124 proverbs
Chi tardi arriva male alloggia
Whoever arrives late gets the worst choice or the worst deal. It is a warning that punctuality and promptness are rewarded, while delay leads to disadvantage.
Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco
Not everything turns out the way it is supposed to. Things do not always go according to plan, and imperfection is a normal part of life.
Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio
A person may change their appearance or circumstances, but their fundamental character and bad habits remain the same. Old habits die hard.
A caval donato non si guarda in bocca
Do not criticize or find fault with something you have received as a gift. Be grateful for what you are given without scrutinizing its quality.
Tra moglie e marito non mettere il dito
Do not interfere in a couple's arguments or private affairs. Outsiders who meddle between husband and wife always end up worse off.
Paese che vai, usanza che trovi
Every place has its own customs and traditions. When you go somewhere new, expect things to be done differently and adapt accordingly.
Chi dorme non piglia pesci
You cannot succeed or get what you want if you are lazy or inactive. Opportunities require alertness and effort.
L'abito non fa il monaco
Do not judge people by their appearance or external characteristics. What someone looks like on the outside does not reveal their true character or abilities.
Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani
A small but certain gain now is better than a larger but uncertain gain in the future. It is wise to value what is real and available over what is merely promised.
Ride bene chi ride ultimo
The person who has the final advantage is the true winner, regardless of who seemed to be winning earlier. Do not celebrate too soon.
Tutto il mondo è paese
Human nature and human problems are the same everywhere, no matter where you go. People behave similarly across all cultures and countries.
Non c'è due senza tre
Things, especially bad or unexpected things, tend to come in threes. If something has happened twice, expect it to happen a third time.
Occhio non vede, cuore non duole
What you do not see cannot cause you pain or worry. Ignorance of an unpleasant fact spares you the suffering of knowing it.
Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo
Do not procrastinate when you have the opportunity to act. Time is fleeting, and the chance you have now may not return.
La gatta frettolosa fa i gattini ciechi
Rushing leads to poor results. Work done hastily is likely to be imperfect or incomplete.
Sbagliando si impara
Mistakes are a natural and necessary part of learning. You gain experience and knowledge through your errors, not despite them.
Volere è potere
Where there is a will, there is a way. If you truly want something and commit to it, you will find the means to achieve it.
Cane non mangia cane
Members of the same group, profession, or social circle tend to protect one another rather than competing destructively. There is honor or self-interest in not attacking your own kind.
La lingua batte dove il dente duole
People always return to the subject that is causing them pain or anxiety. We inevitably talk about — and think about — what is bothering us most.
Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino
The way something begins reveals how it will develop. Early signs indicate the likely outcome of a situation.
A mali estremi, estremi rimedi
Extreme problems require extreme solutions. When the situation is desperate, normal measures are insufficient and drastic action is justified.
Non si può avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca
You cannot have everything at once; some things are mutually exclusive. You must choose between two desirable but incompatible things.
A ogni morte di papa
Something that happens very rarely, almost never. Used to describe an extremely infrequent event.
In bocca al lupo
Good luck. Literally meaning 'into the wolf's mouth,' it is the standard Italian way of wishing someone success before a difficult undertaking, to which the correct reply is 'Crepi!' (May it die!).
Il tempo è galantuomo
Time is a gentleman — it eventually reveals the truth and delivers justice. In the long run, things will be set right and people will be judged fairly.
Patti chiari amicizia lunga
Clear agreements make for lasting friendships. When the terms of any arrangement are stated explicitly from the start, there is less risk of misunderstanding and resentment.
L'appetito vien mangiando
The more you have of something, the more you want. Desire grows with experience and availability, not just with need.
Mal comune mezzo gaudio
A trouble shared is a trouble halved. When many people suffer the same misfortune, it becomes more bearable because you know you are not alone.
L'erba del vicino è sempre più verde
Other people's lives always seem better than your own. We tend to envy what others have while undervaluing what we possess ourselves.
Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe
Those who are too greedy or ambitious, trying to take too much at once, end up with nothing. Overreaching leads to total failure.
Una rondine non fa primavera
A single positive sign does not mean that a situation has fully or permanently improved. Do not draw broad conclusions from one isolated example.
Meglio soli che male accompagnati
It is better to be alone than to be in bad company. The wrong companions bring more harm than solitude does.
Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino
If someone repeatedly risks danger for a tempting reward, they will eventually be caught or harmed. You can only get away with something so many times.
Dio li fa e poi li accoppia
People of similar character tend to find each other. Like attracts like, and those who share the same qualities — good or bad — tend to end up together.
