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Spanish proverbs

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Proverbs from all Spanish-speaking parts of the whole world.

He who wants the heavens must pay.
The heart sees farther than the head.

A

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  • A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente/colmillo/dentado/pelo or A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.
    • English equivalent: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
    • "Do not search for faults in a gift, as in don't try to guess the horse's age by looking at its teeth since it is free."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 54. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Luna, Cari (2004). The Everything Spanish Phrase Book: A Quick Reference for Any Situation publisher=Everything Books. p. 5. ISBN 275 1593370490 Invalid ISBN. 
  • A cabo de cien años los reyes son villanos, A cabo de ciento-diez los villanos son reyes.
  • A cada necio agrada su porrada.
    • English equivalentː Every fool is pleased with his own folly.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "147". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • A cada pajarillo agrada su nidillo.
    • English equivalent: The bird loves her own nest.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "923". Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 776. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • A grandes males, grandes remedios.
    • English equivalent: Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.
    • "Drastic action is called for – and justified – when you find yourself in a particularly difficult situation."
    • "The sick in soul insist that it is humanity that is sick, and they are the surgeons to operate on it. They want to turn the world into a sickroom. And once they get humanity strapped to the operating table, they operate on it with an ax."
    • Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955)
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 10 August 2013. 
    • Emanuel Strauss (11 January 2013). "812". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 552. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. Retrieved on 10 August 2013. 
  • A la burla dexarla quando mas agrada.
    • English equivalent: Leave a jest when it pleases you best.
    • von Düringsfield, Ida; von Düringsfield, Otto (1875). "122, aufhören" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend. I. p. 59-60. 
  • A la ocasión la pintan calva.
    • English equivalent: Opportunity knocks only once.
    • "Never say ‘no’ to adventures. Always say ‘yes’, otherwise you’ll lead a very dull life."
    • Ian Fleming, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang (1964)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 400. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • A la tercera va la vencida.
    • English equivalent: Third time's the charm.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • A lo hecho, pecho.
    • English equivalent: What's done is done. Trim your sails and face the music. Don't cry over spilled milk.
  • A mal nudo, mal cuño.
    • English equivalent: You must meet roughness with roughness.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 12. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • A quien deja el camino por el atajo, no le faltarán trabajos.
    • English equivalent: He that leaves the highway to cut short, commonly goes about.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1405". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • A quien la pique, que se rasque.
    • English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it.
    • "Our enemies will tell the rest with pleasure."
    • Bishop Fleetwood, Preface to Sermons. Ordered burned by House of Commons, May, 1712.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "1276". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-136-78971-7. 
  • A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
    • Alt: Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
    • Alt Variation: Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda; el que se apendeja Dios lo deja. (A play with words that rhyme)
    • Translations:
      • God helps those who get up early. / The early bird gets the worm.
      • Alt.Var:God helps those who get up early, and leaves those who are too late.
    • Interpretations:
      • Initiative will be rewarded.
    • Equivalent English proverbs:
      • Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
    • Meaning: "A lifestyle that involves neither staying up late nor sleeping late is good for body and mind and leads to financial success."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 5 September 2013. 
    • Source: Luna, Cari (2004). The Everything Spanish Phrase Book: A Quick Reference for Any Situation. Everything Books. p. 5. ISBN 275 1593370490 Invalid ISBN. 
  • A quien no pide consejo, darlo es de necios.
    • English equivalent: Give neither salt nor counsel till you are asked for it.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "760". Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-415-10381-7. 
  • A quien se hace de miel las moscas le comen.
    • English equivalent: He that makes himself an ass must not take it ill if men ride him.
    • ** Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 676. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • A seguro, le llevan preso.
    • For safety you are taken prisoner.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 881. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • A donde el seto es bajo todos pasan.
    • English equivalent: Men leap over where the hedge is lower.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1087. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Al amigo más amigo, no le fíes tu secreto, y así nunca te verás, arrepentido o sujeto.
    • If you tell your secret to your friend, you will make him your master.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 74. 
  • Al árbol por el fruto es conocido.
    • English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
    • "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Al cuco no cuques y al ladrón no hurtes.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Al hombre, en el hablar; y al pájaro, en el cantar.
    • English equivalent: The bird is known by his note, the man by his words.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "222". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Al hombre osado la fortuna le da la mano.
  • Al mentiroso le conviene ser memorioso.
    • English equivalent: A liar should have a good memory.
    • Meaning: "Liars must remember the untruths they have told, to avoid contradicting themselves at some later date."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "274". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 257. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. Retrieved on 24 November 2013. 
  • Al ratón de un sólo agujero presto le pilla el gato.
    • English equivalent: It is a poor mouse that has only one hole.
    • "Why don’t we just call plans what they really are: guesses."
    • Jason Fried and David Heinemeier, Rework (2009)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 715. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Al que mucho se le confía, mucho se le exige.
    • English equivalent: Everybody to whom much is given, much is expected.
    • Meaning: "More is expected of those who have received more - that is, those who had good fortune, are naturally gifted, or have been shown special favour."
    • Source for meaning and proverbs: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 8 September 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1095. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Amores, dolores y dineros, No pueden estar secretos.
    • English equivalent: Love, smoke and cough are hard to hide.
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 50. 
  • Antes de firmar, mirar.
    • Translation: Look before you sign.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1160. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1069. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza

Alt: "Árbol que nace torcido, aunque le pongan cien piedras, nunca se endereza."

    • A tree that is born twisted never grows straight.

Alt: A tree that is born twisted, though a hundred stones are placed (around it), never can be straightened.

