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Folk Sayings on Fortune and Fate
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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): 'Lieto 'e galera fanno l'ommo peggio che era.
      o in English: (Literally) Lying about in bed [all day] is like being in prison -- a person is the worse for it.
     
      Contributed by Sophie
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1574703

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Carcere e malatie se vede 'o core 'e il' amice.
      o in English: (Literally) When one is in jail or one is sick, whoever sees one's heart is a friend. (Equivalent)In times of trouble you'll find out who is a true friend. Or, A friend in need is a friend indeed.
     
      Contributed by Sophie
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1377438

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Si vuo' perdere 'e denare, fatella cu l'avvucate. Si vuo' perdere 'e saluta, fatella cu 'e miedece.
      o in English: If you want to lose your money, associate with lawyers If you want to lose your health, associate with doctors.
     
      Contributed by Sophie
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3g02900

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk saying on Fate and Fortune -- by Region -- Campania
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quanno chiove cco lo sole se marita la vorpe.
      o in English: (Literally) When it rains, when it's sunny, then the fox will marry. (Meaning) It's not going to happen.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3b09089r

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- by Region -- Campania
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) A o ricco ille more a mugliera, a o pezzente le more o cicuccio.
      o in English: (Literally) A rich man loses his wife, a poor man loses his donkey. (Meaning) The rich feel pain when they lose a loved one, but the poor not only feel pain when they lose a loved one but they also feel pain when one of their farm animals die as they can't make ends meet without them.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public LIbrary, Digital Gallery #826385

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Emilia Romagna, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate & Fortune -- by Region -- Emilia Romagna
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Da zoven a 's zerch i guai, da vec i vennen da per lor.
      o in English: Young people look for trouble; for the old, troubles come on their own.
     
      o in Italian: Ogni anna ha le sue calamita.
      o in English: Every year has its calamity.
     
      o E' signore e' magna quand ch'l'la fan; e puret quand ch'un n'a.
      o The rich eat when they're hungry; the poor when they can.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect) Chi viv in alligri, sempare guadagna!
      o in English: Who lives in happiness, always earns.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): J'omi cative e al vein bon i duri pocu.
      o in English: Bad men and good wine don't last long.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1638327

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Marche, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Fortune & Fate -- by Region -- Marche
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quello che no strozza, ngrassa.
      o in English: What does not kill you, makes you fat.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3b06694r

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Marche, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Fortune & Fate -- by Region -- Marche
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) L'invern e 'l boia di vecchi, 'l purgatori di fiulin e l'nfern di porett.
      o in English: (Literally) Winter is the executioner of the old, purgatory of babies and hell of the poor. (Possible meaning) Winter is the death of old people, purgatory of babies, and for the poor, it's hell on earth.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #13624r

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Marche, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: L'amicizia fatte in fretta dura poco.
      o in English: Friendships made in a hurry don't last long.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #809476

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Molise, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Fate and Fortune -- by Region -- Molise
     
      Casacalenda, Molise
      o in Italian (Dialect): Mena cuatt pe colpi cinque.
      o in English: (Literally) At least four, to get five. (Equivalent) Go for four (of something), and you might get five. Or, Go for it.
     
      Contributed by Antonio (Tony) Fantillo
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #822469

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