19 proverbs
Finché la barca va, lasciala andare
As long as the boat is sailing, let it sail. When something is working well, do not interfere, fix, or question it — leave it alone and enjoy the smooth sailing. The proverb counsels against unnecessary tinkering with a functioning situation and against fixing what is not broken.
Al contadino non far sapere quanto è buono il formaggio con le pere
Do not let the peasant know how good cheese is with pears. If a simple, inexpensive pleasure is discovered by everyone, it becomes expensive or unavailable. The proverb is used to argue for keeping a good secret — a restaurant, a recipe, a shortcut — to oneself, so that the crowd does not ruin it. It also carries a slightly ironic class dimension: the 'wise' person keeps the best things away from the masses.
Chi di gallina nasce convien che razzoli
He who is born of a hen must scratch the ground. Children inherit the nature, habits, and social station of their parents, and it is futile to expect someone to consistently behave above or below their origins. The proverb expresses a fatalistic view of social inheritance, though it can also be used approvingly — to note that a talented child has simply taken after a talented parent.
Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera
Red sky at evening, good weather is hoped for. A red sunset indicates that good weather is on the way the following day. The proverb is a piece of traditional meteorological folk wisdom, rooted in centuries of agricultural and pastoral observation of the Tuscan sky.
Ogni grano fa granaro
Every grain fills the granary. Small, steady contributions accumulate into significant results. The proverb encourages patience with incremental progress and respect for small efforts — every grain of wheat counts toward the final total, and it is foolish to dismiss small gains as negligible.
Chi ha il grano ha il mondo
Whoever holds the grain holds the world — material resources, especially food, are the foundation of all real power. This proverb reflects centuries of Tuscan agricultural life where grain storage determined survival and social standing.
L'olio non perdona la fretta
Olive oil does not forgive haste — quality production requires patience and cannot be rushed. More broadly, any fine result demands care and time that hurry destroys.
Il vino buono non ha bisogno di frasca
Good wine needs no branch — a truly excellent product does not need advertisement, as its quality speaks for itself. The proverb warns against mistaking flashy promotion for real substance.
La vigna vuole l'uomo morto
The vineyard wants a dead man — growing wine grapes demands such relentless, back-breaking labour that it would kill an ordinary person. The proverb honours the devotion required to produce great wine while quietly warning the naive that viticulture is not romantic.
Il contadino non sa l'arte ma la fa
The peasant does not know art but he practises it — practical wisdom and skill acquired through experience often surpass formal knowledge. Tuscans use this to argue for the intelligence of hands over the intelligence of books.
Marzo è pazzo e aprile gli tien dietro
March is mad and April follows along — the two spring months are unpredictable and treacherous, alternating warm sunshine with sudden frost and storms. Tuscan farmers used this to warn against trusting early spring warmth and planting too soon.
Chi si loda s'imbroda
Whoever praises himself gets smeared — self-promotion leads to embarrassment, because boasting invites scrutiny and usually reveals flaws. The image is of someone who splashes broth on themselves while singing their own praises.
Al buon intenditor poche parole
To a good listener, few words are enough — those who are wise and experienced understand what is meant without needing long explanations. The proverb values intelligence and subtlety over verbose communication.
Nel vino la verità, nell'acqua la salute
In wine there is truth, in water there is health — wine loosens the tongue and reveals what people really think, while water keeps the body sound. The proverb is used with irony to justify the pleasure of wine while conceding, reluctantly, the benefits of temperance.
Il bue dice cornuto all'asino
The ox calls the donkey horned — a person criticises in others the very fault they themselves possess. The irony is double: the ox has horns and the donkey does not, so the accusation is both hypocritical and factually reversed.
Non è tutt'oro quel che luce
Not all that glitters is gold — appearances are deceptive, and what seems attractive or valuable on the surface may prove disappointing or worthless on closer examination. The proverb warns against being dazzled by external brilliance.
Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi Iddio
From enemies I can protect myself; from friends, may God protect me — the open hostility of an enemy is manageable because it is visible, but the hidden betrayal of a trusted friend is the greatest danger of all. The proverb carries a dark wisdom about the limits of trust.
A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale
At Carnival every joke is allowed — during the days of Carnival, social norms are relaxed and pranks, satire, and mockery that would normally be offensive are accepted as part of the festivity. The proverb also warns, with irony, that the licence of Carnival can be exploited.
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 usually kept in check begin to do as they please. Order depends on presence, not on principle.