    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 275. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • A lo bueno, dejarlo estar.'
    • English equivalent: If it isn't broken, don't fix it.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 166. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • A papaya puesta, papaya partida. (Colombian saying)
    • Alt: No hay que dar papaya...y a papaya puesta, papaya partida
    • Papaya that is served, papaya that is eaten
    • English equivalent: If you turn yourself into a doormat, others will walk over you.
    • Interpretation: If you leave yourself open to abuse, people will abuse you.
    • Source: Munévar, Gonzalo (2006). El amo del destino. Universidad del Valle. p. 208. ISBN 9584400207. 
  • A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
    • Alt: A falta de pan, galletas
    • Alt: A falta de pan, tortillas (Mexico, Guatemala)
    • Alt: A falta de pan, casabe (República Dominicana)
    • Translations:
      • If there's no bread, cakes will do.
      • In place of bread, cakes are good.
      • Alt. Trans.: If there's no bread, have crackers
    • Interpretations:
      • Settle for the next best thing.
      • Beggars can't be choosers.
      • In times of need, kindness is especially sweet.
    • Equivalent English proverb: Any port in a storm.
    • Source: Klipper, Maya (2006). A falta de pan, buenas son tortas. La Stampa. ISBN 987051362X. 
  • A donde fueres, haz lo que vieres
    • Alt: Allá donde fueres, haz lo que vieres
    • English proverb: When among wolves we must howl.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 673. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Antes con locos, que cuerdo a solas.
    • English equivalent: Better foolish by all than wise by yourself.
    • Emanuel Strauss. "70". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. 
  • Agua blanda en piedra dura, tanto cavadura continua gotera cava la piedra.
    • English equivalent: Constant dropping wears the stone.
    • "A steady effort can achieve, little by little, a great effect, as many drops do by gradually dissolving and eroding the stone."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "71". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 349. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Apretados pero contentos.
    • English equivalent: The more the merrier.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1094. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Aprovecha el día presente.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 765. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
    • English equivalent: A golden bit does not make the horse any better.
    • "To those who are given to virtue, the boast of titles is wholly alien and distasteful."
    • Petrarch, “On the Various Academic Titles,” De remediis utriusque fortunae, C. Rawski, trans. (1967), p. 73
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 52. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Al que Dios quiere castigar le quita la razón.
    • English equivalent: Whom God will destroy, he first make mad.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 841. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Alcalda del mes de enero.
    • New is of the month of January
    • English equivalent: New brooms sweep clean.
    • "We often apply it to exchanges among servants, clerks, or any persons employed, whose service, at first, in any new place, is very good, both efficient and faithful; but very soon, when all the new circumstances have lost their novelty, and all their curiosity has ceased, they naturally fall into their former and habitual slackness."
    • Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 38. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1103. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Aquél es rico, que está bien con Dios.
    • English equivalent: He who serves God has a good master.
    • "The greatest weakness of all weaknesses is to fear too much to appear weak."
    • Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, Politique Tirée de l'Écriture Sainte (Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture) (1679 - published 1709).
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 873. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Aquél va más sano, que anda por el llano.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 701. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Ara bien y hondo, cogerás pan en abando.
    • English equivalent: Plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and keep.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1001. ISBN 0415096243. 

B

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  • Bien predica quien bien vive.
    • English equivalent: Lead by example.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 55. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Buen yunque no teme el martillo.
    • English equivalent: A good anvil does not fear the hammer.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "97". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-136-78971-7. 

(French)

C

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  • Callen barbas y hablen cartas.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 808. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cada carnero de su pie cuelga.
    • English equivalent: Every tub must stand on its own bottom.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 777. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cada cosa en su tiempo.
    • English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes.
    • "Plans are insulted destinies. I don't have plans, I only have goals."
    • Ash Chandler, Freudian Slip, Mumbai Mirror Buzz, April 2006.
    • Caroline Ward (1842). National Proverbs in the Principal Languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 29. 
  • Costumbre adquirida en la mocedad, se deja muy mal en la vejez.
    • English equivalent: Old habits die hard.
    • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1122. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Como canta el abad, así responde el sacristán.
    • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Comprar gato en saco.
    • English equivalent: Let the buyer have a thousand eyes for the seller wants only one.
    • Theodore Sturgeon Venture (1957)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1101. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Con el agua de la bañadera echar también al niño.
    • English equivalent: Don't throw out the child with the bath water.
    • "Do not take the drastic step of abolishing or discarding something in its entirety when only parts of it is unacceptable."
    • Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 25 August 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 715. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Con el tiempo todo se consigue.
    • Swedish equivalent: Time heals all wounds.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 87. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Como midais sereis medidos.
    • English equivalent: Whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt back to you.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1219. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Con la gente no es temible la muerte.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Consejo de quien bien te quiere, aunque te parezca mal, escríbele.
    • English equivalent: Write down the advice of him who loves you, though you like it not at present.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "28". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 11. 
  • Corazón no es traidor.
    • English equivalent: The heart sees farther than the head.
    • "We are double in ourselves, so that what we believe we disbelieve, and cannot rid ourselves of what we condemn."
    • As quoted in The Complete Works of Michael de Montaigne (1877) edited by William Carew Hazlitt, p. 289
    • Manuel de Valbuena (1822). Diccionario universal Español -Latino. Imp. Nacional. p. 273. 
  • Cuando el villano está en el mulo, no conoce a Dios, ni al mundo.
    • English equivalent: Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride to the Devil.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "171". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Cuando la cabeza duele todos los miembros duelen.
    • English equivalent: When the head is sick, the whole body is sick.
    • "Sickness is the first warning that we have made a wrong judgement. A healthy person is never unhappy."
    • George Ohsawa, in Essential Ohsawa : From Food to Health, Happiness to Freedom : Understanding the Basics of Macrobiotics (1994), p. 77
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1117. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cuando las barbas de tu vecino veas cortar, pon las tuyas a remojar.
    • Translation: When you see your neighbour's beard being cut, put yours in water.
    • Meaning: Be cautious when you see disgraces to people near you.
  • Cuando todos dicen que eres asno, rebuzna y ponte rabo.
    • English equivalent: When all men say you are an ass, it is time to bray.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1221. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cuando te dieren un condado, agárrale.
    • English equivalent: When the pig is proffered, hold up the poke.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1226. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cuando una puerta se cierra, ciento se abren.
    • English equivalent: When one door closes another opens.
    • Meaning: "When baffled in one direction a man of energy will not despair, but will find another way to his object."
    • Source for meaning: Proverbs of All Nations. W. Kent & Company (late D. Bogue). 1859. p. 67. Retrieved on 26 August 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 845. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cuanto menos se diga, mejor.
    • English equivalent: Least said, soonest mended.
    • Meaning: "In private animosities and verbal contentions, where angry passions are apt to rise, and irritating, if not profane expressions are often made use of, as we sometimes see to be the case, not only among neighbors, but in families, between husbands and wives, or parents and children, or the children themselves and other members of the household, - the least said, the better in general. By multiplying words, cases often grow worse instead of better."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. pp. 125. 
    • Whit Wirsing (9 June 2009). The Ultimate Spanish Phrase Finder: Frases Equivalente: Ingles-espanol, Espanol-ingles. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-07-143303-7. Retrieved on 8 June 2013. 
  • Cuídame del agua mansa, que de la brava, yo sólo me cuidaré.
    • English equivalent: Still water runs deep.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 52. ISBN 0415096243. 

