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Folk Sayings on Family
Italy - Pre 1969 or Around the World, Click here

Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Il sangue non e acqua.
      o in English: (Literally) Blood is not water. (Equivalent) Blood is thicker than water. Or, family comes first no matter what.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: A padre avaro, figliolo prodigo
      o in English: (Literally) A miserly father, a prodigal son. (Equivalent) While the father saves his money, his son spends it like there is no tomorrow.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #828167

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Battere il ferro quando 'e caldo.
      o in English: (Literally) Work the iron when it is hot. (Equivalent) Spare the rod and the spoil the child.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: La madre degli idioti e sempre incinta.
      o in English: The mother of idiots is always pregnant.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Tale il padre, tale il figlio.
      o in English: Like father, like son.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1523953

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Mazza e panella fanno 'e figlie belle, panella senza mazza fanne 'e figlie pazze.
      o in English: (Literally) Slaps and bread buns make for good children; bread buns without any slaps make children crazy. (Equivalent) Spare the rod, spoil the child.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- National (Italy)
     
      o in Italian: Per un orecchio entra e per l'atro esce.
      o in English: In one ear and out the other.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #833131

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on the Family -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Giovane ozioso, vecchio bisognoso.
      o in English: If you're lazy when you're young, you'll be poor when you're old.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #817203

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Family -- Friendship (Negative) -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Li veri amici e li veri parenti su' li tri tari cu' l'ali janchi [i denari].
      o in English: One's true friends and one's true relatives are money.
     
      o in Italian: Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi id dio.
      o in English: I can protect myself from my enemies, may God protect me from my friends.
     
      o in Italian: Si puo rimediare al malfatto ma non al mal detto.
      o in English: One can remedy work that is badly done, but one can't remedy something bad that has been said.
     
      o in Italian: Dai miglori amici spesso arrivano le peggiore sassata.
      o in English: Very often from your closest friends you receive the worst stoning.
     
      o in Italian: Meglio sola che male accompagnata.
      o in English: Better to be alone than in bad company.
     
      o in Italian: Chi vai a letto con i cani, si leva con le pulci.
      o in English: (Literally) He who sleeps with dogs, wakes up with fleas. (Meaning) If you hang around with bad sorts, don't be surprised if you end up doing bad things.
     
      o in Italian: Patti chiari, amicizia lunga.
      o in English: Clear agreements make for long friendships
     
      o in Italian: Chi tante male azioni fa una grossa ne aspetta.
      o in English: (Literally) He who does many bad deeds can expect a big one he doesn't expect in return. (Equivalent) What goes around, comes around.
     
      o in Italian: Gli ospite sono come il pesci -- puzzano dopo il terzo giorno.
      o in English: Guests are like fish -- they smell after 3 days.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #817995

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Family -- Friendship (Positive) -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Chi tova un amico trova un tesoro.
      - in English: He who finds a friend, finds a treasure.
     
     
      o in Italian: Amici e vini sono meglio vecchie.
      - in English: (Literally) Friends and wine are best aged. Equivalent: Old friends are the best.
     
     
      o in Italian: A tavola non si invecchia.
      - in English: At the table with good friends and family you do not become old.
     
     
      o in Italian: Dimmi chi pratichi e ti diru chi sei.
      - in English: (Literally) Tell me who you hang out with, and I will tell you who you are. (Meaning) You're friends become your family, so pick them wisely.
     
     
      o in Italian: Mal comune, mezzo gaudio.
      - in English: (Literally) A common trouble is half joy. (Equivalent) Trouble shared is trouble halved.
     
     
      o in Italian: Al bisogno si conosce l'amico.
      - in English: (Literally) When you're in need, then you know who are your real friends. (Equivalent) A friend in need is a friend indeed.
     
     
      o in Italian: Le buone parole ungono, le cattive pungono.
      - in English: Kind words heal, bad ones wound.
     
     
      o in Italian: L'Amicizia rimane un ancora fedele.
      - in English: Friendship acts as a faithful anchor.
     
     
      o in Italian: Chi male non fa, male non ha.
      - in English: He who doesn't do any harm to others, will himself not get harmed.
     
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