Il fine giustifica i mezzi
The goal or result justifies whatever methods are used to achieve it. Outcomes matter more than the methods, even if the methods are morally questionable.
Chi si loda si imbroda
Those who praise themselves excessively make fools of themselves. Boasting and self-promotion lead to embarrassment.
Se son rose fioriranno
If something is genuinely good or true, it will prove itself in time. Real quality or real talent will eventually reveal itself without needing to be forced.
Al cuore non si comanda
You cannot control who you fall in love with or what your heart feels. Emotions are beyond the reach of reason and will.
Chi nasce tondo non muore quadrato
Fundamental character is fixed from birth and cannot be fundamentally altered. A person born with a certain nature will keep that nature until death.
Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca
The morning is the most valuable and productive part of the day. Those who rise early have access to the best opportunities and the clearest thinking.
Non rimandare a domani quello che puoi fare oggi
Do not delay until tomorrow what can be done today. Procrastination is a habit that compounds over time and leads to failure.
Chi si fa pecora il lupo se lo mangia
Those who are too passive, timid, or compliant will be exploited by more aggressive people. If you act like a victim, you will be treated like one.
Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare
There is a vast difference between saying you will do something and actually doing it. Promises and intentions are easy; action is hard.
Dagli amici mi guardi Iddio, che dai nemici mi guardo io
Protect me from my friends — I can protect myself from my enemies. Known enemies are less dangerous than unreliable or treacherous friends who have your trust.
Quando il gatto non c'è i topi ballano
When the person in authority is absent, those under them take liberties and behave without restraint. People misbehave when supervision is removed.
La fortuna aiuta gli audaci
Bold, courageous action tends to be rewarded with good fortune. Fate favors those who dare to take risks.
Ogni promessa è un debito
Every promise is an obligation that must be honoured. Making a promise creates a debt that you are morally required to repay.
Chi tace acconsente
He who stays silent consents. Silence in the face of a proposal, accusation, or wrongdoing is interpreted as agreement or acquiescence. It is both a warning and an obligation: if you disagree, you must speak.
A buon intenditor poche parole
To a good listener, few words are enough. An intelligent and attentive person understands a message without needing lengthy explanation. It is both a compliment to the perceptive and a coded form of communication that deliberately excludes the slow or unwary.
Gallina vecchia fa buon brodo
An old hen makes good broth — older people, though perhaps less physically vigorous, possess experience, depth, and accumulated wisdom that younger ones lack. It is a compliment to age and a rebuke of the cult of youth.
Chi non risica non rosica
He who does not risk does not nibble — without taking risks, you gain nothing. To enjoy even a small reward you must be willing to accept the possibility of failure. Timidity and excessive caution leave you with nothing.
Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro
He who finds a friend finds a treasure — true friendship is one of life's rarest and most precious gifts, comparable to material wealth but far more valuable. Genuine friends are hard to find and should be treated accordingly.
La notte porta consiglio
The night brings counsel — sleeping on a problem or decision often brings clarity, new perspective, and better judgment than reacting immediately. Impulse decisions made in the heat of the moment are often regretted; morning thought is wiser.
Ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio
Every medal has its reverse — every situation, advantage, or person has a downside or hidden aspect that is not immediately visible. Nothing is entirely positive; every benefit carries a corresponding cost or complication.
Chi ha il pane non ha i denti
He who has the bread has no teeth — those who have what they need often lack the capacity to enjoy it, while those who have the capacity lack what they need. Life's resources and abilities are rarely distributed together.
Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi
The devil makes the pots but not the lids — wrongdoing and deception may seem complete and secure, but they are never perfectly covered. Secrets leak, lies unravel, and evil deeds are eventually exposed because the cover is always imperfect.
Nessuno è profeta in patria
No one is a prophet in their own land — people are rarely respected or recognised in their own community, town, or country. Fame, authority, and appreciation tend to come from strangers and outsiders, while those who know you from childhood often refuse to see your gifts.
La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi
The hasty cat gave birth to blind kittens — rushing a process that requires time and care produces defective results. When you hurry something that needs patience, you do not just get a slightly worse outcome — you get something fundamentally wrong.
Chi di spada ferisce di spada perisce
He who wounds by the sword perishes by the sword — those who use violence, cruelty, or harmful means against others will eventually suffer the same treatment themselves. The instrument of harm becomes the instrument of punishment.
Gli uomini si pesano, non si misurano
Men are weighed, not measured — a person's worth lies in their substance, character, and moral weight, not in their physical stature, title, or outward dimensions. Quality cannot be reduced to measurable quantity.