D

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  • De buenas intenciones esta empedrado el camino al infierno.
    • English equivalent: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 257. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • De grandes cenas están las sepulteras llenas.
    • English equivalent: Gluttony kills more than the sword.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 864. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • De la abundancia del corazón habla la boca.
    • English equivalent: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "6 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 7–. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • De malas costumbres nacen buenas leyes.
    • English equivalent: Good laws have sprung from bad customs.
    • "Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain."
    • Frédéric Bastiat, The Law (1850)å
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 879. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • De vez en cuando dormita el gran Homero.
    • English equivalent: Even Homer sometimes nods.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1420 H". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Debajo del sayal hay mal.
    • English equivalent: Judge not a man and things at first sight.
    • "No good Book, or good thing of any sort, shows its best face at first."
    • Thomas Carlyle, Essays, "Novalis" (1829)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 713. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Desconfía de los obsequios de tu enemigo.
    • English equivalent: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "828 G". A Dictionary of English and Spanish Equivalent Proverbs. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4657-5453-0. 
  • Desde que no la veo, me muero de deseo.
    • English equivalent: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Despues de los años mil, Torna el agua a su carril.
  • Devolver bien por mal.
    • English equivalent: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
    • Meaning: Make something good out of bad things that has happened to you.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 838. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Del hombre necio a veces buen consejo.
    • English equivalent: A fool may give a wise man counsel.
    • "Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, nor any preference to claim over another. You are brothers."
    • Muhammad, The Last Sermon of Muhammad delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H (c. 630 AD)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Dichoso el varón que escarmienta en cabeça agena y en la suya non.
    • von Düringsfeld, Ida; Freiherr von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "288, Schaden" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen sprachen vergleichend, zusammengestellt. II. p. 163. 
  • Dinero guardado, dinero capado.
    • Translation: The hidden things of wisdom and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?
    • English equivalent: Money is there to be spent.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1013. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Dios que de la llaga, de la medicina.
    • English equivalent: God who gives the wound gives the salve.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 874. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Dios me libre de hombre de un libro.
    • English equivalent: Fear the man of one book.
    • "Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
    • Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See (1990)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 851. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Dios tarda, pero no olvida.
    • Translation: God is slow, but he does not forget.
    • English equivalent: Punishment is lame but it comes.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 779. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Dividar para reinar.
    • Translation: Divide to rule.
    • English equivalent: Divide and conquer.
    • Meaning: "The best way to conquer or control a group of people is by encouraging them to fight among themselves rather than allowing them to unite in opposition to the ruling authority."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 13 August 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "823". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. 
  • Dolor comunicado, dolor alviado.
    • English equivalent: A problem shared is a problem halved.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 351. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Donde faltó natura, allí va la mujer con su pintura.
    • English equivalent: Life imitates art.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "83". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Dueña yo dueña tu, ¿quién botará la puerca afuera?
    • Translation: You a lady, I a lady who is to drive out the sow?
    • English equivalent: There are too many chiefs and not enough indians.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 991. ISBN 0415096243. 

E

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  • El abismo llama al abismo
    • English equivalent: Deep calls to deep.
    • "((Orion) A hunter of shadows, himself a shade."
    • Homer, Odyssey, XI. 572. (~ 800 BC)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 695. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El arte es largo y la vida breve.
    • English equivalent: Life is short, and art long.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "84". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • El peresozo siempre es menesteroso.
    • English equivalent: Poverty is the reward of idleness.
    • "Trust not yourself; but your defects to know,

Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe."

    • Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism (1709)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1146. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El dìa que te casas, o te matas o te sanas.
    • English equivalents: Choose a wife rather by your ear than your eye.
    • "Use great prudence and circumspection, in choosing thy wife, for from thence will spring all thy future good or evil; and it is an action of life like unto a stratagem of war, wherein a man can err but once."
    • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Certain Precepts Or Directions for the Well-Ordering and Carriage of a Man's Life (c. 1584, first published 1617)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El favo es dulce, mas pica la abeja.
    • English equivalent: He that will not endure the bitter will not live to see the sweet.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 837. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El fruto no cae lejos del árbol.
    • English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
    • "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • El hijo de la gata ratones mata.
    • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
    • "Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 985. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El hilo siempre se rompe por lo más delgado.
    • English equivalent: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
    • "A weak part or member will affect the success or effectiveness of the whole."
    • Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 31 July 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • El lenguaje de la verdad es sencillo.
    • English equivalent: Truth gives a short answer, lies go round about.
    • "You do so love to talk in riddles. Do you do that, I wonder as a substitute for having anything interesting to say?"
    • Dan Houser, Michael Unsworth and Christian Cantamessa, Read Dead Redemption (2010)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1216. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El mejor nadador es del agua.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 879. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El miedo no es tonto.
    • English equivalent: Discretion is the better part of valor.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 703. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El orin se come el hierro, y la envidia al mal sujeto.
    • English equivalent: Envy is its own torturer.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "425". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-1-136-78971-7. 
  • El peresozo siempre es menesteroso.
    • English equivalent: Poverty is the reward of idleness.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "267". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • El perro ladra y la caravana pasa.
    • English equivalent: The dogs bark but the caravan passes on.
    • "Whatever any one does or says, I must be good."
    • Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations (161 BC)
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 340. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • El pez grande se come al chico.
    • English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
    • "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 1 July 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1086. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El poeta nace, el orador se hace.
    • English equivalent: Poets are born, but orators are trained.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 331. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • El que jugó, jugará.
    • English equivalent: Once a drunkard always a drunkard; Once a thief always a thief.
    • "People keep telling us who they are, but we ignore it - because we want them to be who we want them to be."
    • Lisa Albert, Janet Leahy, Matthew Weiner, Mad Men (2010)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 771. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El que no es envidiado, es que no es afortunado.
    • English equivalent: No enemies is a sign that fortune has forgotten you.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1008. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El ruin pajarillo, Descubra su nidillo.
    • English equivalent: Don't wash your dirty linen in public; It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
    • "Why wantonly proclaim one's own disgrace, or expose the faults or weaknesses of one's kindred or people?"
    • "It is considered contemptible to defy the rule of solidarity by revealing facts harmful to the group one belongs to."
    • Proverbs of All Nations. W. Kent & Company (late D. Bogue). 1859. p. 109. 
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "106". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations (W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) ed.). p. 45. 
  • El que se ahoga, se agarra a un perlo
    • English equivalent: A drowning man plucks at a straw.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • El que súbito se determina, súbito se arrepiente.
    • English equivalent: Hasty judgment leads to repentance.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 196. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El tiempo perdido los santos lo lloran.
    • English equivalent: Time is precious.
    • "Days are of the least pretension, and of the greatest capacity of anything that exists. They come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant friendly party; but they say nothing, and if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them as silently away."
    • Ralph Waldo Emerson, Works and Days. (1904)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "858". Dictionary of European proverbs. II. Taylor & Francis. p. 723. ISBN 978-0-415-10381-7. 
  • El tiempo y la marea no esperan al rey.
    • English equivalent: Time and tide wait for no man.
    • "The negligent and unreflecting man resolves to accomplish a certain important object at some future period; but in the intervening time, some preparatory, though in itself comparatively trifling business, is indispensable. At length the period for accomplishing the ultimate object arrives: but, alas! the prerequisite, so absolutely connected and essential, is neglected, and then, vain man!"
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 169. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "1743". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 1210. ISBN 978-0-203-00905-5. 
  • El trabajo según la paga.
    • English equivalent: You get what you pay for.
    • "The quality of goods and services is reflected in their price - cheap things are usually inferior and expensive things are usually superior."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 494. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • En boca cerrada ni moscas ni nada.
    • English equivalent: A still tongue keeps a cool head.
    • "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."
    • Publilius Syrus, Sententiae (100 B.C)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • En casa del ahorcado, no se ha de mentar la soga.
    • English equivalent: Name not a rope in his house who hanged himself.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 86. 
  • En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.
    • English equivalents: The shoemaker goes barefoot.
    • "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 65. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 661. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • En la tardanza suele estar el peligroso.
  • En toda cosa hay que considerar el fin.
    • English equivalent: Whatever you do, act wisely, and consider the end.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 600. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Entre dos muelas cordales nunca pongas tus pulgares.
    • English equivalent: Don't go between the tree and the bark.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 729. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Es más fácil ver la paja en ojo ajeno que la viga en el propio (taken from the Bible, Matthew, 7:3-5)
    • English equivalent: We see the mote in anothers eye but not the beam in our own.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1995). Las Condiciones de Vida de la Población Pobre de la Provincia de Albacete. Cáritas Española. p. 113. ISBN 8489397058. 
  • Es un hombre sin honor, el que piense mal de esta acción.
    • English equivalent: Shame take him that shame thinketh.
    • "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
    • Robert J. Hanlon, Murphy's Law Book Two : More Reasons Why Things Go Wrong! (1980)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. entry 806. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • El mal escribano le echa la culpa a la pluma
    • English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
    • Pérez Martínez, Herón (1993). Refrán viejo nunca miente: refranero mexicano Colección Tradiciones. Colegio de Michoacán. p. 113. ISBN 9686959068. 
  • El saber es fuerza.
    • English equivalent: Learning is the eye of the mind.
    • "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't."
    • William Feather As quoted in Telephony, Vol. 150 (1956), p. 23; the first two sentences of this statement began to be attributed to Anatole France in the 1990s, but without any citations of sources.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 149. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • El que no oye consejo no llega a viejo.
    • English equivalent: Advice most needed is the least heeded.
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 112. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • El que tiene frio sopla el fuego.
    • English equivalent: Let him that is cold blow the coals.
    • "My definition of success is doing what you love. I feel many people do things because they feel they have to, and are hesitant to risk following their passion."
    • Tony Hawk, American businessman, entrepreneur, skateboard pro. Interviewed by Gary Cohn for Entrepreneur Magazine (October 2009)
    • Caroline Ward (1842). National Proverbs in the Principal Languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 77. 
  • Ése es mi amigo, el que muele en mi molinillo.
    • English equivalent: He is my friend that grinds at my mill.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1135". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Es cosa de dos.
    • English equivalent: It takes two to tango.
    • Författare Cambridge University Press (2008). Titel Diccionario Bilingue Cambridge Spanish-English Paperback Compact edition. Cambridge University Press. p. 576. ISBN 8483234823. 
  • Es el tono que hace la música.
  • Es mejor tostón asegurado que dime apostado.
    • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
    • "Something you have for certain now is of more value than something better you may get, especially if you risk losing what you have in order to get it."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 29 July 2013. 
  • Es muy frecuente la risa en la boca del necio.
    • English equivalent: A fool is ever laughing.
    • Emanuel Strauss (1994). "137". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. 
  • Es peor el remedio que la enfermedad.
    • Translation: The remedy is often worse than the disease; Burn not your house to rid it off the mouse.
    • "Action taken to put something right is often more unpleasant or damaging than the original problem."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Urbina (2005). Refranero Latino. Ediciones Akal. p. 306. ISBN 8446012960. 
  • Excusa no pedida, la culpa manifesta.

