

“Before you marry, look at what you are doing.”

Think carefully before entering into major, life-changing commitments.

A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.

“For a good listener, few words are enough.”

A perceptive person only needs a brief hint to understand the full meaning.

Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.

“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”

Persistent rumors usually have at least some basis in truth.

El que da primero, da dos veces.

“He who gives first, gives twice.”

Generosity offered promptly is worth more than generosity given after delay or pressure.

A lo hecho, pecho.

“Face what is done with your chest held high.”

Accept responsibility for what has already happened and face its consequences with courage.

Más vale un mal arreglo que un buen pleito.

“A bad settlement is worth more than a good lawsuit.”

Resolving a conflict quickly, even imperfectly, is usually better than a long, drawn-out dispute.

A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.

“Praying to God while swinging the hammer.”

Ask for divine help, but keep working hard yourself in the meantime.

Más vale maña que fuerza.

“Skill is worth more than strength.”

Cleverness and technique accomplish more than raw physical force.

No todo lo que brilla es oro.

“Not everything that shines is gold.”

Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.

El que tiene tienda, que la atienda.

“He who has a shop should tend to it.”

Take personal responsibility for your own affairs rather than neglecting them.

El hábito no hace al monje.

“The habit does not make the monk.”

Outward appearance alone does not determine a person's true character or ability.

De tal palo, tal astilla.

“From such a stick, such a splinter.”

Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.

Cuando una puerta se cierra, otra se abre.

“When one door closes, another one opens.”

The loss of one opportunity often makes room for a new one.

Más vale solo que mal acompañado.

“Better alone than in bad company.”

It is preferable to be by yourself than surrounded by people who do you harm.

Quien a hierro mata, a hierro muere.

“He who kills by the blade, dies by the blade.”

Those who deal in violence or harm often meet the same fate themselves.

El que ríe último, ríe mejor.

“He who laughs last, laughs best.”

The final outcome matters more than any early appearance of victory or defeat.

Cada loco con su tema.

“Every madman has his own theme.”

Everyone has their own obsessions and quirks, and each is entitled to them.