Di notte tutti i gatti sono grigi
At night all cats are grey — in darkness, in ignorance, or in certain conditions, all distinctions disappear and everything looks the same. Differences that seem important in the light of day become invisible when conditions change.
Non c'è peggior sordo di chi non vuol sentire
There is no worse deaf man than one who does not want to hear — wilful ignorance and deliberate refusal to listen are more impenetrable than any physical limitation. A person who has decided not to understand cannot be reached by any argument or evidence.
Il carattere si vede nelle piccole cose
Character is seen in small things — a person's true nature is revealed not in grand gestures or exceptional circumstances, but in the habitual, minor details of daily behaviour. How someone treats a waiter, handles a small inconvenience, or behaves when they think nobody is watching tells you more about them than any formal impression.
Le bugie hanno le gambe corte
Lies have short legs — lies cannot travel far or last long. Because they are not supported by reality, they quickly collapse, are discovered, or simply cannot keep pace with the truth. Deception is a poor long-term strategy.
Il saggio impara dagli errori altrui
The wise man learns from the mistakes of others — true wisdom does not require personal experience of every failure; it can draw lessons from what happens to others, sparing itself the cost of direct experience.
Chi di gallina nasce convien che razzi
He who is born of a hen must scratch — character, aptitude, and social position are largely determined by birth and family origin. Whatever your origins, you will inevitably behave according to them, however much you may try to transcend them.
Il troppo stroppia
Too much ruins everything — excess destroys what it was supposed to enhance. Overdoing anything — praise, care, ambition, seasoning, decoration — produces the opposite of the intended effect. Moderation is the condition for quality.
La verità viene sempre a galla
The truth always floats to the surface — no matter how deeply a truth is buried, suppressed, or hidden, it eventually emerges. Deception and concealment are temporary; truth is permanent and ultimately irresistible.
L'invidia è il peccato dei mediocri
Envy is the sin of the mediocre — those who envy others reveal their own inadequacy. A truly capable and confident person is too busy developing their own gifts to waste energy resenting the success of others. Envy signals lack of self-belief.
Un amico nel bisogno è un amico davvero
A friend who stands by you in times of need is a true friend. The proverb warns that fair-weather companions are plentiful, but genuine friendship reveals itself only under pressure.
Chi tradisce una volta tradisce sempre
He who betrays once will betray again — the proverb warns that betrayal is not an isolated event but a character trait. Once someone has shown themselves capable of betrayal, trust should not be restored.
Moglie e buoi dei paesi tuoi
Take your wife and your oxen from your own village — the proverb traditionally advised men to marry women from their own community, where families and reputations were known. More broadly it suggests that the familiar is safer than the foreign in all important life decisions.
Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata
A wet bride is a lucky bride — rain on a wedding day is considered a good omen, bringing fertility, prosperity, and a long marriage. The proverb consoles brides and families when the weather does not cooperate.
I figli sono i figli
Children are children — no matter what they do, they remain your children and are loved unconditionally. The proverb expresses the absolute, unchosen nature of parental love that survives disappointment, disagreement, and even estrangement.
Chi non ha figli non sa cosa sia amore
He who has no children does not know what love truly is. The proverb claims that parental love is categorically deeper and more transformative than any other form of love, and that it cannot be understood from the outside.
La morte non guarda in faccia nessuno
Death looks no one in the face — death makes no distinctions of rank, wealth, beauty, or virtue. It comes for everyone equally and without warning, reminding us of our fundamental equality before fate.
Quando si muore si porta solo quello che si è dato
When you die you take with you only what you have given away. The proverb asserts that generosity is the only thing of lasting value — accumulated wealth and possessions mean nothing at death, but the good one has done for others endures.
Il destino non si discute
Fate is not up for discussion — what is destined to happen will happen regardless of human will or argument. The proverb counsels acceptance of the inevitable rather than futile resistance.
La fortuna è cieca
Fortune is blind — luck distributes its favours without seeing or judging. Good and bad fortune arrive without reference to merit, virtue, or effort, and the undeserving may thrive while the worthy suffer.
Aprile dolce dormire
April is sweet for sleeping — the mild spring air of April makes people drowsy and reluctant to rise. The proverb acknowledges the seductive pull of spring mornings and is often used to excuse or explain sluggishness.
Anno nuovo vita nuova
New year, new life — the start of a new year is an opportunity for a fresh beginning, new habits, and a different way of living. The proverb expresses the perennial human hope that time's turning marks a real transformation.