F

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  • Fray Modesto nunca llegó a ser prior del convento.
    • English equivalent: Faint heart never won fair lady.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001), "98", A Dictionary of English and Italian Equivalent Proverbs, p. 19, ISBN 978-1-4660-0793-2 
  • Fue por lana y salió trasquilado.
    • (He/She) went looking for wool and came back shorn.
    • Interpretations:
      • If you go for something it might end up biting you
      • you woo someone but end up heartbroken.
      • you try to cheat someone but get cheated yourself.
      • Chasing glamour will get you fleeced.
      • All that glitters isn't gold.
        • Muñoz Borrero, Eduardo (1981). En el Palacio de Carondelet: gobernantes ecuatorianos del Presidente Flores al Presidente Hurtado. Artes Gráficas Señal. p. 507. ISBN 0415160502. 

G

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  • Gobernar es prever.
    • English equivalent: An ounce of preventions is better than a pound of cure.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 332. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Guarda mozo, y hallarás viejo.
    • English equivalent: Diligent youth makes easy age.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 701. ISBN 0415096243. 

H

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  • Hay gato encerrado.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1070. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Haz lo que dice el fraile, y no lo que hace.
    • English equivalent: Preachers say: do as I say, not as i do.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 706. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Hacer de una pulga un elefante.
    • English equivalent: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations (W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) ed.). p. 58. 
  • Hechos dan testimonio, que no las palabras.
    • English equivalent: No need of words, trust deeds.
    • "Actions may be, and indeed sometimes are deceptive in a measure though not as much so as words; and accordingly are received in general as more full and satisfactory proofs of the real disposition and character of persons than verbal expressions."
    • Source for meaning:Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 10. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Hijo de gato, caza ratón
    • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
    • Howard, Christopher. Official Guide to Cuban Spanish. Costa Rica Books. p. 113. ISBN 1881233901. 
  • Hombre prevenido vale por dos.
    • English equivalent: Forewarned is forearmed.
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 162. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • Hoy por mí y mañana por tí.
    • English equivalent: Today me, tomorrow thee.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1038. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien con el diablo haya de comer, larga cuchara ha menester.
    • English equivalent: He who sups with the devil must use a long spoon.
    • "I do not think life will change for the better without an assault on the establishment, which goes on exploiting the wretched of the earth. This belief lies at the heart of the concept of revolutionary suicide. Thus it is better to oppose the forces that would drive me to self-murder than to endure them. Although I risk the likelihood of death, there is at least the possibility, if not the probability, of changing intolerable conditions."
    • Huey P. Newton, Revolutionary Suicide (1973), p. 3
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 920. ISBN 0415160502. 

J

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  • Jugar con fuego es peligroso.
    • English equivalent: Do not play with edged tools.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 716. ISBN 0415096243. 

L

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  • La barba no hace el filósofo.
    • English equivalent: It is not the beard that makes the philosopher.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001), "146", A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs, DeProverbio.com, p. 29, ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3 
  • La buena madre no dice quieres.
    • English equivalentː The good mother saith notː will you? but gives.
    • von Düringsfeld, Ida; von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "115, Mutter" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend. p. 66. 
  • La carne más sabrosa es la que está junta al hueso.
    • English equivalent: The sweetest flesh is near the bones.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "1666". Dictionary of European proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 1176. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La dicha de la fea, la linda de la desea .
    • English equivalent: Handsome is that handsome does.
    • "People should be valued for their good deeds, not their good looks, also occasionally used of things, or as a warning not to be misled by an attractive appearance."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 879. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La envidia es la sombra de la gloria.
    • English equivalent: Envy always shooteth at a high mark.
    • "Envy is a kind of praise."
    • John Gay, Fables Fable XLIV, "The Hound and the Huntsman" (1727)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 766. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La envidia no muere jamás.
    • English equivalent: Envy takes no holiday.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 767. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La historia se repite.
    • English equivalent: History repeats itself.
    • Flonta, Teodor. "1408". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 213–214. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La manzana podrida pudre a su vecina.
    • English equivalent: One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "69 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La mayoría es razón.
    • English equivalent: What everybody says must be true.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La mayor dicha o desdicha del hombre es la mujer.
    • English equivalent: A cheerful wife is the spice of life.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 20. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • La mejor defensa es el ataque.
    • English equivalent: The best defence is a good offense.
    • "You are more likely to win if you take the initiative and make an attack rather than preparing to defend yourself."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 30 June 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 518. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La mejor salsa es el hambre.
    • English equivalent: Hunger is the best sauce.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1513 H". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La nave está más segura con dos anclas que no con una.
    • English equivalent: Good riding at two anchors, men have told, for if one break the other may hold.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "48 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La ropa sucia se lava en casa.
    • English equivalent: It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 702. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La rueda de la fortuna nunca es una.
    • English equivalent: The wheel of fortune is forever in motion.
    • von Düringsfield, Ida; von Düringsfield, Otto (1875). "611, Glücksrad" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend. I. p. 318. 
  • La salud ante todo.
    • English equivalent: Good health is above wealth.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 879. ISBN 0415096243. 

(*) La salud no es conocida hasta que es perdida.

