Although many Italians can carry on long, involved conversations
with constant gesturing and passion, Italian proverbs
cut to the chase. Often individuals in a family are identified
with particular proverbs. A father who is an especially
patient person goes around saying, "Pazienza
a fortitudine," ('Patience
and fortitude"), extolling them as virtues to which
everyone should aspire. A person who despises dishonesty
will tell you, "La
bugia ha le gambe corte"
("A lie has short legs"). Meaning it wont get
you very far.
Some Italian proverbs are unusually
economical. Whereas the English version tells us, "No
sooner said then done," the Italians give us the
very soul of brevity: "Detto,
fatto" ("Said, done") And whereas
we say, "Out of sight, out of mind," the Italians
speak of the heart rather than the mind: "Lontano
dagli occhi, lontano dal cuore." ("What
is far from the eyes is far from the heart.")
Italian proverbs tend to be passed
on in families from one generation to the next. Here
is a list of proverbial expressions that have been passed
down in our family. Grandpa Moramarco wrote them long
ago in his distinctive handwriting on a piece of paper
that is something of a family treasure. We provide both
the Italian and a rough English equivalent because some
are not easily translatable.
Chi va piano va sano a va lontano.
Who goes slowly goes in good health and travels far.
Chi la
dura la vince.
Survivors are winners.
Chi in
alto va cade precipitevolissimevolmente.
The higher you climb, the faster you fall.
Il mondo
e fatto a scale: c 'e chi scende e c 'e chi sale.
The world is made of stairs: some climb and some descend.
Chi va
per ingannare resta ingannato.
Whoever intends to deceive winds up deceived.
L'ozio
e padrone dei vizi.
Laziness is the landlord of vices.
Nessuno conosce che cosa sta
cucinando nella vaschetta meglio di chi fa la mescolatura.
No one knows what is cooking in the pan better than
the one doing the stirring.
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