Tra i due litiganti il terzo gode
While two quarrel, the third one benefits — disputes between two parties always create an opportunity for an uninvolved third party to profit from the distraction or weakness of both. The proverb advises awareness of who benefits from a conflict.
Un viaggio di mille miglia comincia con un passo
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — every great undertaking has a small beginning, and the fear of the total distance should not prevent one from taking the first step. The proverb encourages action over paralysis.
Quando la gatta non c'è i topi ballano
When the cat is away the mice dance — in the absence of authority or supervision, those who are normally restrained will take liberties, break rules, or simply enjoy themselves. The proverb reflects the universal tension between control and freedom.
Non dire gatto se non lo hai nel sacco
Do not say 'cat' until you have it in the bag — do not count your chickens before they are hatched. The proverb warns against premature celebration or announcement of results that are not yet certain.
Nessuna nuova buona nuova
No news is good news — in times of anxiety about the fate of a person or a situation, silence can be interpreted as a reassuring sign. If something had gone badly wrong, you would have heard about it.
Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca
The morning has gold in its mouth — the early hours of the day are the most precious and productive. Rising early and using the morning well gives a person a decisive advantage over those who sleep late.
Chi lascia la via vecchia per la nuova sa quel che lascia ma non sa quel che trova
He who leaves the old road for the new one knows what he is leaving but not what he will find — abandoning the familiar for the unknown carries risks because the familiar, however imperfect, is known, while the new is uncertain.
Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi
Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you like — Christmas is obligatorily a family occasion, while Easter allows greater freedom in choosing with whom to celebrate. More broadly, family duty takes precedence at the most important moments.
Ogni promessa è debito
Every promise is a debt — a promise creates an obligation as binding as a financial debt and must be honoured. The proverb insists on the moral weight of spoken commitments.
La miglior vendetta è vivere bene
The best revenge is living well — rather than wasting energy on retaliation against those who have wronged you, the most effective and dignified response is to flourish, succeed, and be happy. Success is more satisfying than revenge.
Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei
Tell me who you spend time with and I will tell you who you are — a person is defined and judged by the company they keep. Choosing friends and companions carefully is not merely a personal matter but a statement of identity and values.
Fidarsi è bene, non fidarsi è meglio
To trust is good, not to trust is better — while trust is a virtue, healthy scepticism and caution are even wiser. The proverb advises against naive trust and recommends prudent verification before relying on anyone or anything.
Quattro occhi vedono meglio di due
Four eyes see better than two — two people reviewing the same thing will catch more errors, spot more dangers, and make better decisions than one person working alone. Collaboration and second opinions improve any outcome.
Marzo pazzerello, guarda il sole e prendi l'ombrello
Mad March — look at the sun and take your umbrella anyway. March is the most unpredictable month, and even when the sky looks clear, rain can come suddenly. More broadly, it advises caution and preparedness even when everything appears favourable.
Hai voluto la bicicletta? Adesso pedala!
You wanted the bicycle? Now pedal! — you made a choice freely and now you must deal with its consequences. The proverb refuses sympathy to those who complain about the results of their own decisions.
Non si vive di solo pane
One does not live by bread alone — material sustenance is necessary but not sufficient for a full human life. People also need beauty, love, meaning, friendship, culture, and spiritual nourishment to truly live.
In vino veritas
In wine there is truth — alcohol loosens inhibitions and dissolves the social masks people wear, causing them to say what they truly think and feel. The proverb implies that a person's behaviour when drunk reveals their real character more accurately than their sober self-presentation.
La speranza è l'ultima a morire
Hope is the last to die — as long as a person is alive, hope persists. Even in the most desperate circumstances, the capacity to hope for a better outcome is the very last thing to leave us.
Chi lavora mangia, chi non lavora mangia e beve.
He who works eats; he who doesn't work eats and drinks. The proverb is bitterly ironic, pointing out that idlers and parasites often seem to live better than honest workers. It captures a deep frustration with social injustice that resonates across Italian history.
Il tempo è denaro.
Time is money. Every hour spent idle is an hour of potential income lost. The proverb urges efficiency, punctuality, and a calculating attitude toward how one spends one's hours.
L'ozio è il padre dei vizi.
Idleness is the father of all vices. When people have nothing constructive to do, they fall into bad habits, moral corruption, and destructive behaviour. Work and purpose are seen as the best protection against sin.
Chi va piano va sano e lontano.
He who goes slowly goes safely and far. Patience and steadiness produce better long-term results than haste. The proverb counsels against rushing and favors a deliberate, sustainable pace in work and life.
Non è tutto oro quel che luccica.