    • English equivalent: Health is not valued till sickness comes.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1373 H". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La sangre es más espesa que el océano.
    • English equivalent: Blood is thicker than water.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "257". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. DeProverbio.com. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • La serpiente se oculta en la hierba.
    • English equivalent: Look before you leap, for snakes among sweet flowers do creep.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1070. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La voz del pueblo es voz de Dios.
    • English equivalent: The voice of the people is the voice of god.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1164. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La segunda idea suele ser mejor.
    • English equivalent: Second thoughts are the best.
    • "It is often said that second thoughts are best. So they are in matters of judgment, but not in matters of conscience. In matters of duty, first thoughts are commonly best. They have more in them of the voice of God."
    • John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons: Volume IV (1838), Sermon 2
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 73. 
  • Las parablas no cuentan.
    • English equivalent: Eggs and oaths are soon broken.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 765. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • La unión hace la fuerza.
    • English equivalent: United we stand, divided we fall; Union is strength.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Las ratas abandonan el barco que se hunde.
    • English equivalent: Rats desert a sinking ship.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1150. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Ladroncillo de agujeta, después sube a barjuleta.
    • English equivalent: He that steals an egg will steal an ox.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 962. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Lavandera mala no encuentra jamás buena piedra.
  • Translation: A bad washer doesn't ever find a good rock.
    • English equivalent: A bad craftsman blames his tools.
    • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Las aguas quietas calan hondo.
    • Translation: Still waters run deep.
    • English equivalent: Still waters run deep.
    • Source for proverb: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 598. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Las aparencias engañan.
    • English equivalent: Appearances deceive.
    • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 124. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • En la variedad está el gusto.
    • English equivalent: Variety is the spice of life.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 225. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Lo barato cuesta caro.
    • English equivalent: If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Lo que mal empieza, mal termina.
    • English equivalent: A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
    • "It is as impossible that a system radically erroneous, once commenced, should end well, as it is that a mathematical problem, commenced wrong, should come out right."
    • William Henry Porter (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 202. 
    • Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. 
  • Lo Ajeno dura Poco...
  • Lo que no mata, engorda.
  • Alt: Mugre (mierda) que no mata, engorda.
  • Alt: Veneno que no mata, engorda. (Peru)
    • E nglish equivalent: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. (Nietzsche)
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 162. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • Lo mejor es enemigo de lo bueno.
    • English equivalent: The good is the enemy of the best.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "209". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Lo que puedes sólo, no esperes a otro.
    • English equivalent: For what thou canst do thyself, rely not on another.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 600. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Los grandes ingenios se encuentran.
    • English equivalent: Great minds agree.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 882. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Los primeros serán postreros.
    • English equivalent: The last will be first, and the first last.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1085. ISBN 0415096243. 

M

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  • Manos besa el hombre, que querria ver cortadas.
    • English equivalent: Many kiss the hand they wish cut off.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1084. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mas de prisa, más despacio.
    • English equivalentː More haste less, speed.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "H 1344". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Más lejos ven los sesos que los ojos.
    • English equivalent: The eye looks but it is the mind that sees.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1175. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mas vale algo que nada
    • English equivalent: Better a lean jade than an empty halter.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 75. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Más vale andarse soltero que con mal compañero.
    • English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 572. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
    • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 224. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • Más vale un enemigo discreto que un amigo necio.
    • English equivalent: A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "832". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
    • Más vale un hecho que cien palabras.
    • English equivalent: Actions speak loudee than words.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "13 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Más vale un presente que dos después.
    • English equivalent: One today is worth ten tomorrows.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1137. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mas valé punada de natural que almorzada de ciencia.
    • English equivalent: Nature is beyond all teaching.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 764. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mas vale rodear que no ahogar.
    • English equivalent: Better go about than fall into the ditch.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 11. 
  • Mas vale saber que hablar (haber).
    • English equivalent: A good mind possess a kingdom.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 58. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
    • Alt: Sabe más el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
    • Translation: The devil knows more because he's old, than because he is devil.
    • Interpretations:
      • With age comes wisdom.
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 78. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • ¡Médico, cúrate a ti mismo!
    • English equivalent: Physician, heal yourself!
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1142. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mejor es el fin que los medios.
    • English equivalent: Crooked logs make straight fires.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 683. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Menea la cola el can, no por ti, sino por el pan.
    • English equivalent: Dogs wags their tails, not so much to you as your bread.
    • "Women, like princes, find few real friends."
    • George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton, Advice to a Lady, Stanza 2. (1731)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 710. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Meted las manos en vuestro seno, veréis vuestro mal y no el ajeno.
    • English equivalent: Forget other faults remembering your own; Forgive and forget.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 838. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mientras la hierba crece el caballo muere.
    • English equivalent: While the grass grows the steed starves.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1228. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mirar antes de saltar.
    • English equivalent: Look before you leap.
    • "The man who thinks before he acts, is most likely to act with discretion, and have no future cause to repent of his conduct; but he who acts blindly, without any foresight, will probably suffer for his rashness."
    • Trusler, John (1790). Proverbs exemplified, and illustrated by pictures from real life. p. 115. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 751. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Mucha paya y poco grano; es por vicio del verano.
    • English equivalent: Great cry and little wool.
    • "Much ado about nothing."
    • Keating, Walter (1859). Proverbs of All Nations. W. Kent & Company (late D. Bogue). p. 128. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "178". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • Muchos golpes derriban un roble.
    • English equivalent: Little strokes fell great oaks.
    • "A difficult task, e. g. removing a person/group from a strong position, or changing established ideas cannot be done quickly. It can be achieved gradually, by small steps, a little at a time."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 252. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

