Italian Sayings – A Dive into the Wisdom and Charm of Italian Culture

La dolce vita – The sweet life

Vivere alla giornata – To live day by day

L’amore non ha età – Love has no age

La vita è un viaggio – Life is a journey

In bocca al lupo – Good luck (literally, in the mouth of the wolf)

Chi dorme non piglia pesci – He who sleeps doesn’t catch fish

Che sarà, sarà – Whatever will be, will be

Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto – Eat well, laugh often, love much

Il dolce far niente – The sweetness of doing nothing

La fortuna aiuta gli audaci – Fortune favors the bold

Quando è buona la minestra, sono buoni tutti – When the soup is good, everyone is good

Dio ci fa e poi ci accoppa – God makes us and then kills us

Non c’è rosa senza spine – There is no rose without thorns

Quando il gatto non c’è, i topi ballano – When the cat’s away, the mice will play

Tutto è bene ciò che finisce bene – All’s well that ends well

Meglio tardi che mai – Better late than never

Il mattino ha l’oro in bocca – The morning has gold in its mouth

Le piccole cose danno la felicità – The small things bring happiness

Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo – Those who have time should not wait for time

Non si vive di solo pane – Man does not live by bread alone

Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da pecora – Better one day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep

Italian Sayings – A Dive into the Wisdom and Charm of Italian Culture part 2

Dolce far niente – Sweet doing nothing

In alto i calici – Cheers

Prendere due piccioni con una fava – To kill two birds with one stone

Avere le mani bucate – To have holes in one’s hands (to be wasteful with money)

Un cane che abbaia non morde – A barking dog seldom bites

Piove sul bagnato – It rains on the soaked (misfortunes never come alone)

Casa dolce casa – Home sweet home

Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino – The cat goes to the larder so often that it leaves its paw behind (to be caught in the act)

Al cuore non si comanda – You can’t command your heart

La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi – The hasty cat made blind kittens (haste makes waste)

Non è oro tutto quello che luccica – All that glitters is not gold

Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare – Between saying and doing there is the sea

L’amore è cieco – Love is blind

A chi fa male mai mancano scuse – Those who do harm never lack excuses

Dove va la volpe va la volpe – A fox is a fox wherever it goes (a leopard can’t change its spots)

Saltare come un grillo – Jumping like a cricket (to be restless or jumpy)

Ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio – Every medal has its reverse (every good has a bad side)

Dio li fa e poi li accoppa – God makes them and then kills them (children are a handful)

Il primo amore non si scorda mai – You never forget your first love

L’abito non fa il monaco – The habit doesn’t make the monk

L’appetito vien mangiando – Appetite comes with eating

Meglio soli che male accompagnati – Better alone than in bad company

Ogni morte di papa – Once in a blue moon (literally, every death of a pope)

Il gioco non vale la candela – The game is not worth the candle

Alfred Sorsazo

A seeker of inspiration and beauty in words. I share quotes that touch the soul, provoke thought, and inspire change.

Finding and sharing wisdom that helps you better understand yourself and the world around you. Why quotes? Short phrases contain incredible power - they can inspire, support, give hope, or just make you smile.

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