Not all that glitters is gold. Appearances are deceptive; what looks valuable or attractive on the surface may prove worthless or disappointing on closer inspection. The proverb warns against being seduced by surface impressions.
Fare di necessità virtù.
To make a virtue of necessity. When circumstances force a course of action, one should embrace it wholeheartedly rather than resent it. Reframing an unavoidable constraint as a positive choice transforms suffering into dignity.
Il denaro non fa la felicità.
Money does not make happiness. Material wealth alone cannot provide contentment, love, or meaning. The proverb is a counterweight to the relentless pursuit of profit and a reminder of what money cannot buy.
I soldi non crescono sugli alberi.
Money does not grow on trees. Wealth must be earned through work and effort; it does not appear spontaneously or without cost. The proverb is typically used to discourage wasteful spending or unrealistic expectations about financial resources.
Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino.
The cat goes to the lard so often that it eventually leaves its paw behind. Repeated indulgence in a risky temptation eventually leads to getting caught or suffering the consequences. No one can take the same risk indefinitely without being found out.
Bisogna battere il ferro finché è caldo.
One must strike the iron while it is hot. Opportunities must be seized at the right moment, when conditions are favorable, before the chance cools and becomes impossible to act upon. Hesitation at the crucial moment wastes the opportunity entirely.
La pazienza è la virtù dei forti.
Patience is the virtue of the strong. Genuine patience is not weakness or passivity but an active quality that requires inner strength and self-mastery. It is easy to be impatient; enduring with composure requires real character.
Chi risparmia ha.
He who saves has. Frugality and careful management of resources are what create lasting financial security. Wealth is not primarily about earning more but about keeping what one earns.
Fare bella figura.
To cut a fine figure — to make a good impression through appearance, behavior, and the quality of what one offers. In Italian culture, bella figura is not mere vanity but a social obligation: to present oneself, one's work, and one's hospitality in the best possible light as a mark of respect for others.
Il pesce puzza dalla testa.
The fish rots from the head. Corruption, incompetence, and decline in any organization begin at the top, with leadership. Problems that spread through an institution reflect the character of those who command it.
Chi comincia bene è a metà dell'opera.
He who begins well is halfway through the work. A strong, well-prepared start makes the rest of a task significantly easier. Good planning, the right tools, and a clear beginning are worth half the effort of completion.
Non mettere il carro davanti ai buoi.
Do not put the cart before the oxen. Do not reverse the natural order of things by beginning with what should come last. The proverb warns against premature celebration, planning, or action that skips essential preliminary steps.
Ogni lasciata è persa.
Every opportunity left behind is lost. Once you pass up a chance, it is gone; hesitation and deferral are forms of loss. The proverb urges decisive action over waiting for better conditions that may never come.
Ognuno è artefice della propria fortuna.
Every person is the maker of their own fortune. Success and failure are ultimately determined by one's own choices, efforts, and decisions rather than by luck, birth, or circumstance. The individual is responsible for the life they build.
Chi troppo in alto sale cade sovente.
He who climbs too high often falls. Excessive ambition and overreach lead to spectacular downfalls. The higher one climbs beyond one's genuine ability or means, the more catastrophic and inevitable the fall.
A lavoro iniziato non voltare la schiena.
Do not turn your back on work once started. Abandoning a task halfway through is worse than never starting it; it wastes what has already been invested and leaves incomplete work that is often more harmful than nothing. Finish what you begin.
Chi semina raccoglie.
He who sows reaps. Consistent effort and investment — in work, relationships, or knowledge — will eventually produce results. The proverb affirms the basic principle of cause and effect in human endeavor: you get back what you put in.
Non è la vacca che muggisce di più che dà più latte.
It is not the cow that moos the most that gives the most milk. The noisiest, most self-promoting person is not necessarily the most capable or productive. True worth is demonstrated by results, not by volume of self-announcement.
La necessità aguzza l'ingegno.
Necessity sharpens the mind. When circumstances demand a solution and no easy answer is available, human ingenuity is pushed to its limits and often produces its most creative results. Constraint and need are the mothers of invention.
Chi compra ha bisogno di cent'occhi, chi vende ne basta uno.
The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller needs only one. In any transaction, the buyer bears most of the risk of being deceived and must inspect carefully; the seller needs only to show what is advantageous. Caveat emptor — let the buyer beware — is the proverb's underlying principle.
Meglio povero e sano che ricco e malato.
Better poor and healthy than rich and sick. Health is the most fundamental form of wealth, and no amount of money compensates for its loss. The proverb prioritizes physical wellbeing over financial success.