Italian Proverbs

Proverbs are fun, proverbs are flavor; and can prove to be tutorials too. Proverbs add a touch of spice to an otherwise dull language. In the form of short and easily memorable phrases, proverbs share a great treasure of wisdom and righteousness. Francis Bacon was quite a genius himself when he said “The genius, wit and spirit of a nation are discovered in its proverbs.” And, these pithy phrases are a part of every spoken language and their hidden wit makes the language rich and fascinating. The brevity and dexterity of proverbs has made them a favorite tool for every writer or orator. No wonder they keep popping up everywhere! There are proverbs in the form of wise old sayings or short and frank expressions or even the modern scornful ones. In all their types, proverbs have long enriched their languages. These days, a number of linguists and sometimes even common folks are interested in learning proverbs of different languages. Read on further for some famus Italian proverbs with their English translations.

Famous Italian Quotes

There's nothing new under the sun. – Niente di nuovo sotto il sole
Too many cooks spoil the broth. – Troppi cuochi guastano la cucina.
Wine, women and tobacco can ruin a man. – Bacco, tabacco e Venere riducono l'uomo in cenere.
Barking dogs do not bite. – Cane che abbaia non morde.
The ox calling the donkey 'horned'. – Il bue che dice cornuto all'asino.
Give them a finger and they'll take an arm. – A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio.
Strike while the iron is hot. – Batti il ferro finché è caldo.
Keep doors open for people who bring something – for those that bring nothing..can leave. – Porta aperta per chi porta – chi non porta .. parta pur.
The calm is the virtue of the strong. – La calma è la virtù dei forti.
Well begun is half done – Chi bene incomincia è a metà dell'opera.
Those who sleep don't catch any fish. – Chi dorme non piglia pesci.
Don't spit in the wind – it might land on your head. – Non sputare in aria – che ti ricade in testa.
If you want something done, do it yourself. – Chi fa da sé, fa per tre.
He who wants too much doesn't catch anything. – Chi troppo vuole, nulla stringe.
He who finds a friend finds a treasure. – Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro.
Who's born as donkey can't die as horse. – Chi nasce asino non può morire cavallo.
Do no evil and have no fear. – Del male non fare e paura non avere.
A woman who cries, a man who swears, a horse that sweats; are all imposture. – Donna che piange, uomo che giura, cavallo che suda, tutta impostura.
Mind your own business, and you'll live 100 years. – Fatti i cazzi tuoi, ca campi cent'anni.
Better late than never. – Meglio tardi che mai.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. – L' erba del vicino è sempre più verde.
Curiosity killed the cat. – Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino.
A good mother is worth a hundred teachers. – Una buona mamma vale cento maestre.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. – Una mela al giorno toglie il medico di torno.

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