Take what is yours and leave alone what belongs to others — respect property, both literal and figurative. Do not covet, do not take, do not interfere with what is not yours.
This straightforward Milanese proverb belongs to the ethical core of a commercial city built on property rights and contract law. In the markets of Milan, the fundamental distinction between mine and yours was not merely legal but moral: the merchant who confused the two was a thief, and theft was not merely illegal but shameful in a way that destroyed a man's standing completely. The proverb is also applied beyond property to opinions, relationships, and decisions: leave alone what is not your business. The Milanese tendency toward minding their own business (a reputation for coldness to outsiders but a virtue in a city of millions) is supported by this proverb: each person attends to their own lane and does not reach into another's.
Milanese commercial proverb rooted in the property culture of a trading city. In Milan, respect for property and contract was the foundation of all commercial relationships.
A Milanese father teaching his children at the market
Non toccare la merce degli altri banchi. Ciapa su el to e lassa star quel di alter — questa è la prima regola del mercato.
Do not touch the merchandise of other stalls. Take what is yours and leave alone what belongs to others — this is the first rule of the market.
A Lombard grandmother on a family inheritance dispute
Ognuno prenda la sua parte dell'eredità. Ciapa su el to e lassa star quel di alter — non voglio litigi tra fratelli.
Everyone takes their share of the inheritance. Take what is yours and leave alone what belongs to others — I want no quarrels between brothers.
A Milanese manager addressing department boundaries
Il marketing non si intromette nelle decisioni di produzione. Ciapa su el to e lassa star quel di alter — in questa azienda ognuno ha il suo territorio.
Marketing does not interfere in production decisions. Take what is yours and leave alone what belongs to others — in this company everyone has their territory.
Two Milanese neighbours disputing a shared wall
— Vuole dipingere anche il muro di confine. — Ciapa su el to e lassa star quel di alter. Il confine è il confine.
— He wants to paint the shared wall too. — Take what is yours and leave alone what belongs to others. The boundary is the boundary.