As much as you know, that much you are worth — knowledge is the most reliable form of wealth. What you have in your head cannot be taken from you by thieves, flood, or misfortune. The educated person carries their value everywhere.
In a society where material wealth was precarious — harvests failed, houses burned, savings were stolen, emigration required leaving everything behind — the Sicilian identification of knowledge as the most portable and stable form of value was both practical and visionary. The immigrant who arrived in America in 1900 with nothing but his tradesman's skill — the mason, the barber, the tailor, the cobbler — had the one thing that could not be confiscated at the port. This is why Sicilian families, even in poverty, pushed their children toward education with extraordinary intensity. The tailor who educated his son to become a lawyer was not betraying his class but investing in the only form of wealth that was truly unlosable. 'Quantu sai' = quanto sai (as much as you know), 'tantu vali' = tanto vali (that much you are worth).
A Sicilian proverb about knowledge as the most reliable and portable form of wealth, deeply embedded in the culture of educational aspiration found in emigrant Sicilian families. 'Quantu sai' = quanto sai, 'tantu vali' = tanto vali. Widespread across all of Sicily.
A father sacrificing to keep his children in school
Lavoravo due turni per pagare gli studi ai miei figli. Quantu sai, tantu vali — a me hanno rubato tutto tranne la testa.
I worked two shifts to pay for my children's studies. As much as you know, that much you are worth — they stole everything from me except my head.
Advising a young person against dropping out of school
Non lasciare la scuola per quel lavoro. Quantu sai, tantu vali — il lavoro può finire, quello che sai resta.
Do not leave school for that job. As much as you know, that much you are worth — the job can end, what you know stays.
An emigrant explaining why they emphasised education for their children
Quando sono arrivato qui non avevo niente. Quantu sai, tantu vali — ho mandato i miei figli all'università con sacrifici enormi.
When I arrived here I had nothing. As much as you know, that much you are worth — I sent my children to university with enormous sacrifice.
A teacher motivating disengaged students
Quello che state imparando adesso non sembra importante. Quantu sai, tantu vali — ve ne accorgerete tra vent'anni.
What you are learning now does not seem important. As much as you know, that much you are worth — you will notice it in twenty years.