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  • Nada hay nuevo debajo del sol.
    • English equivalent: Nothing is new.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1114. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Nadie da palos de balde.
    • English equivalent: You don't get nothing for nothing; The only free cheese is in the mouse trap.
    • "Everything has to be paid for, directly or indirectly, in money or in kind."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 799. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Nadie es indispensable.
    • English equivalent: No man is indispensable.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 319. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Nadie puede ser juez en causa propia.
    • English equivalent: No one can be the judge in his own case.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1038. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Ni de amigo reconcilado, ni de manjar dos veces guisado.
    • English equivalent: Take heed of enemies reconciled and of meat twice boiled.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No dejes camino viejo por sendero nuevo.
    • English equivalent: A short cut is often a wrong cut.
    • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
    • English equivalent: Leave nothing for tomorrow what can be done today.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 177. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No fies mujer de fraile, ni barajes con alcade.
    • English equivalent: A king's favour is no inheritance.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No hay ausente justo.
    • English equivalent: The absent are always in the wrong.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "3 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • No hay cerrudura, si es de oro la ganzua.
  • No hay cosa secreta que tarde o temprano no se sepa.
    • English equivalent: There is nothing hidden that will not become public.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "921". Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. pp. 771-773. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • No hay enemigo pequeño.
    • English equivalent: There is no little enemy.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 718. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No hay mal que por bien no venga.
    • English equivalent: Every cloud has a silver lining.
  • No hay peor burla, Que la verdadera.
    • English equivalent: Many a true words are spoken in jest.
    • "A joke's a very serious thing."
    • Charles Churchill, The Ghost (1763), book iv, line 1386
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 57. 
  • No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
    • English equivalent: There are none so blind as they who will not see.
    • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 320. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
    • English equivalent: None so deaf as those who will not hear.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1110. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No hay regla sin excepción.
    • English equivalent: There is no rule without an exception.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1174. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No hay que dejar lo segur por lo dudoso
    • English equivalent: He that leaves certainty and sticks to chance,
      When fools pipe, he may dance.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 638. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • No hay que jugar con le salud.
    • English equivalent: Don't burn the candles at both ends.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1137. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No hay tal arte como el que oculta el arte.
    • English equivalent: The best art conceals art.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "81 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. DeProverbio.com. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • No hay tal ciencia como tener paciencia.
    • English equivalent: An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 415. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No hay tal razón como la del bastón.
    • English equivalent: Accusing is proving, when malice and force sit judges; The wolf finds a reason for taking the lamb.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No pidas perdon antes de ser acusado.
    • English equivalent: Never ask pardon before you are accused.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 87. 
  • No te arrepientas nunca de haber comido poco.
    • English equivalent: Feed sparingly and defy the physician.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 763. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No todas las verdades son para dichas.
    • English equivalent: All truths are not to be told.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 282. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No todo es vero lo que suena el pandero.
    • English equivalent: A story never loses in the telling.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 7. 
  • No todo lo que brilla es oro.
    • English equivalent: Not everything that glitters is gold.
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 292. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • No se cazan liebres al son del tambor.
    • English equivalent: Drumming is not the way to catch a hare.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 754. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No se está nunca tan bien que no se pueda estar mejor, ni tan mal que no se pueda empeorar.
    • English equivalent: Nothing so good but it might have been better.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1265". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • No se pierde nada por esperar.
    • English equivalent: We shall lose nothing by waiting.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "1770". Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. p. 1218. ISBN 978-0-415-10381-7. 
  • No se puede sacar agua de una piedre.
    • English equivalent: You cannot get blood from a stone.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1040. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo.
    • English equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 708. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Non hay libro tan malo, que no tenga algo bueno.
    • English equivalent: No book was so bad, but some good might be got out of it.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1104. ISBN 0415096243. 

O

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  • Obra de comun, obra de ningun.

P

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  • Para curar no basta la intencion.
    • English equivalent: It is not wise to open old wounds.
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 45. 
  • Para eurar no basta la intencion.
    • English equivalent: Least said, soonest mended.
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 45. 
  • Pato, ganso y ansarón, tres cosas suena y una son.
    • English equivalent: Goose, gander and gosling are three sounds but one thing.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 104. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Perro ladrador, poco mordedor.
    • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite. / All bark, no bite.
    • "Threatening does not always lead to action: Harsh words may disguise a different feeling, intention or ability."
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 92. ISBN 0415160502. 
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 44. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Peso y medida quitan al hombre fatiga.
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. X. 
  • Piedra sin agua no aguza en la fragua.
    • English equivalent: From nothing nothing can come.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Poner el carro antes los bueyes.
    • Translation: To set the cart before the horse.
    • English equivalent: Don't put the cart before the horse.
    • "It is important to do things in the right or natural order."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 18 August 2013. 
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 106. 
  • Presto hay un bastón para dar al perro.
    • English equivalent: A stick is easily found to beat a dog.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 104. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Por conservar amistad pared en medio.
    • English equivalentː A hedge between keeps friends green.
    • Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Ida; von Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "128, Nachbarn" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen vergleichend zusammengestellt von I. von Düringsfeld und O. Freiherrn von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld. p. 74. 
  • Por un gustazo, un trancazo.
    • Translation: Pride comes before fall.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1148. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Por una parte se pierde el todo.
    • English equivalent: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 70. 

Q

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  • Cual es Maria, tal hija cría .
    • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
    • "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and rarely."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Quien á mano agena espera, mal yanta y peor cena.
    • English equivalent: He that waits on another man's trencher, makes many a late dinner.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 55. 
  • Quien calla, otorga. (El que calla, otorga.)
    • 'Silence is assent'
    • Interpretation: 'If you do not speak out against "it", that is equivalent to approving "it".'
    • You cannot keep silent in the face of injustice and then complain about it afterward.
    • English equivalent: Silence gives consent.
    • de Guzmán, Fernando Núñez (1619). "Q" (in Spanish). Refranes ó proverbios en Romance. pp. 106–. 
  • Qué bonito es ver la lluvia y no mojarse.
    • English equivalent: Criticism is easy, but art is difficult.
    • Source: Hernández, Efrén (2007). Obras Completas: Poesía, Cuento, Novela, Volym 1. Fondo de Cultura Economica. p. 204. ISBN 9681679016. 
  • Quien acheja por agujero, ve su duelo.
  • Quien bien ama, tarde se olvida.
    • English equivalent: True love never rusts.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1107. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien en año quiere ser rico, al medio le ahorcan.
    • English equivalent: No one gets rich quickly if he is honest.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 963. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien bien quiere a Pedro, no hace mal a su perro.
    • English equivalent: Love me, love my dog.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 953. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien da luego, da dos veces.
    • English equivalent: He gives twice, who gives in a trice.
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 38. 
  • Quien espera, desespera
    • English equivalent: Who lives by hope will die of hunger.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 952. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien mal siembra, mal coge.
    • English equivalent: Sow thin, shear thin.
    • "The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed."
    • Charles de Montesquieu, Pensées Diverses (1879)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1158. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien no adoba gotera, hace casa entera.
  • Quien no oye consejo, no llega a viejo.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 675. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien no tenga cabeza, que tenga pies.
    • English equivalent: A forgetful head makes a weary pair of heels.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "H 1355". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. DeProverbio.com. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Quien no tiene cabeza, debe tener piernas.
    • English equivalent: Who falls short in the head must be long in the heels.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "149". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7. 
  • Quien pájaro ha de tomar, no ha de ojear.
    • English equivalent: Deal gently with the bird you mean to catch.
    • "When people are just, they need friendship in addition."
    • Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (c. 325 BC), Book VIII, 1155.a26
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 689. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien pide no escoge.
    • Translate: He who asks does not get to choose.
    • English equivalent: Beggars must be no choosers.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien quiera peces, que moje el culo.
    • English equivalent: Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted.
    • "One cannot (or should not) expect to benefit without making some effort."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 455. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 0415160502. 
  • Quien quiere celeste, que le cueste
    • Translation: He who wants the heavens must pay.
    • "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"
    • The Bible, Isaiah 5:12 - 21.
    • Proverbs|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA267%7Cyear=2007%7Cpublisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-6673-5|pages=267–}}
    • Source: Glazer, Mark (1987). A Dictionary of Mexican American Proverbs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 116. ISBN 0313253854. 
  • Quien saltar quiere lejos, debe medir la distancia.
    • English equivalent: One must step back to take a good leap.
    • "The superficiality of the American is the result of his hustling. It needs leisure to think things out; it needs leisure to mature. People in a hurry cannot think, cannot grow, nor can they decay. They are preserved in a state of perpetual puerility."
    • Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind (New York: 1954), #172
    • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 62. 
  • Quien tiene cola de paja no debe arrimarse al fuego.
    • English equivalent: He that hath a head of wax must not walk in the sun.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 54. 
  • Quien tiene tejado de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino.
    • English equivalentː People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1201". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Quien tiene hijos o ovejas, no le faltan quejas.
    • English equivalent: Children are uncertain comforts but certain cares.
    • "Children are bound to cause their parents anxiety, and may or may not also bring them joy."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 2 August 2013. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 654. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Quien cuando puede no quiere, cuando quiere no puede.
    • English equivalent: He that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay.
    • "Take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself, even if you do not want or need it at the time, because it may no longer be available when you do."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 41. 
  • Quien vive esperando muere desesperando.
    • English equivalent: He that lives on hope will die fasting.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "1453 H". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. DeProverbio.com. p. 219. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 

R

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  • Roba bien quien a ladron roba.
    • English equivalent: Set a thief to catch a thief.
    • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 1417964677. 

S

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  • Saca agua de las piedras.
    • English equivalent: All is fish that comes to the net.
    • "Anything that comes along is accepted and turned to advantage."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007), The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs, Infobase Publishing, p. 5, ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5, retrieved on 16 June 2013 
    • Caroline Ward (1842). National Proverbs in the Principal Languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 11. 
    • a similar meaning: "… when we do not upbraid circumstances or indulge in self reproach, the mind is the mind and nothing untoward can occur. Chersterton rightly says 'An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly understood. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered'"
    • Blyth, R.H. (1976). Games Zen Masters Play. Mentor. p. 43. 
  • Si adelante no vas, altrasarás.
    • English equivalent: He who does not advance goes backwards.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 445. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Si el ciego guía al ciego, ambos caerán en la hoya.
    • English equivalent: If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "525". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 
  • Si la montaña no va a Mahoma, Mahoma íra a la montaña
    • Note: From an English proverb. The earliest appearance of the phrase is from Chapter 12 of the Essays of Francis Bacon, published in 1625.
    • English equivalent: If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
    • "If you cannot get what you want, you must adapt yourself to the circumstances or adopt a different approach."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1006. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Si no como queremos pasamos como podemos.
    • English equivalent: Do as you may, if you can't do as you could.
    • "He that would please all, and himself too, Undertakes what none could ever do."
    • Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia (1732)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 707. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Sin razón se queja del mar quien otra vez navega.
    • English equivalent: He complains wrongfully at the sea that suffer shipwreck twice.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 898. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Sin tentacion no hay victoria.
    • English equivalent: Without temptation there is no victory.
    • Ward, Caroline (1842). National proverbs in the principal languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 156. 
  • Duerme en ello, y tomarás consejo
    • English equivalent: Take counsel of one's pillow.
    • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations (W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) ed.). p. 63. 
  • Sol que mucho madruga, poco dura.
    • English equivalent: Early ripe, early rotten.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 758. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Sólo se tiran piedras al árbol cargado de fruto.
    • English equivalent: if you have no enemies it is a sign that fortune has forgotten you; People throw stones only at trees with fruit on them.
    • "Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise."
    • John Milton, Paradise Regained (1671), Book III, line 56
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1008. ISBN 0415096243. 

T

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  • Tal padre, tal hijo.
    • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
    • "Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."
    • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Toma las cosas como vienen.
    • English equivalent: Take things as you find them.
    • "We should not plan and then try to make circumstances fit those plans. Instead we should make plans fit the circumstances."
    • George S. Patton, War as I Knew It (1947)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 865. ISBN 0415096243. 

U

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  • Una golondrina no hace verano.
    • English equivalent: A swallow doesn't make summer.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1030. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Una manzana diaria aleja al médico de casa.
    • English equivalent: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "66 E". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 

V

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  • Vale más huir, que morir.
    • English equivalent: He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day.
    • "It is wiser to withdraw from a situation that you cannot win than to go on fighting and lose – by a strategic retreat you can return to the battle or argument with renewed energy at a later date."
    • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 702. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Visteme despacio, que tengo prisa.
    • English equivalent: Make haste slowly.
    • Flonta, Teodor (2001). "H 1342". A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-4660-4673-3. 

Z

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  • Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
    • English equivalent: Shoemaker, stick to your last or Cobbler, stick to thy last.
    • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 660. ISBN 0415096243. 

See also

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